Ringwood/Wimborne/Canford Cliffs???

[GinAndNightnurse]

After years of living overseas we are looking for somewhere to retire to in a couple of years time, back in the UK.

We have a holiday home in another country but for various reasons we won't live there all year round, so we need to find an area that will fulfil our needs for six - 8 months of the year, mainly winter, and have plenty to keep us occupied in terms of hobbies, meeting people, maybe some volunteering etc.

We definitely don't want to be too rural. We can't decide between being on the coast or being in a large market town or lively small city. Somewhere that is both would be ideal, but that's a tall ask.

Most important thing is a nice area. Somewhere attractive and safe, not too isolated, ideally not too far from the coast and not too far from decent shopping, restaurants, theatre, live music venues etc.

We've narrowed our search down to about 20 different towns across 6 counties helpful and we're just going round in circles now.

I've decided to just start threads about specific places rather than ask for suggestions all on one thread. So I am starting by asking about the Hampshire/Dorset borders specifically Ringwood and Wimborne, but other suggestions would be useful.

Canford Cliffs is gorgeous although I wonder what we'd actually do all day if we had an apartment there? Is everyone really shallow and flashy? Is it all Range Rovers and Botox? That would get tedious very quickly.

Although I'm not sure what we'd do all day in a house in Ringwood either.

Any thoughts? Are there other nice areas around Ringwood and Wimborne that are not too isolated?

TIA

I grew up in Ringwood if you have any specific questions
My days were spend riding my pony/bike/going into town. Getting the bus into Bournemouth or Southampton. Obviously this was when I was a teenager. As an adult I drive.
The New Forest is lovely for walks/rides.
I suppose I was use to a small town but always had plenty to do.

Wimborne (in my opinion) is similar to Ringwood. Also very nice, but probably busier.

How about Southbourne (between Christchurch & Bournemouth).

I don't recognise the Canford Cliffs that you describe - a large percentage of well-heeled retired and elderly but not flashy If you'll be living here for the winter months, I'd avoid a seaside location unless it's a market town as they can be deadly in bad weather. Wimborne is certainly worth looking at and we've always liked Chichester (bit further east I know).

Southbourne is lovely near the best beaches imo, good location for Bournemouth & Christchurch lots of cafes, pubs, restaurants, so plenty to do at night also some nice independent shops. A station nearby. Parts of Southbourne are as expensive as Canford Cliffs.

Ringwood & Wimborne not bad but nowhere near the sea.
Canford cliffs is posh but nothing much there.

I meant the cafes pubs & restaurants are actually in Southbourne.

Also lots to do in Bournemouth & christchurch.

What about Dorchester?

Ringwood and Wimborne both nice market towns, Christchurch is too and a little nearer the sea. Southbourne has a bit more life. Westbourne would be preferable to Candford Cliffs if you want places to shop/volunteer. Christchurch and Wimborne have good old fashioned theatres, we flit between both as live in Christchurch. New Forest, North Dorset and the Purbecks are on your doorstep in any of those locations although traffic is a nightmare east or west in the summer.

You might want to look at Swanage too, or Wareham.

Blandford is reasonably nice town, easy to get to Dorchester (for hospital) and on down to Abbotsbury, Bridport, West Bay, Lyme Regis etc.

We're just north of Dorset and spend a lot of time down there.

I grew up in Swanage, its nice to visit but is quite isolated. My DP hated how isolated it was and we moved to his hometown of Christchurch which I really like. It's close to everything: shops, the new forest, beaches etc. I like Ringwood but prefer living in Christchurch

There isnt much going on in Ringwood. It is a market town but it doesnt have the nice old market town feel of other places like Winchester, Dorchester, Cirencester etc.

There are some lovely towns in the New Forest e.g. Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Romsey, Beaulieu but may be a bit smaller than Ringwood but nicer.

Can you drive or will you need to rely on public transport? Ringwood doesn't have a train station, so that may count against it. I lived in Ringwood for a few years and whilst it is a nice town, there didn't seem to be much going on. Salisbury would be a much better option, with good transport links, and lots of events and festivals taking place throughout the year. Have you looked on Rightmove to see what is available in your budget in each place on your list? You can check rental properties or properties to buy.

The traffic always seems awful in Ringwood.

I think Romsey would meet your needs and wants well - nice little market town, loads to do locally. Easy to get to Winchester, Southampton, Salisbury and more.

Im not far from Romsey, it's a lovely place but maybe also consider Alresford, Alton, Emsworth, Selsey and Fareham. The West is beautiful but come Summer the traffic is horrendous.

Yes we both drive and are a long way off being elderly but we are really trying to focus on places that wouldn’t be too impractical to live when that time comes.

I really like Salisbury actually. It’s on our list of possibles.

A31 in the summer is a nightmare ( and always has a lot of accidents)

In the summer traffic crawls from M27 past Ringwood , past Wimborne and all along that road.

It’s ok if you are not planning on going anywhere but on days you need to travel need to plan around the traffic.

I’m near Romsey which is very nice. I love Lymington as a town but New Forest traffic in the summer is again an issue.

Where did you choose in the end, OP? @GinAndNightnurse we are currently trying to decide between Wimborne, Ringwood and Salisbury or Fordingbridge, and stumbled across your post whilst looking for tips!