Where to relocate to in Dorset area?

[Moisetting]

I wish to relocate wtih DS(8). Father will only agree our relocation within 2 hour of current home which takes us to Dorset as wish to remain by coast. Needle in a haystack for me..........

Want: decent schools, pref closeish to coast, up to 400k, pref 3 bed

Work is relocating with me!

Any ideas?

Bridport. It’s fab.

Dorchester.

My friend lives in Bridport, she loves it!

Thanks, I shall put those on the visit list!

So list so far:

Bridport
Dorchester

Any others to go out and take a look at?

Yes, I’d look around Dorchester, Bridport, or around Purbeck (near Swanage). I’d personally steer clear of Poole and Bournemouth, as they’re both expensive and not that nice.

Bournemouth definitely! It's lovely. Also you can do day trips to the gorgeous Swanage on the chain ferry which is something I think an 8 year old would love. Swanage is a really sweet traditional town and has gorgeous beaches. Durdle door is not far from Bournemouth and is beautiful

Lol hadn't seen PP, different strokes for different folks! Agree that Bournemouth is a bit pricey though

I was born in Dorset, avoid Weymouth and Portland. I grew up there, awful.

Dorchester is great, the schools are really good too.

Bridport I really love, if I had to move back to Dorset, that's where I would go.

BCP has grammar schools if that makes a difference too. Dorchester avoids all that by having a very good school, but if you want to try for grammar you need to look at poole/bournemouth grammar catchments.

Do you need anything for work or are you WFH? Do you need to be near amenities. What clubs does your child like?

Wimborne area has a first/middle/senior system for schools if that's a factor. (Wimborne is v nice and does have nice schools but again pricey)

Thanks all.

Any recommendations on primary schools in Bridport and Dorchester? Though they will probably be full!!

Also, any nice villages around that sort of area

What is Swanage like for families?

We are fortunate go to West Bay (near Bridport) a lot as MIL has a caravan there. My dream when we are not being dependent on being near London for DHs job is to move to Bridport or surrounding area. No idea on schools, but lovely countryside/coast and the towns and villages in the area have a really nice vibe.

@Moisetting It's lovely...but for a holiday. The beaches/promenade etc are beautiful and it would probably be fine for an 8 year old to live but as she gets older I think she would be bored rigid TBH. There are none of the 'main' supermarkets and not very good public transport links

Swanage I mean

We've lived here all our lives (Poole). Our area is lovely, right by the beach and busy enough with stuff to do. From where we stand swanage is not as nice as you think , same with Weymouth and Portland hense why they are cheap. Swanage is quite drug heavy but so is Bournemouth and Poole in places. Don’t go to boscombe or Rossmore, turlin moor or west Howe. Hope this helps.

west dorset is really boring. too many tourists the roads are blocked in the summer and everywhere is dead in the off season.
The local people are unfriendly and there are drugs and crime all over.
not a good place to relocate witha child.

St osmonds (unsure of spelling).

Secondary - Thomas Hardye has excellent rep.

Also, do you need trains? Bridport has no train station.

If you want decent high St shopping - it's a trek to Exeter or Bournemouth