Dorset - anyone live near Dorchester ?

[Binker]

We are hoping to move to Dorset possibly next year.Are there any Mumsnetters living in or close to Dorchester ? What are schools like there ?
Any advice welcomed !

Hi Binker, I live near Sherborne, about 25 mins from Dorchester. There is an excellent secondary in Dorchester (Thomas Hardye) that is one of the best in the country. Dorchester isn't bad for shopping/kids stuff generally - there's a Waitrose and a M&S. You would only be 20 mins from the sea and the countryside is lovely round there. Where would you be moving from?

Hi Enid - we're moving from West London - my son will be five by then,if we move next year,so we'll be looking for a good primary school. I know the coastal area really well as we go to stay in a cottage in Ringstead every year,which is how we've come to fall in love with Dorset.Have been into Dorchester too and to Sherborne (bit too far out for us- my husband needs to commute to London about twice a week)-we were thinking of looking at Dorchester,Poundbury,Wool and Wareham. I fancied Bridport,but again it's just that bit too far- we are really hoping to be near the sea but also in or near a town,not too cut off.

Hi Binker
I'm from Wareham originally and have reached an age (+ having 2 children & 1 on the way having Mum a bit closer would be good!) when I am desperate to move back to the area. Love Dorchester as I went to school there. There's a largish village called Bere Regis that's about mid-way between Wareham, Dorchester and Poole and the prices don't seem to have become astrological yet! Hope your plans work out and who knows, if I keep working on dh may see you there sometime!

Adelaide, sorry - I had to laugh at the astrological prices in Dorset !!

Binker, Sherborne is just as close to London as Dorchester - better rail links too!

House prices are going crazy down here so do it quickly!!!

Hi Binker I used to travel sometimes from Dorchester to London and wouldn't recommend the train. It used to be very slow even before services generally deteriorated. Drive to somewhere like Virginia Water and then get on the train.