IABU to post here, but want replies... sorry. Wareham in Dorset. Anyone know it?

[spinnypants]

We're moving to Dorset around October time and think we like the look of the Wareham area. We'll only be able to visit once probably and that will be to find a house to rent so were hoping you nice folk would have some info about the town/surrounding area.
Is it a nice place to live/with children?
Is Northport a nice area? Seems like more houses come up there to rent with gardens than in wareham itself.
Any other lovely places to consider nearby?

Thank you!

Cant really help you but I am going away there soon, so been researching places to go, seems to have lots of things going on there and many good places.
Swanage..Brownsea, Lulworth Cove

A good friend lives there with his wife and 2 kids and they are very happy there. I have been to visit and it seems a lovely place. Not much help I know but I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along soon

I love dorset wareham and weymouth are beautiful not much help I know but it is nice down there

I live in Wareham - very nice to bring children up - surrounding area lovely

I live in Bournemouth and I think wareham is lovely :)

We have holidayed in Wareham quite a few times. It's a lovely place and there is so much to do on your doorstep.

Wareham is lovely, lived there for a bit. Enough shops, not too touristy, bit of a gateway so summer traffic can be intense! Lived in corfe and swanage too and they are just too touristy, that extra few miles makes all the difference- enjoy!

we holiday in swanage every year and I adore the area.

Very nice Curry place near the Station, great ice cream. In Summer there are times of day when it can be clogged with traffic, especially sunny days.

Small quite busy town with some good pubs apparently, in a very lovely area with lots to do.

We live in Bournemouth (13 miles away) and often visit. Its lovely by the river and beautiful surrounding countryside. I would imagine its a lovely place for children.

Wareham is lovely. Do you need to think about schools ?

I live in Poole so not far away.

Excellent - all good reviews so far!
Our little one is still tiny so not really thinking too much about schools yet. We'll rent first to get to know different areas.
Pink90 Do you know of any good toddler groups nearby by any chance?

My youngest was 6 when we came here so I didn't use them but there is one as I see stuff on Facebook for one - Wareham is good - there is a train station - good doctors - small coop and sainsburys - few good independant shops - butchers - farm shop in town - boots - so you can make do - it is a good compromise between not being in a big town or small village.

Have you got to move for work ?

Yes, well OH is changing jobs so we're having a big move. Excited to move now!

Schools in the area are just changing from a three tier to a two tier system so it's all change wrt schools (I hope Wareham falls in that area!)
If you are entirely flexible about where you move then slightly westwards will get you into the Dorchester schools system that ultimately feeds into the Thomas Hardye school. The school is massively popular, gets great results and has many parents move to get into catchment for it. Your LO is very young to be considering schools yet but competition is fierce :)
Wareham itself is lovely, as PPs have said.

Yes, wareham is involved in those school changes, thanks.

Hi - we're going to move this into Property in a moment.