Moving to Dorchester

[communityjules]

Hi,
We'd like to move from Birmingham to Dorset and really like Dorchester. We only know it as visitors though and would love to find out what it's like to live there. Our kids are 6 & 8 and we'd like to know which are the 'nice areas' for property, which schools are good and what life's like in general.

Any help much appreciated.

Jules

I'm from the area and parents still live there. I'd move back there now (if there were IT jobs for my partner). I'd live in a period townhouse near the town centre as the villages are too quiet for me.

Thomas Hardy seniors is one of the best schools in Dorset, 20 mins from beaches (Weymouth for a typical sandy beach but the Jurassic coast Charmouth, Lyme, West Bay is equally nice), beautiful countryside, the shops in Dorchester itself are OK for weekly use, Yeovil or Poole are better & only 20 mins away (or by train).

Sorry not too much help, just agree that its a lovely area!

They've recently done a big development in the centre too - some new restaurants, shops etc and a big water feature. Agree with Thomas Hardy's being a brilliant school, and there are some very good primaries/middles too. I grew up on Portland, and there's plenty around the area for kids and teens to do on an extra-curricular level as well; lots of sports clubs, theatre groups, Brownies/Scouts etc. There was even a massive youth geology club when I was a child

Thank you both, that is exactly the kind of helpful info we are looking for. Xx

I live in a village 10 mins outside of Dorchester. Dorchester has a very good name for its senior school. It has had a new swimming pool and sports centre, new library and new refurb of the old brewery, bringing new restaurants and shops and cinema. We live in Puddletown which is 10 mins away from town and about 20 mins from Poole. It has a brand new first school and a middle school, which feed into Thomas Hardy senior. I find this area & Dorchester very family/child friendly. There are newish developments around Dorchester - Charlton down and of course Poundbury (Prince Charles' baby). Poundbury has lots of big new builds, posh cafes, boutiques and bakery's. Dorchester is definately becoming very desirable, nice big town houses but also lots of small affluent villages within 10-15 mins. I love it! Many oft friends have moved here from London and love it - but said it takes some getting used to as obviously MUCH quieter.

We were in your shoes 2.5 years ago, and we haven't looked back, we also live in a fab village 10 miles outside Dorchester. Were not the town type, have always lived in villages.

We are surrounded by so many amazing places, countryside, beach, rugged coasts.

Lots of amazing local food, and independent restaurants.

Great village school, great friends, go for it!

Can you tell we love Dorset?

I live local too ! Small village about 10miles out from Dorchester ! It's a lovely part of the world to live in - very laid back ! You can shop in your Wellies and no one frowns at you ! Some beautiful villages for the quiet life or fantastic Victorian properties in town for the nightlife ! And Poundbury is the hibreed for a mix of both ! Dependant on the age of your children - there's various good schools around - most feed into the excellent TH senior school - there's a three school system here - first school till year 5 - middle school from year 6-9 - then Hardy's from year 10 ! So might be a bit different to what you are used to ! In town the classes in the first and middle schools tend to be bigger - the village schools can be very small classes - almost like prep school size !
Great train links - not so good road links as no motorways in Dorset ! It takes about an hour to get on to the M27 if London bound :-(
Visiting the coast is easy - and well worth it as it's beautiful ! I'm sure you will be really happy with your choice of overall area ! It's great ! I've been here almost 20 years and love it !

It's difficult to be more specific about where are nicer areas as A. They are all nice really ! And B.wouldnt want to offend anyone by not mentioning their area !
My own experience of the villages near me , dewlish, chesleborne, Ansty, Milborne st Andrew , and over the A35 to puddletown and Tincleton, are all that they are extremely friendly with good village schools and all well worth looking into if you want a rural home - my daughter is 23 and lives in Poundbury and she loves it as there's so much more going on there ! ( there's lots going on in the rural villages too- but not her cup of tea!) she found rural life as a teenager a bit boring - as she wasn't into horses ( unlike our 12 year old ! Who would hate it if we now moved into town )

Hi, I have just come across this thread when googling "moving to Dorchester". We are also considering a move from West Yorkshire and have 2 boys aged 10 and 9. As this thread is a few years ago now, could I ask @communityjules, did you make the move and how have you found it? We like the idea of a village outside Dorchester as we quite like rural life, but would like to be in the catchment area for Thomas Hardy school as I've heard (and read) that its a really good school.
Any tips, advice, feedback on the area etc would be greatly appreciated.

Hi @CMKing, how funny to be reminded of that question all these years later! We did make the move to the South West, but instead of Dorset we found that our forever place was Totnes in South Devon. We chose this area because we have stunning coast and moor landscapes to enjoy as a family, plus the incredible river Dart. And it's only 3 hours on a direct train to Paddington, so easy access out. Best decision we ever made. Good luck with your decision and your plans