Moving to Gloucestershire or Dorset

[StephOD]

Hi everyone, we are looking to move West from Hampshire so we can expand our family. I'm needing some help with areas. I would like to be just outside a small town. Ideally the town would have a market, independent shops, cinema or theatre and a few chains. Looking for somewhere close to transport links to London, with a good family community feel. We are looking at Gloucestershire/ Cotswolds and also Dorset. Considering Stroud, Frampton, Shaftesbury, Frome but would love your thoughts and other suggestions as our search area is huge!

Rightmove has just issued a list to the media for the “Happiest Places to Live in the UK” for 2020.

Three of those places are towns in Dorset:

Dorchester is no 8
Weymouth is no 13
Poole is no 17

I live between Weymouth and Dorchester (moved here from the USA just over a year ago) and I’m very happy to be living so close to the coast and beautiful countryside!

Stroud is lovely.
There are two outdoor markets, one a farmer's market, and an indoor food market too. It is surrounded by beautiful valleys, is 1 hour 45 mins to London on the train, and 20mins to Gloucester by car. 45mins to Bristol. It is really quiet, friendly and green.
Having said all that, I would choose to live by the sea if I could.

I’d look at South Glos for easy access to Bristol which is far the best place for a bit of life. Good shops, theatres, restaurants, pubs, music etc.

Drove through Stroud once. Found it eerie and creepy. Not sure why.