Decisions, decision - Dorchester, Weymouth or Poole??

[monstermayhem]

We are moving to Dorset later this year. We originally wanted to move to Dorchester - good schools, lovely small town - and then we saw a gorgeous house in Radipole, Weymouth. Not sure about traffic, proposed bypass near to house and schools though. Where would do go and why? What do you think of Poole and Bournemouth??

This is just my personal view but would pick Dorchester over the rest.

Have only ever holidayed in these towns so no idea what its like to live there - however I was suprised by the awful traffic jams in Weymouth when we were there last summer. A local I was talking to said there were a lot of holidaymakers who were "rough, drunk and causing trouble". Her words, not mine!

I would move to Dorchester out of all those places, seems quieter and nicer.

Don't know Poole well but have unpleasant memories of traffic and lots of big roads on the way back from Southampton once. But Dorchester and Weymouth are lovely (actually traffic in Weymouth can be cack too in the summer)

Definitely Dorchester of those mentioned.

my PILs live in Weymouth - there's not a lot there TBH - especially in the winter but Dorchester is nice and you can always visit Weymouth for the beach

Don't know much about Poole though

come to dorch,you can be my freind.

i hate weymouth traffic in the summer.
they've been on about the bypass for few years now. dont know if they're any closer to it happening.

friends!!! trying to burp DD as well as type.

Wasn't expecting so many responses in such a short time! Thanks ! I think, deep down, we know Dorchester is the best place, but you should see this house in Radipole . Just wanted to see what others thought....

Imawurzel I'll be your friend

there are some gorgeous houses there.

well.......

I grew up in Poole, and altho it is ok, and the beaches are fab, I wouldn't want to live there again.

I live in bournemouth now, and love it, altho TBH it is very big and commercial and I am definately not looking forward to mine being teens and being so close to the clubs etc. BUT....I wouldn't move away.

weymouth.....great for day trips etc, but gets rather 'rough' during holiday season,and ergo is hell to get to/from during hols etc.

dorchester....lovely, pretty, not bad for shops so you don;t feel cut off, not sure what it is like for teens and entertainment however.

therefore......go for dorchester

I'll be your freind as well as friend . I know that there are gorgeous houses in Dorch - we have been drooling over them on Rightmove for months.... Saw one last weekend in Dorch, which was nice, but this 6 bed Victorian house in Radipole (in our price range ) is haunting me...

wish we could afford even a 2 bed house!!
We rent a 3 bed close to town for £650 pcm. hardly any back garden!!
We're priced out of rental market cos lots are renting because of house prices.

did that make sense??
We were going to move but cant find anythin in our price range.
thats what that was supposed to say.

Psychomum5 - what is Charminster like? The problem is we can go anywhere - no tied to job / family.... So I keep on looking on Rightmove, and finding huge houses that we can afford in various places. Very exciting, and very annoying for dh, as I keep on suggesting various places when we had decided on Dorch...

Imawurzel - I had hoped that we would be able to "upgrade" as are moving from SE London. Short answer to that is No Chance! Dorch seems more expensive than Weymouth, but schools are fab, and we just loved the feel of the town.

depends what part of charminster.
i would choose houses on the left of north st nearer the school rather than houses past the church up top of east hill.
personally.

martinstown has some nice houses if any for sale.

It is so difficult to try and house hunt with 3 yound dcs on weekend visits - particularly when I keep on increasing area to look at instead of decreasing it! Again, on Rightmove found 2 huge houses both of which need lots of work in Charminster. Will have to sit down and work out where they are with my Dorset street map in relation to north st / east hill! .

some houses in vicarage lane and behind are ok.
cocklands is in my book. so is a couple of the close's that way. DH grew up in charminster. loved it he says. wants to move back there.

Imawurzel - sorry, just realised what has happened. I meant Charminster in Bournemouth and not Charminster outside of Dorch.

A very rude question, but what is your budget

ah dont know that charminster.

Depends on what we sell our house for, but very roughly up to £400k. However, it would have to be ultimate dream house for that, as we would never be able to go out again

come to ringwood!