Dorchester Area Guide

UK Area Guides

Dorchester, Dorset

Fabulous3.4

Living in

Dorchester is a large county town in Dorset, South West England. This historic market town boasts a rich history that dates back as far as the Iron Age where tourists can find beautiful architecture, Grade listed buildings, and many of the country's leading museums, including the Dorset Museum and the Keep Military Museum. Located on the River Frome, Dorchester has many wonderful sights to be discovered across its local countryside surroundings and buzzing town centre, which offers shops aplenty, chain stores, independent stores, and delicious restaurants with international cuisines. House hunters can find a great mix of properties to suit their needs, such as Victorian homes, houses built in the 50s and 60s, and chic loft-style apartments. The average property price is around £350,000, which is much higher than the UK national average of £250,000.

Ratings

Fabulous3.4

Community

This thriving town provides its residents with an array of exciting things to do. Attractions can be found all over Dorchester, with some of the popular places to visit being Hardy’s Cottage- where famous author Thomas Hardy was born, Maiden Castle- one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe, and Poundbury- Prince Charles' “model” village. Shopaholics are also treated to a range of local shopping centers, such as The Brewery, Dorchester Market, and Dorchester’s busy high street which is home to a wide range of independent businesses ad chain stores. 

Safety

Dorchester town has a reasonably lower crime rate than that of the South West and the rest of the UK. With a 3% lower crime rate than the South West and 47% lower crime rate than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure, Dorchester is a fairly safe town for residents to live in. 

Parking

Only a small number of parking spaces can be located in Dorchester. If residents are looking for hourly parking, they can head to the likes of Old Market Car Park, Fairfield Long Stay Car Park, and Durngate Street Car Park, which are all within the town centre. Paid private parking is also available in the area, with daily or monthly options that can be secured online via JustPark, Parkopedia, or Yourparkingspace. 

Nightlife

Nightlife isn't the main attraction of Dorchester, and so there aren't many lively options for residents to choose from. The town mostly offers pubs and the occasional bar, with some of the popular venues being Vivo Lounge, Brewhouse & Kitchen, Trumpet Major, and The Royal Oak. If locals are searching for more of a vibrant nightlife scene, they can travel to Exeter, Bournemouth, or Southampton. 

Family Friendly

As The Thomas Hardye School is the only ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted-rated school in Dorchester, families don't have any majorly impressive schools to choose from. There are however 7 ‘Good’ Ofsted-rated schools, some of which include St Mary's Catholic First School, The Prince of Wales School, and Damers First School. Higher and further education options are incredibly limited, with Kingston Maurward College being the only local choice for families. Students would need to travel to surrounding areas to find higher and further education choices.

Pet Friendly

With plenty of varied accommodations on offer, pet owners are likely to find a suitable property to house themselves and their furry friends. Local parks are also dotted across Dorchester, with some lovely scenic options including Borough Gardens, The Great Field Poundbury, The Centenary Field, and Kingston Maurward Animal Park and Gardens, all of which gives dog walkers and adventurers a great opportunity to explore.

Transport

Dorchester West and Dorchester South offer residents frequent trains that depart to the popular destinations of Bournemouth- 44m, Southampton Central- 1hr 15m, Bath Spa- 1hr 58m, and London Waterloo- 2hrs 39m. The nearest airport to Dorchester is Bournemouth (BOH) Airport, which residents can reach by car in 54 minutes, via the A35 and A31. Buses also serve the area for local travel.