Best Places to Live in Dorset: Small Towns & Coastal Options

Moving to Dorset – Our Favourite Small Towns in the Countryside

The best place to live in Dorset depends on the life you want to lead. Shaftesbury and Sherborne offer historic town centres, Gillingham is worth considering for rail access, and Swanage, Christchurch and Weymouth offer coastal settings. Start with your everyday journeys and housing needs, then compare the places that fit.

This guide looks at our favourite small-town options alongside larger coastal alternatives. It is a practical shortlist, not a ranking of the cheapest or most popular places. Johnson’s helps customers move to, from and within Dorset, with packing and storage available as part of the plan.

In this guide

How to choose the right Dorset town

A good holiday destination is not automatically the right place to live year-round. Visit shortlisted areas on an ordinary weekday as well as a weekend. Test the commute, walk from potential homes to the shops and think about the journeys you would make without a car.

  • Daily travel: check the full journey to work, school and family, including parking and connections.
  • Housing: compare similar property types, condition and usable space. Use current listings and recent sold prices rather than an undated town average.
  • Local services: investigate school admissions, healthcare availability and broadband at the exact address.
  • Lifestyle: decide whether the coast, a compact town centre or access to countryside matters most.
  • Moving access: look at parking, steps, narrow entrances and the route a removal vehicle would need to take.

Visit Dorset’s area guides are a useful starting point for exploring. Follow up with visits and current information from the relevant council and service providers.

Shaftesbury: a hilltop town with historic character

Shaftesbury is a natural place to start if you like a compact historic centre, independent shops and countryside views. Gold Hill is its best-known landmark, but spend time away from the visitor spots too. Try the everyday walk from the property to shops and other services.

The hilltop setting is part of the appeal and something to assess carefully. Gradients and steps can affect day-to-day convenience, especially when downsizing or choosing a home for later life. Check whether parking is close to the entrance and whether large furniture will fit through a cottage’s doors and stairs.

Shaftesbury does not have its own railway station. Compare the journey to nearby Gillingham with the train service you would actually use. Our Gillingham relocation guide covers the next town in more detail.

Gillingham: a North Dorset base with a station

Gillingham is worth including if rail travel is part of your routine. The town has a station and local shops, with countryside nearby. Compare addresses on their actual walking or driving distance to the places you need rather than assuming every part of town offers the same convenience.

Use National Rail’s Gillingham station information and check current journeys before making commuting plans. Johnson’s storage base is also in Gillingham, which is useful to discuss if you need to store belongings during a move or renovation.

Sherborne: history and a town-centre lifestyle

Sherborne is known for its abbey and historic buildings. If browsing independent shops and spending time in a traditional town centre appeals, include it on your viewing list. Explore the streets around the homes you can realistically consider, as well as the centre.

Period properties deserve practical checks. Measure entrances and stair turns, establish where a removal vehicle could load and ask about any shared access. For commuting or school travel, test the specific route and current services rather than relying on a town’s general reputation.

Coastal alternatives: Swanage, Christchurch and Weymouth

Swanage

Swanage may suit you if being near the sea and exploring Purbeck are priorities. Visit outside holiday periods as well as in summer to get a more rounded view of life there. Check how your regular journeys work and how parking changes around the address you are considering.

For a move close to the centre or seafront, tell the removals team about loading restrictions and any distance between the vehicle and your front door. These details help determine the appropriate crew and vehicle.

Christchurch

Christchurch offers a different coastal setting, with its historic centre and waterside areas. Compare neighbourhoods on access to shops, everyday services and your usual journeys. A location that feels peaceful on one visit may be busier at another time, so return before making your decision.

If you are looking at a flat, confirm lift access, loading arrangements and any move-in rules with the building manager. Share those details when requesting a removal quote.

Weymouth

Weymouth is a larger seaside option, with a beach and harbour setting. It belongs on the shortlist if coastal life matters more to you than living in a small inland town. Explore residential streets as well as the waterfront and test the practical journeys you would make each week.

Holiday traffic and events can affect access around coastal centres. Agree the collection and delivery arrangements in advance, including any parking permissions that need to be organised.

Bournemouth and neighbouring Wiltshire options

Bournemouth offers a larger, busier alternative to the small towns in this guide. Consider it if you want a wider urban setting alongside the coast. Compare individual neighbourhoods rather than treating the whole town as one housing market.

If your search extends beyond Dorset, Salisbury and Warminster are in Wiltshire. Salisbury offers a cathedral-city setting, while Warminster provides another town to compare for your household’s needs. Check current travel routes, housing and services before deciding. Johnson’s can also discuss removals in Wiltshire.

Planning your Dorset relocation

Once you have a shortlist, start planning the move itself. Johnson’s will need to understand the amount you are moving, the distance, access at both properties and the help you want with packing.

  1. Make a room-by-room list, including the loft, garage, shed and garden items.
  2. Measure furniture against the new home’s rooms and entrances before deciding what to keep.
  3. Share photographs of narrow approaches, steps, stairs and parking areas.
  4. Ask about packing support and identify fragile or specialist items.
  5. Discuss provisional dates early and confirm the booking arrangements with the team.
  6. Keep documents, medicines, keys and a first-night essentials bag with you.

Match the service to the load and the access

A smaller move and a full household removal need different planning. Vehicle size alone does not determine the price: the amount to move, crew time, carrying distance and number of trips also matter. Where access is restricted, discuss the options with the team rather than assuming a large vehicle can reach the door.

Build storage into the plan if dates do not line up

If you must leave before the new home is ready, ask about storage at our Gillingham base and later delivery. Explain how long you expect to need it and whether you require access to belongings during storage. The team can discuss suitable options, access arrangements and charges.

Get help with your move to Dorset

Johnson’s has been helping people move since 1855. Read our customer reviews and tell us where you are moving, your preferred dates and whether you need packing or storage. You can also use our moving tips guide to prepare.

Get a Dorset moving quote

Or call 01747 821800 to discuss your plans.

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