Living in Dorset

Living in Dorset ranges from the tranquil and traditional to the modern and urban. The county enjoys an excellent transport network: by rail, London is just two hours away; by sea, France is a short hop across the Channel; and Bournemouth International Airport also offers flights all over the globe.

Dorset's coast and countryside is amongst the most varied and beautiful in England. It provides people with varied landscapes, rich in spectacular scenery, geology and wildlife. The Dorset and East Devon Coast was also listed as a World Heritage Site in December 2001.

The scenery isn’t just there to be admired – it’s there to be used! If you’re the active type, you’ll find an adrenalin-pumping array of sporting and leisure opportunities. If you’d rather while away the hours on a gentle stroll, you’ll find some 3,000 miles of well maintained and signed footpaths, trackways and bridleways. What’s more, Dorset is to become a key player on the international sporting stage. Work is underway to prepare for the Olympics - the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy is the proud host of the Olympic Games Sailing Events 2012.

Culturally speaking, there’s plenty to see and do thanks to a flourishing arts scene, with over 500 venues, galleries, museums, libraries and craft centres, not to mention the largest open studio event in the UK. And whether you’ve been windsurfing in Poole’s large natural harbour or admiring your favourite artist’s latest work, it can be hungry (and thirsty) work. Fortunately, the region is host to numerous bars and restaurants, from traditional pub grub to Michelin-listed restaurants to lively bars and nightclubs.

Dorset’s schools provide excellent standards of education across all ages, with pupil performance, on most measures, putting the authority well within the top 20% in the country.

We are focussed on further improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, today and in the future. And quality of life is something that we already enjoy in abundance.