Retire to Dorchester
Retirement living in Dorchester
Dorchester is a delightful historic market town in Dorset built on the banks of the River Frome. It’s most famous for being Thomas Hardy’s hometown and its proximity to glorious countryside and dramatic coastline.
Local retirees enjoy:
- A coastal retirement: the stunning Jurassic Coast is only nine miles away, but also a close proximity to glorious green open spaces like the Dorset Downs and South Dorset Ridgeway.
- A huge choice of community events, like Dorchester Roman Festival, Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair and Dorchester Literary Festival as well as book clubs, art groups and gardening societies.
- Large supermarkets, a good mix of shops, plus lots of restaurants, traditional pubs and tea rooms as well as post offices, museums and a lovely library.
Retirement developments in Dorchester
Explore retirement property for sale or rent in Dorchester, and find your ideal home for senior living.
Access to amenities
As a highly walkable town, all the amenities, shops, and facilities you need on an everyday basis are within a short stroll around the town centre.
- Groceries
Dorchester has several major supermarkets for groceries and essentials, including Waitrose, Tesco, Co-op and Lidl. - Shops
There is a charming mix of independent and high-street shops to browse in the arcades and pedestrianised centre, selling everything from local produce to antiques. There’s also a garden centre and popular weekly market and monthly farmer’s market. - Hospitals and medical care
Dorchester is home to Dorset’s major hospital, Dorset County Hospital and several GP surgeries, such as The Prince of Wales Surgery and Poundbury Doctors Surgery. There are several dentists, pharmacies and opticians too.
Things for retirees to do in Dorchester
Desirable Dorchester has wealth of attractions and leisure facilities to keep you entertained.
- Dining
The town has plenty of pubs, cafés and restaurants which cater to all tastes with numerous chains and independent options in the centre and Poundbury area. - Attractions
Must visits include The Dorset Museum and Art Gallery, Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum, Abbotsbury Swannery and Thomas Hardy’s house Max Gate. - Nature
Local beauty spots include Maiden Castle, a historic hillfort with panoramic views, the banks of the River Frome and Borough Gardens, a lovely park with a bandstand. - Sports and leisure
The 1610 Dorchester Sports Centre offers swimming, a gym and classes. Other sporting options include Dorchester Bowls Club and Dorchester Tennis and Squash Club. There are golf clubs at Charminster and Came Down.
Transport and connections
From our retirement homes in Dorchester you’ll find excellent transport links to all parts of the South West and the UK.
- By car
Dorchester is well positioned for road travel with the A35, A37 and A354 providing links to Poole, Lyme Regis, Yeovil, and more. - By bus
There are plenty of reliable buses providing services to nearby towns and villages, such as Weymouth, Bridport, and Sherborne. - By rail
There are two railway stations in Dorchester. Between them, you can go South, to places like Winchester, Southampton, and Bournemouth, or West to the likes of Westbury, Bristol and Gloucester. - By air
Bournemouth is the closest airport to Dorchester and is around a 40 minute drive from the centre.
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Browse by Retirement Living services
Our retirement developments offer differing amenities and assisted living services. Choose from two options to find your perfect fit.
Retirement Living
Low-maintenance independent living for people aged 60 and over, with a House Manager on-site and a friendly community on the doorstep.
Retirement Living PLUS
Independence combined with assisted living for people aged 70 and over, including an Estate Manager, on-site restaurant and optional personal care.
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