Retire to Wimborne
Retirement Living in Wimborne
In the heart of Dorset, Wimborne Minster is a wonderful place to live
But don’t just take our word for it—this picturesque market town, idyllically positioned on the banks of the rivers Stour and Allen, was recently voted the best place to live in Dorset by the online lifestyle magazine Muddy Stilettos. And its not hard to see why.
Wimborne is a lively community with plenty to do and see. It’s a ‘Fairtrade’ town offering an eclectic mix of independents and high street stores housed in attractive historic buildings. Cyclists and strollers will enjoy visiting the pretty central square, meandering around the many trails including the Willow Walk and the wild-life rich riverbanks
Discover The Old Market Retirement Village in Wimborne, Dorset
Our brand new retirement village under construction in Wimborne will feature stunning retirement bungalows, chalet bungalows and apartments, all set within a beautiful village green. Enjoy independent living at Market House — featuring stylish, self-contained apartments located within our Old Market retirement village. Should you prefer a retirement bungalow, The Old Market Gardens offers beautiful homes to enjoy within our retirement village community in Wimborne.
McCarthy Stone Developments near Wimborne
Surrounding Areas
Wimborne is a fantastic base from which to pursue all sorts of hobbies from golf to sailing, historic tours to cycling in the rolling green countryside or walking along the famous rugged coastline. The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site and it’s not hard to see why. The breath-taking path stretches 154km from Exmouth, Devon to Studland Bay, Dorset.
Wimborne is surrounded by numerous tourist attractions and beauty spots. Nearby National Trust attractions include the glorious Italianate Kingston Lacey estate, with walks down to the Eye Bridge or Pamphill Green and Badbury Rings is an Iron Age hill fort. Or why not explore the English Sparkling Wine vineyard near Poole?
Transport and connections
Dorset is blissfully free of motorways, but Wimborne is well-connected by A roads, in particular the A31. Salisbury is a 40 minute drive away and the breath-taking Jurassic coast is also only a 40-minute drive away with fossil hunting and kayaking available at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. You can be on the beaches of Bournemouth within 30 minutes and there are regular bus and train services to make a jolly seaside jaunt a breeze.
For holidays abroad Bournemouth Airport is the closest airport but Southampton Airport is just 30 miles always too. Being so close to the coast, ferries make a fantastic choice for travel. From Poole you can get a ferry to Jersey. And Southampton ferry port offer trips to the Isle of Wight, while Portsmouth has routes to France and Spain.
Community
Wimborne has a strong caring and creative community. Arts and crafts lovers, for instance, will find a home at Walford Mill. You can visit the studios or take classes in jewellery making, upholstery, woodwork and painting. There’s even a café, ‘Happyccino’, which promotes positive mental health,
The town also had a packed calendar of community events and festivals for all to enjoy. The annual Wimborne Minster Folk Festival has music, dancing and comedy and more. Wimborne Minster Food & Drink Festival celebrates the best in local produce and cookery. Wimborne History Festival holds exciting activities and Wimborne Literary Festival host authors and poets.
The town also had a packed calendar of community events and festivals for all to enjoy. The annual Wimborne Minster Folk Festival has music, dancing and comedy and more. Wimborne Minster Food & Drink Festival celebrates the best in local produce and cookery. Wimborne History Festival holds exciting activities and Wimborne Literary Festival host authors and poets.
Attractions
Wimborne is steeped in history with Roman origins and the famous Minister Church with its many treasures, including a chained library, but for a more unexpected excursion you can’t miss the unusual Wimborne Model Town and Gardens, where you’ll find an intricate miniature version of 1950s Wimborne, complete with flushing toilets.
From traditional Dorset cream teas to Nepalese, there are plenty of options for places to eat in Wimborne too. For coffee and cake try the popular Café on the Square, in the main square or Number 9 on the green opposite the Minster. The Wimborne Pig is a fantastic choice for posh pub food or for a lighter meal, try Renoufs, a much-loved wine bar offering deli style cheese and meat platters.
Popular places to retire in the Wimborne area
Explore more brilliant retirement locations close to Wimborne.
Retirement living services and amenities at McCarthy Stone
We offer a range of amenities and assisted living services at our Wimborne retirement developments. 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.
McCarthy Stone community news from Dorset
Read our latest community news, case studies and stories from Dorset.
Retiring to Wimborne - Frequently asked questions
Yes! Wimborne is pretty market town in the heart of the glorious Dorset countryside and close to the beautiful Jurassic Coast and popular seaside towns of Poole and Bournemouth. The town enjoys thriving community, arts and crafts and food scenes and puts on an impressive range of regular events from folk to literary festivals.
Looking for retirement homes in Dorset? With perfect mix of lush green countryside and a breath-taking coastline, as well as multiple historic and cultural attractions, as a retirement location it’s hard to beat. Talk to McCarthy Stone about our retirement developments in the lovely market town of Wimborne Minster, beautiful Bridport or historic Dorchester, known for its ties to Thomas Hardy.
There are lots of variables that make this a difficult question to answer, but one simple tip is to multiple the amount you’d like to live on every year (say £24,000) by 25 (in this case the answer is £600,000). That is the amount you’d need to save. However this figure doesn’t consider things like your annual state pension, benefits, tax, or the equity you might hold in your home. Talk to McCarthy Stone about flexible retirement living options.
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