Retire to Wimborne
Retirement living in Wimborne
Nestled in the heart of Dorset, Wimborne Minster is a wonderful place to live - in fact this picturesque market town was voted the best place to live in Dorset by the online lifestyle magazine Muddy Stilettos. And it's not hard to see why.
Idyllically positioned on the banks of the rivers Stour and Allen, Wimborne is a lively community with plenty to do and see.
Local retirees enjoy:
- Amenities including cafes, restaurants, pubs and an eclectic mix of independent and high-street stores housed in attractive historic buildings.
- Meandering around the many trails, including the Willow Walk and the wild-life rich riverbanks.
- Visiting the Jurassic Coast, just a 40-minute drive away - with fossil hunting and kayaking available at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.
Retirement developments in Wimborne
Explore retirement property for sale or rent in Wimborne, and find your ideal home for senior living.
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.
Amenities in Wimborne
Wimborne is a ‘Fairtrade’ town, with plenty of local businesses to support alongside well-known chain retailers in the pretty central square.
- Groceries
For everyday grocery shopping, Waitrose, Co-op, and Lidl in Wimborne stock all the essentials and more. Pick up local produce in the regular farmers’ markets, bakeries and butchers. - Shops
In the delightful centre you’ll find a range of boutiques and shops selling everything from clothes to cookware and books. - Healthcare
GP surgeries in Wimborne include The Quarter Jack Surgery and the Walford Mill Medical Centre, both providing general care. Victoria Community Hospital in Wimborne offers minor injury treatment and outpatient services, while Poole Hospital is 7 miles away and provides specialist and emergency care. There are several dentists, pharmacies and opticians too.
Things for retirees to do in Wimborne
Wimborne has a caring and creative community with a packed calendar of events for all to enjoy.
- Arts and crafts
Art lovers will find a home at Walford Mill. You can visit the studios and café, or take classes in jewellery making, upholstery and painting. Meanwhile, the art deco Tivoli Theatre is your go to for films, comedy and shows. - Events
Include the annual Wimborne Minster Folk Festival. Wimborne Minster Food & Drink Festival celebrates the best in local produce and cookery. Alternatively, visit Wimborne History Festival or Wimborne Literary Festival. - Sports and leisure
You’ll find a bowls club, tennis club and sports clubs in central Wimborne, with a leisure centre with a pool and golf club in Canford School.
Places to visit in Wimborne
You’ll never be stuck for local days out in Wimborne - or popular places to eat.
- A must visit is the famous Minister Church which has a chained library.
- The MED (Museum of East Dorset) takes you through the town’s history from the Romans to more recent decades.
- 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.
- For a coffee and cake break try the popular Café on the Square, or Number 9 on the green.
- The Wimborne Pig is a fantastic choice for posh pub food.
- Renoufs is a much-loved wine bar offering deli style cheese and meat platters.
Explore the surrounding areas
Wimborne is a fantastic base from which to pursue all sorts of hobbies from golf and sailing, historic tours, and bike rides or walks along the rolling green countryside and the famous rugged coastline. The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage site and the breathtaking 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 Lacy estate. Or, enjoy walks down to the Eye Bridge, Pamphill Green, and the hill fort Badbury Rings, which dates back to the Iron Age. You can even tour the Langham Wine Estate in Dorchester and sample some English Sparkling Wine.
Transport and connections
Wimborne is well-placed with excellent transport links making it easy to explore the South West and even Europe.
- By car
Wimborne is well-connected by A roads, in particular the A31. Salisbury is a 40 minute drive away, or relax on the beaches of Bournemouth within 30 minutes. - By bus
Regular bus services connect Wimborne to nearby towns, so all your jolly seaside jaunts will be a breeze. - By rail
Poole Railway Station is just 7 miles away, while Bournemouth Railway Station is 10 miles from Wimborne. - By air
Bournemouth Airport is the closest airport and Southampton Airport is just 30 miles away. - By sea
From Poole, you can get a ferry to Jersey. From Southampton, you can take visit the Isle of Wight, while Portsmouth offers routes to France and Spain.
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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.
McCarthy Stone community news from Dorset
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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