Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>The picture postcard market town in north-west Dorset has gorgeous medieval and Georgian properties, an eclectic array of independent shops, cafés and restaurants, excellent schools, a magnificent abbey and not one but two castles. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2399" height="1800" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/Clockspire-CSJUNE24LR-75_Fotor.jpg" alt="Clockspire somerset" class="wp-image-104353" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/Clockspire-CSJUNE24LR-75_Fotor.jpg 2399w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/Clockspire-CSJUNE24LR-75_Fotor-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/Clockspire-CSJUNE24LR-75_Fotor-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/Clockspire-CSJUNE24LR-75_Fotor-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/Clockspire-CSJUNE24LR-75_Fotor-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/Clockspire-CSJUNE24LR-75_Fotor-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/Clockspire-CSJUNE24LR-75_Fotor-2048x1537.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2399px) 100vw, 2399px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Clockspire</figcaption></figure>



<p>Sherborne has a couple of Michelin-listed places: Mediterranean-style modern fare at <a aria-label="The Green. (opens in a new tab)" href="http://greenrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Green</a> in the centre, and modern British at <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-clockspire-milborne-port/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Clockspire</a>, just outside town in Milborne Port. Deliciously, there&#8217;s an indulgence of cafés (can you have too many places to eat cake?). Sherborne has won Best Café in the Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol Muddy Awards for two years running: Blackmarsh Farm Café in 2024 and <a href="https://cafedurberville.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Café D’Urberville</a> (which very handily turns into a bar by night) in 2023. The Story Pig (now called <a href="https://thewildestory.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wilde Story</a>) was a finalist in the 2025 Awards. Have a glass of wine (and buy to take home) at <a href="https://www.thedrinksmith.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Drinksmith</a>; wine, dine and shop at wine-bar cum lifestyle store <a href="https://ogilvyandmore.com/pages/our-sherborne-store" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ogilvy &amp; More</a>; and enjoy wine, dinner and culture at <a href="https://thesherborne.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sherborne</a>. Pubs? <a aria-label="The Plume of Feathers (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.theplumesherborne.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Plume of Feathers</a>, which serves Italian small plates, is in town. Country pubs with good food and comfy rooms <a href="https://www.thequeensarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Queen&#8217;s Arms</a> and <a href="https://thekingsarms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The King&#8217;s Arms</a> are in the nearby villages of Corton Denham and Charlton Horethorne. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1994" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-country-crib-528749295_18302204347247382_8971578492772736878_n.jpg" alt="the country crib sherborne dorset" class="wp-image-111082" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-country-crib-528749295_18302204347247382_8971578492772736878_n.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-country-crib-528749295_18302204347247382_8971578492772736878_n-602x800.jpg 602w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-country-crib-528749295_18302204347247382_8971578492772736878_n-752x1000.jpg 752w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-country-crib-528749295_18302204347247382_8971578492772736878_n-301x400.jpg 301w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-country-crib-528749295_18302204347247382_8971578492772736878_n-768x1021.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-country-crib-528749295_18302204347247382_8971578492772736878_n-1155x1536.jpg 1155w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Country Crib</figcaption></figure>



<p>There is everything you need here, with chains but lots of independents. Winner of Best Lifestyle Store in the 2025 Muddy Awards, <a href="https://www.thecountrycrib.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Country Crib</a>, sells beautiful, useful things for the garden and home. <a href="https://ionaandlime.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iona &amp; Lime</a>&#8216;s luxury skincare, fragrance and haircare for women – and for men – are the premium international brands you usually just find in cities. For women&#8217;s fashion you&#8217;ve got <a href="https://www.cleverlywrapped.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cleverly Wrapped</a>; vintage and pre-loved designer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/looklikearightlemon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lemon</a>; and lifestyle boutique <a aria-label="Circus  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.thecircusboutique.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Circus </a>for fashion, interiors, beauty and gifts, for both men and women. <a aria-label="Blue Zebra (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.thebluezebra.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blue Zebra</a> sells kids clothes and gifts, and check out <a aria-label="Cilla &amp; Camilla cook shop, (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cillaandcamilla.co.uk/index.php/sherborne-cook-shop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cilla &amp; Camilla</a> for kitchenware. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/durbervilleliving/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">D&#8217;Urberville Living</a> is good for vintage and contemporary homewares; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arabella_sayer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Artichoke</a> for rustic style homewares; and <a href="https://shop.winstonebooks.co.uk/pages/winstones-sherborne" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Winstone&#8217;s</a> for books. The <a href="https://thegardensgroup.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Castle Gardens</a> centre is fab. There is an antiques market and several auction houses, and a farmers&#8217; market on the third Friday of the month. Oh and there&#8217;s a Waitrose <em>and</em> a Sainsbury&#8217;s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>Head to the <a href="https://www.oxleysc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxley Sports Centre</a> for swimming, racquet sports (including pickleball), fitness classes, climbing and more. The Eastbury Hotel has a hobbit-like <a href="https://theeastburyhotel.co.uk/the-spa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">garden spa.</a> <a href="https://www.korepilates.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kore Pilates</a> and <a href="https://www.middlepiccadilly.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Middle Piccadilly</a> rural retreats were both finalist in the Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol Muddy Awards 2025. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>You&#8217;re not going to be bored – there are said to be around 200 clubs, societies and community groups here, from rugby and cricket to the Sherborne Literary Society. Sherborne proudly hosts great Pride events.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<p>The aforementioned <a href="https://www.sherborneabbey.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Abbey</a> is an attraction in itself, and also hosts recitals and other events throughout the year. The 12th-century ruin, <a aria-label="Sherborne Old Castle (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/sherborne-old-castle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sherborne Old Castle</a>, was leased to Sir Walter Rayleigh, who then built a new pad in the grounds – the Elizabethan <a aria-label="Sherborne Castle. (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.sherbornecastle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sherborne Castle</a> next door, which holds lots of events throughout the year. The town&#8217;s annual medieval Pack Monday Fair in the Autumn sounds a hoot. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/00-the-sherborne-exterior.jpg" alt="the sherborne dorset best places to live " class="wp-image-95886" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/00-the-sherborne-exterior.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/00-the-sherborne-exterior-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/00-the-sherborne-exterior-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/00-the-sherborne-exterior-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/00-the-sherborne-exterior-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Sherborne</figcaption></figure>



<p>The Grade-I listed, 18th-century building in the centre of town is <a href="https://thesherborne.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sherborne</a>, an exciting arts hub for the whole region, with rolling exhibitions, a restaurant/café, artisan chocolate and cut-above gift shop. The annual <a href="https://www.sherborneabbeyfestival.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sherborne Abbey Festival</a> is a week-long celebration of music – opera, classical music, jazz – in venues around the town. There are two art galleries, the <a href="https://www.jerramgallery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jerram</a> and the <a href="https://www.swangallery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swan</a>. Sherborne School and Sherborne Girls both put on recitals and concerts which are open to the public. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>There are lots of period properties as well as new builds. Average house price was £386,332 over the last year, with detached houses selling for an average of £548,826, terraced £339,704 and semis £382,048&nbsp;–&nbsp;12% up on 2024.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/00sherborned02fa2fe-ebed-43f4-97f5-b885d58150ad-0-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg" alt="House for sale Sherborne Dorset" class="wp-image-100999" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/00sherborned02fa2fe-ebed-43f4-97f5-b885d58150ad-0-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/00sherborned02fa2fe-ebed-43f4-97f5-b885d58150ad-0-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/00sherborned02fa2fe-ebed-43f4-97f5-b885d58150ad-0-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/00sherborned02fa2fe-ebed-43f4-97f5-b885d58150ad-0-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/00sherborned02fa2fe-ebed-43f4-97f5-b885d58150ad-0-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mid-17th century village house in the area. <a href="https://www.knightfrank.com/properties/residential/for-sale/the-manor-house-high-street-yetminster-sherborne-dt9/she012387080" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £1.175m</a>.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.peartreenurserysherborne.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pear Tree Nursery &amp; Playschool </a>and <a href="https://www.kaleidoscopenursery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harlequins Pre-School</a> were both rated Good by Ofsted. <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/leweston-prep-nursery-sherborne/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leweston Nursery</a> is a couple of miles outside town.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>State <a href="https://www.sherbornepri.dorset.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sherborne Primary</a> and secondary <a href="https://www.gryphon.dorset.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Gryphon School</a> are Ofsted rated Good. The independents Sherborne School (all boys, established in the 12th century), Sherborne Girls, and Sherborne Prep (co-ed) are in the centre of town; <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/leweston-school-sherborne/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leweston School</a> and <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/leweston-prep-nursery-sherborne/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leweston Prep &amp; Nursery</a> are just outside;  Hazlegrove Prep is about 20 mins away, girls&#8217; school Hanford, <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/castle-court-prep-wimborne-dorset/">Castle Court Prep</a>, <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/canford-school-wimborne/">Canford School</a>, <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/bryanston-school/">Bryanston School</a> and <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/bryanston-prep-dorset/">Bryanston Prep</a>, and <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/clayesmore-senior-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clayesmore School</a> and <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/clayesmore-prep-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Claysmore Prep</a>, are all within an hour. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>The UK&#8217;s biggest collection of cars and motorbikes is eight miles up the road at the <a aria-label="Haynes International Motor Museum.  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.haynesmotormuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Haynes Motor Museum. </a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Sherborne has a station with trains to London Waterloo taking from 2 hrs 28 mins; go to Castle Cary for London Paddington in approx 90 mins. </p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live">Top 260 Best Places to Live</a></em>.</p>


Sherborne

See more in Dorset