Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol


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



<p>Low key but cool Bruton, aka the Notting Hill of the South West, has more than its fair share of cultural highlights, great food and famous people. There&#8217;s a strong community feel and the annual Packhorse Fair in May is fun.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</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/8/2023/07/Roth-Bar-Opening-1.jpg" alt="roth bar bruton somerset best place to live" class="wp-image-98538" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Roth-Bar-Opening-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Roth-Bar-Opening-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Roth-Bar-Opening-1-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Roth-Bar-Opening-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Roth-Bar-Opening-1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Roth Bar </figcaption></figure>



<p>Meet friends for coffee, cocktails, dining, fresh bread and pizzas <a aria-label="At The Chapel (opens in a new tab)" href="https://atthechapel.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">At The Chapel</a>,  cocktails and dining at the new, super cool <a href="https://rothbar.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roth Bar</a>,  dish of the day at <a aria-label="Matt's Kitchen (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.mattskitchen.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matt&#8217;s Kitchen</a>, books with coffee (and sometimes live music) at the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stripyduckbookshopcafe/?hl=en-gb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stripy Duck</a> bookshop, and wine, food and deli stuff at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/oldpharmacybruton/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Old Pharmacy</a>. Just opened: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blueballbruton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Blue Ball</a> pub. When you fancy Michelin star dining, head to <a aria-label="Osip (opens in a new tab)" href="https://osiprestaurant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Osip</a>, owned by the youngest chef to win a star, Merlin Labron-Johnson, at Hardway (booking from August 2024). Rochelle Canteen co-founder Margot Henderson&#8217;s pub with rooms and field to fork menu, <a href="https://thethreehorseshoesbatcombe.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Three Horseshoes</a>, is in nearby Batcombe.</p>



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



<p>All the basics plus a growing number of tasteful shops include womenswear and lifestyle shop <a aria-label="Rose &amp; Lyon (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.roseandlyons.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rose &amp; Lyon</a>; vintage homewares at <a href="https://philoandphilo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philo &amp; Philo</a>;  Morroccan rugs and other home stuff from around the world at <a href="https://www.smoukinteriors.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smouk Interiors</a>; vintage and contemporary homewares and gifts at <a href="https://new-romantic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Romantic</a>; lifestyle store <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ateighteentwenty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">At Eighteen-Twenty</a> and creative space and wellbeing store <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anna_spirals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spirals</a>; books, gifts and kids&#8217; stuff Ape or Eden?; clobber at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/swanvintagebruton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swan Vintage</a> and assorted little galleries, including Hauser &amp; Wirth&#8217;s <a href="https://www.hauserwirth.com/locations/29360-make-hauser-wirth-somerset/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Make.</a> <a href="https://www.godminster.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Godminster</a> for cheese and more. <a href="https://theflowershopbruton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Flower Shop </a>for fabulous flowers. The <a href="https://dursladefarmshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Durslade Farm Shop</a> for artisan produce and homewares, artfully displayed. The <a aria-label="Mulberry  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.mulberryfactoryshop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mulberry</a> factory shop is close by. Waitrose is 10 mins away in Gillingham. </p>



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



<p>There&#8217;s a GP on the doorstep. Pop yourselves into <a href="https://www.wellnessworkswest.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WellnessWorksWest</a> for wellbeing products and complimentary treatments; contact <a href="https://www.beyondacupuncture.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beyond Acupuncture</a> for guess what. Over in <a href="https://www.spirals.life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spirals</a>&#8216; wellbeing space, ecological artist and flow coach Anna Murray will help you explore the power of creativity, sustainability and spirituality. Less esoterically, there are cycling and walking clubs&nbsp;– and walks aplenty all around.</p>



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



<p>Hauser &amp; Wirth holds lots of community events like the Big Draw, workshops, annual fairs and fireworks. The month-long <a href="https://www.brutonfestival.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bruton Arts Festival</a> culminating in the popular Packhorse Fair in May brings everyone together. There&#8217;s a community hall; they&#8217;ve still got a library.</p>



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



<p>Super chic and pricey <a aria-label="The Newt in Somerset  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/newt-somerset/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Newt in Somerset</a> country house hotel, restaurant and spa with gorgeous grounds – including an aerial walkway, a reimagined Roman villa and 267 varieties of apples – is a couple of miles out of town. Kids will adore the brilliant 25-acre outdoor activity centre <a aria-label="Mill on the Brue (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.millonthebrue.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mill on the Brue</a> (zip wires, high ropes, canoeing, etc). The National Trust&#8217;s <a aria-label="Stourhead  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stourhead </a>estate is up the road. There are masses of beautiful walks nearby.</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="1124" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/09/00-hauser-sue-tucker_Fotor.jpg" alt="hauser and wirth bruton somerset best place to live" class="wp-image-72998" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/09/00-hauser-sue-tucker_Fotor.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/09/00-hauser-sue-tucker_Fotor-800x599.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/09/00-hauser-sue-tucker_Fotor-1000x749.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/09/00-hauser-sue-tucker_Fotor-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/09/00-hauser-sue-tucker_Fotor-768x575.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/09/00-hauser-sue-tucker_Fotor-701x525.jpg 701w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>International art gallery <a aria-label="Hauser &amp; Wirth (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.hauserwirth.com/locations/10068-hauser-wirth-somerset" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hauser &amp; Wirth</a>, owned by art world power couple Iwan Wirth and Manuela Hauser, is on the edge of town. As well as exhibitions by world famous artists (Henry Moore, Louise Bourgeois, et al), you can visit the beautiful Oudolf Field gardens, designed by landscape designer Piet Oudolf, and the Radić Pavilion, a cross between a potato and a spaceship that was first unveiled as the Serpentine Gallery 2014 Pavilion – all for free.</p>



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



<p>Properties, from cutting-edge eco-houses to period properties and newer builds, are very hard to come by here. The average house price over the past year was £336,202, with semi-detached properties selling for an average of £336,667, terraced for £270,575, and flats for £162,214 (bijoux country pad, anyone?).</p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/08/Untitled-design-71-1000x667.jpg" alt="Hill House" class="wp-image-99799" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/08/Untitled-design-71-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/08/Untitled-design-71-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/08/Untitled-design-71-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/08/Untitled-design-71-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/08/Untitled-design-71.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><br><a href="https://www.knightfrank.com/properties/residential/for-sale/bruton-somerset-ba10/she012344285">Hill House</a> is a generously sized family home overlooking miles of unspoilt countryside, £850,000.</figcaption></figure>



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



<p>Ladybird Pre-school and Community Kids in Bruton and Toybox Pre-school in nearby Castle Cary are all Ofsted-rated &#8216;Good&#8217;. </p>



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



<p>The state primary in Bruton and Ansford Academy in Castle Cary are both Ofsted &#8216;Good&#8217;. The independent King&#8217;s Bruton is in the middle of town. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Hazlegrove Prep  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/muddy-best-schools-hazlegrove-prep/" target="_blank">Hazlegrove Prep</a>, which is part of the same group, is about 8 miles. Outstanding for its music (and much else), <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Wells Cathedral School (opens in a new tab)" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/wells-cathedral-school-wells/" target="_blank">Wells Cathedral School</a> is just 12 miles away, renowned for sport (but not just sport) <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Millfield Prep (opens in a new tab)" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/muddy-best-schools-guide-2-millfield-prep-glastonbury/" target="_blank">Millfield Prep</a> and Millfield Senior are in Glastonbury and Street respectively, and about 16 miles away. </p>



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



<p>Literary giant John Steinbeck once lived here. It&#8217;s loved by arty, media types like Mariella Frostrup, Sam Taylor-Wood, Cameron Mackintosh – and George Osborne, who owns a £1.6m pad in the area.  </p>



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



<p>Direct trains to London Paddington from 1 hr 50 mins; to London Waterloo from nearby Gillingham from 2 hrs 12 mins.</p>



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


Best Places to Live: Bruton

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