Clockwise: St John's Almshouse, the Old Castle, the High Street and Sherborne Abbey Pictures: Visit Dorset — Clockwise: St John's Almshouse, the Old Castle, Cheap Street and Sherborne Abbey Pictures: Visit Dorset

Sherborne named as one of the best places to live in the southwest by The Sunday Times

Tait ap EllisMarch 21, 20251 Comment0

SHERBORNE, which has been described as “drop dead gorgeous”, has been crowned one of the best places to live in the southwest for 2025.

The market town on the edge of the Blackmore Vale has long been praised by residents who have fostered a strong sense of community over the years – and now the town is in the national spotlight for just this.

The Sunday Times has released its annual Best Places to Live in the Southwest guide today (March 21)- and Sherborne has been included thanks to its “deep community spirit”.

A judging panel, formed of experts, has highlighted the “inspiring” work of the Sherborne Community Kitchen and praised how there are more than 200 community groups for “every conceivable interest”.

The judges also highlighted the “lively” high street, “impeccable” schools, as well as the increasing number of start-ups, which they say points to how the town has transformed from a retirement destination to a bubbling hub for families and entrepreneurs.

They said: “True beauty really is more than skin deep in this historic, honey-coloured town surrounded by rolling countryside.

“It’s a drop-dead gorgeous address with a lively high street, welcoming pubs, cosy cafés, impeccable schools (both private and state) and, above all, a deep community spirit.

“There are more than 200 groups covering every conceivable interest.

“The inspiring Sherborne Community Kitchen, a lunch club, has gone from strength to strength.

“So too has the number of start-ups — evidence that an influx of families and entrepreneurs during the pandemic has freshened up Sherborne’s reputation as a retirement destination.”

The Sunday Times’s expert judges assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.

Elsewhere in Dorset, Southbourne in Bournemouth was also included in the list, while The Chew Valley in neighbouring Somerset was named as the regional winner in the annual guide.

Saffron Walden in Essex was named the overall best place to live in the UK.

Visit www.thetimes.com/best-places-to-live for the full list.