The Dorset Life: Where the Sea Meets a Different Pace of Life
From the shores of Sandbanks and Poole Harbour to the wild landscapes of Purbeck and the Jurassic Coast, Dorset offers something increasingly rare - space, beauty, character and a slower, more considered way of life. We explore the places, people and experiences that make Dorset somewhere to visit, somewhere to escape to, and, for an ever-growing number of people, somewhere to call home.
There are places you visit, and there are places that change the way you want to live. Dorset is one of them.
There is a particular way of life on this stretch of the South Coast - shaped by the sea, the countryside, history and an extraordinary sense of place. From the beaches and sheltered waters of Poole Harbour and the sought-after shores of Sandbanks, through the rolling landscapes of the Purbecks and the historic character of Christchurch, Dorset offers an exceptional balance of natural beauty, culture and understated sophistication. Beyond the harbour lies the Jurassic Coast, England's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretching for 95 miles along a coastline rich in fossils, dramatic cliffs and geological history. Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Old Harry Rocks and Chesil Beach have become synonymous with the Dorset landscape, while Corfe Castle, Brownsea Island and Portland add centuries of history and character.
Dorset has also long attracted people of imagination and influence. Thomas Hardy drew deeply on the county's landscapes for his novels and poetry, creating the fictional Wessex that made places such as Dorchester and the surrounding countryside part of literary history. T.E. Lawrence - Lawrence of Arabia - made his home at Clouds Hill near Bovington, while Enid Blyton drew inspiration from Dorset for some of her much-loved stories. Jane Austen was a regular visitor to Lyme Regis, John Fowles made the town his home, and the Jurassic Coast has continued to inspire writers and filmmakers, including Chris Chibnall, creator of Broadchurch.
Today, that sense of character remains. Poole and Sandbanks offer a distinctly coastal lifestyle, with sailing, boating, beaches and waterfront living; Purbeck brings dramatic countryside, historic villages and some of England's most evocative landscapes; Christchurch combines harbour life with heritage; and the neighbouring New Forest offers ancient woodland, open heath and a slower rural rhythm. It is little wonder that people choose to relocate here - drawn by the opportunity to exchange the pace of city life for more space, nature and time, while still having excellent restaurants, culture, travel connections and a vibrant community within reach. For those who already call Dorset home, those considering a move, and those simply wanting to experience the county at its best, The DE & Co. Edit exists to uncover the people, places and experiences that make this corner of England so exceptional.