Your Local's Guide to Poundbury

Designed by HRH Prince Charles and world-renowned architects, Poundbury has stunning Georgian-inspired architecture and as you explore its streets you can see that every detail has been carefully thought out to create a warm, welcoming place to live and work.

Just five minutes drive from the centre of Dorchester, Poundbury is perfectly located for residents to enjoy the wide range of facilities and activities the historic town has to offer. What's more, it's just off the A35, giving easy access to the bustling towns of Poole and Bournemouth, the stunning Isle of Purbeck and the seaside town of Weymouth.

Whether you're thinking of moving to Poundbury, or you're just intrigued to find out more, Morrish Homes is here to give you the local's guide to the area.

Read on to find out about:

• Shopping in Poundbury
• Eating out in Poundbury
• Things to do in Poundbury
• Health facilities in Poundbury
• Pets in Poundbury
• Educational facilities in Poundbury
• Clubs/communities in Poundbury

Shopping in Poundbury

Poundbury plays host to a range of independent and high street shops. Whether you're after ingredients for dinner or a new outfit, you could easily spend an afternoon exploring all the different outlets dotted around the area.

Going food shopping

When you need to do a big shop Little Waitrose has all of the items you can usually get hold of at larger supermarkets and there is a Tesco Superstore just a few minutes drive away in Dorchester.

If you prefer independent stores, you're spoilt for choice in Poundbury – there's Brace of Butchers, which sells a selection of local meats and produce, The Dorset Wine co, Olives et Al and more. And if you love the hustle and bustle of a farmer's market, there's one on the first Saturday of every month in Queen Mother Square.

Going clothes and homeware shopping

There are lots of boutiques where you can browse clothes and home décor. Yard sells beautiful quality, stylish ladies' wear and accessories. Whilst Magpie and Cherryade Life Store offer shoppers chic homeware, gifts, stationery, children's items and more.

For mainstream shops, jump on the bus or stroll into Dorchester town centre, where you'll find big brands like White Stuff, Fat Face, Crew and Joules.

Eating out in Poundbury

After you've spent a morning browsing the shops, there are plenty of cafes where you can recharge your batteries. For evening meals, there are some delicious restaurants for you to choose from.

Cafes

If you have a sweet tooth Bonjour Café, sitting on a sunny corner of Babeny Walk, is a must-visit. One of the many cafes in Poundbury, they are famed for their delicious baked treats including brownies and sausage rolls. For coffee aficionados, Finca is a speciality coffee roaster where all the coffee served and the beans on sale are roasted in-house by hand.

Going out for dinner

There are lots of highly rated restaurants in Poundbury and Dorchester where you can enjoy a meal out with friends and family. For fine dining, The Square Bistro serves up modern British dishes, made using the very best of local produce. If you fancy some delicious pub grub, why not head over to the Duchess of Cornwall Inn for hearty home-style meals?

Things to do in Poundbury

Whether it's walking, relaxing, or playing outside, there are lots to do in Poundbury to keep you entertained and active.

Walking

Poundbury was designed with open, green spaces at its heart and sits right on the edge of the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Residents are spoilt for choice by the number of stunning walks right on their doorstep, including some that brush past the nearby prehistoric Poundbury Hillfort. Within Poundbury itself, The Great Field, a huge 30-acre green space, has a variety of footpaths and a community café so walkers can enjoy a drink whilst they stroll.

Just a short drive away is the Isle of Purbeck, a walkers paradise and home to the famous Durdle Door. Here you can enjoy both short walks and day long-hikes that take in the stunning coastal scenery.

Relaxation and beauty facilities

There are many nail, hair and beauty salons in Poundbury so there's always the opportunity to relax and be pampered.

The Monart Day Spa is a luxury spa facility set in the Royal Pavilion. The adult-only spa is a true retreat for those who wish to escape from it all for a day. Choose from a range of spa packages and treatments including facials, massages, and body wraps, all while enjoying the spa facilities, including a hydrotherapy pool and thermal suite.

Children's activities

For children, Poundbury offers the ultimate play area in the new super-park, located on The Great Field. Opened in May 2022 by HRH Prince Charles, the park is described as being ‘fit for a king', with a climbing wall, water play area, bouncy tyres, high ropes course, slide, swings and much more.

For older children, Dorchester town centre offers a cinema, skate park and a youth club which has an Xbox, music studio, pool table and dance area.

Health facilities in Poundbury

As well as being just five minutes in the car from Dorset County Hospital, Poundbury offers two local doctors surgeries: the Prince of Wales Surgery and Poundbury Doctors Surgery – both rated good by the Care Quality Commission.

If you need dental work, there's St John's Dental Practice which offers both private and NHS dental care and Bupa Dental Care, which solely takes private patients and dentist referrals.

For hearing trouble and hearing tests, there's the Hearing Care Partnership and Imperial Hearing Limited within the immediate area, while Robert Frith Opticians is there for your eye tests.

Pets in Poundbury

With all of the green spaces and nearby walks, Poundbury is the perfect place for animal lovers. A lot of the cafes, restaurants and businesses are dog friendly and there is a selection of pet shops, including Lily Pups Dog Boutique for the pampered pooches.

Castle Vets is a friendly, highly rated veterinary practice based in Poundbury itself and for grooming, Park View Paws is located on the outskirts of Poundbury.

Educational facilities in Poundbury

As a popular area for families, Poundbury has childcare and educational facilities for all ages.

Pre-school and nursery

Located on the outskirts of Poundbury is Sunny Days, a highly rated pre-school, offering flexible care, and an exceptional learning environment. There is also a wide selection of nurseries in Dorchester.

First school and primary school

In Poundbury itself, Damers First School is an academy, rated ‘Good' by Ofsted, that promotes a vibrant and friendly setting. Just outside in Dorchester the Price of Wales First School, also rated good by Ofsted, provides an inclusive setting where pupils flourish both academically and socially.

Middle school

Less than a five minute drive from Poundbury is the Dorchester Middle School, which offers a positive, caring and supportive environment for children in years 5 – 7.

Secondary school

The Thomas Hardye School is an excellent secondary school, with a strong reputation, in Dorchester. According to Ofsted, the school offers ‘Outstanding' education for children aged 13 to 18, and gives students incredible educational opportunities, leading to them achieving standards significantly above those found nationally.

For children aged 11 to 16 who thrive on or enjoy learning about land and the environment, the Dorset Studio School is a fantastic alternative. Offering a pathway to Kingston Maurward Agricultural College, children can go on to earn qualifications in Equine Care, Veterinary Nursing, Farming, and Rural Crafts.

Adult education

It's never too late to learn something new, so for adults who would like to go back into education, the Adult Education Centre in Dorchester offers some fantastic courses in mental health, customer service, core subjects, and much more!

Clubs and communities near Poundbury

It's always great to know that there are clubs and communities that you can join if you're moving somewhere new, as they're a fantastic way to meet new people.

Poundbury has a thriving community and this is reflected in the number of clubs and groups run locally. Drama clubs, choirs, craft groups, The WI, gardening groups and walking groups are just some examples of what's on offer. And for the active among you, Runners can take part in Parkrun on The Great Field every Saturday morning.

Thinking of Moving to Poundbury?

If you're interested in joining the thriving community at Poundbury, then Morrish Homes can help you make that move. You can find out more about the beautiful new homes we have available on our website or why not visit us at our Sales Office and explore the local area for yourself.