DORSET has seen 10 places in the county named among the best places to live in England for 2025, according to Muddy Stilettos.

The women's lifestyle website creates a list of the best places to live every year, and it has expanded its number of entrants from 260 to 300 with London, Yorkshire and Cheshire being added to its regions.

In a post on their Instagram page, it shared: "We’ve used our unrivalled insider local knowledge on schools, shops, commutes, culture, community and eating out to shortlist 300 gorgeous villages, towns and cities across our 35 ‘Muddy’ counties and beyond, so hit the link in bio for inspiration - you never know where it might take you!"

The research for the locations included was completed in association with the estate agent Knight Frank.

The full list of the 300 places to live for 2025 can be found at the Muddy Stilettos website here, but here are the Dorset locations that were included.

Dorset's 10 best places to live for 2025

The 10 best places to live in Dorset are listed here alphabetically.

Beaminster

Beaminster was praised for being a "laid-back, pretty town with a bit of an arty feel".

Benefits of living here include an "attractive conservation area around the market square" and being surrounded by "lush countryside".

Bridport

The main features of Bridport that saw it included in the top 10 were its "vibrant community" and "rich cultural scene".

Similarly to Beaminster, it is "surrounded by stunning countryside" and it's not too far away from the sea also.

Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle was described as a "chocolate box village" with its obvious main attraction being the castle of the same name.

The profile adds: "It’s got several pubs, some gorgeous houses, surrounded by lovely countryside and not far from the Jurassic Coast."

Cranborne

Cranborne was praised as a "picturesque red brick village" whose benefits include having the New Forest National Park "on your doorstep".

Other features include "a village shop selling local produce, a couple of pubs, village schools and good senior schools nearby".

Mudeford

Mudeford is said to be an "upmarket suburb" of Christchurch which has access to quality beaches, excellent schools, rail links and shops.

Poundbury

Poundbury was listed as one of the best spots to live in Dorset due to its combination of "trad design and sustainable ethos".

Its "green spaces and community feel" are additional features that contribute to its desirability. 

Poundbury was featured for its combination of trad design and sustainable ethosPoundbury was featured for its combination of trad design and sustainable ethos (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Shaftesbury

The "sleepy hill top town" of Shaftesbury has plenty of selling points including indie shops, cafes and restaurants.

Picturesque spots such as "one of the UK’s most iconic views at Gold Hill" doesn't hurt its case either.

Sherborne

Sherborne is described as a "picture postcard market town" which has "gorgeous medieval and Georgian properties" among its features.

Other benefits include "an eclectic array of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, excellent schools, a magnificent abbey and not one but two castles".

Westbourne

Described as "Bournemouth’s hippest, most cosmopolitan area" Westbourne has a "golden triangle of hip independent shops, restaurants and cafes".

Other selling points include its proximity to the beach.

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Wimborne

Wimborne is described as a "bustling town set between two rivers, with pretty streets and courtyards, period buildings and independent shops".

Hero Brown, the founder and editor-in-Chief of Muddy Stilettos, added: “When people decide to move, they’re searching for more than just a house - they want a home, a lifestyle that works for them and their family, and if they’re strategic, a long-term investment too.

"Our 2025 ‘Top 300 Best Places To Live’ guide will give them that extra reassurance they need to make their search easier in these difficult economic times."