Abbotsbury named Dorset's poshest village in national list

The picture-postcard village of Abbotsbury, on the coast road between Weymouth and Bridport, is considered among the nation's poshest places, according to a list compiled by estate agents Savills and published by the Telegraph.

The villages featured in the article are considered the “most desirable rural locations in Britain”, based on the combination of highest house prices, best lifestyle amenities, connectivity, and aesthetic appeal.

The article features 48 villages, with one being selected as the poshest for each county. 

Abbotsbury was chosen because of its subtropical gardens (Enchanted Illuminations at the gardens, pictured below, Swannery, and its close proximity to the Chesil Beach. The average house price for the area is said to be £722,250.

The article said: "Despite being on the south coast of England, you’d be mistaken for thinking you were somewhere far more tropical, thanks to the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, famed for its exotic and unusual flowers. Elsewhere, Abbotsbury Swannery provides a unique and exciting way to get close to nature, while the 18-mile long Chesil Beach is minutes away."

In response to being featured on this list, Charlie Wheeler, manager at Abbotsbury Swannery, said: “Abbotsbury continues to surprise and delight tourists to the area and people looking to relocate to the Dorset Jurassic coast.

“The Swannery is unique and provides a wonderful nature reserve for residence and tourists to visit. Many of our staff are very local and it is certainly a very pretty village and great community to be part of.”

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens also boosts local tourism hosting a popular food and drink festival which sadly had to be cancelled this year due to Storm Nelson.

Both the gardens and Swannery continue to be popular attractions not just locally but also internationally, featured as two of the top five rated attractions in the Weymouth area on TripAdvisor.

Frances McDonald, director of research at Savills said property hunters’ search criteria has “shifted” in the past 18 months as workers have returned to the office following the pandemic.

She told the Telegraph: “Exactly what village characteristics are classed as essential will vary from buyer to buyer, but we know that access to education, attractive surroundings and connectivity is a decent definition of a ‘have it all’ village.”