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EBest Places to Live 2022
Southwest
Forget trad holiday hotspots — these great
getaways are so forward-looking and
family-friendly that you’ll never want to leave
AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE
£328,000
Chalke and
chic Ed and
Lizzie Gairdner
and their
children
George,
Charlotte,
Minnie and Tilly,
live in Broad
Chalke, above
right. Left: the
West Bay
railway station
in Bridport,
now a
restaurantBRIDPORT, DORSET A
Blundstones, tick; lurcher or
cockapoo, tick; latte, tick. The
market town of Bridport
brings a comfortable boho
edge along with bucketloads
of fresh sea air to the rugged
Jurassic Coast. The harbour at
West Bay, a 35-minute walk
away, hit the small screen as
the backdrop for ITV’s
detective series Broadchurch,
but away from the flip-
floppers and rubber-necking
tourists it is the turn of its
historic buildings to be in the
spotlight. Bridport’s star was
rising before lockdown, but it
has benefited from the recent
West Country renaissance,
superfast broadband, and a
much-appreciated Waitrose
that adds to the polite riot of
independent shops on the
wide streets and intimate
lanes in the centre — including
Waste Not Want Not, Dorset’s
first zero-waste shop. The Arts
Centre, the Electric Palace art
deco theatre and festivals
celebrating jazz, folk, books,
food and beer, and even hats,
add to the social scene.
There is no train station so
you need a car to get around.
This is farming country, an
Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty, but most definitely
not a tidy pastiche. Tractors
rumble past, and according to
one resident, you’ll see
trainers or wellies rather
than the “mustard cords and
green jackets of other Dorset
towns”. The menu on offer
is similarly down to earth,
from Bridport’s twice-weekly
market and monthly farmers’
stalls to Dorshi, an Asian-
fusion restaurant.
And, proof that the future
is as important as the past, the
Bridport Museum celebrates
the town’s rich rope-making
tradition (which includes
making the goal nets for the
1966 World Cup), and
Hazelmead, the UK’s largest
co-housing project, is taking
shape next to BridportCommunity Hospital.
Best place to live if ...
You love drama (of the
scenic variety).
Best address South Street in
the centre, or a tucked-away
village in the hills.
£400,000*BRISTOL B
In 2017, after we named
Bristol the overall winner of
Best Places to Live, mysterious
“Make Bristol Shit Again”
stickers started popping up
around the city. Five years onADRIAN SHERRATT FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES; PAUL MARTIN; STEPEHN BELL/ALAMY*Source: Halifax using Land Registry data
and “Brizzle” is still in the list
because it really is that
attractive, albeit rather less
affordable. The graffiti on
show today is proof that the
city retains its independent,
creative spirit and an edge
that’s yet to be completely
gentrified. Kid Crayon is back
with a show sponsored by Arts
Council England, St Pauls
carnival will take to the streets
this summer and Grayson’s
Art Club is midway through a
nine-month residency at
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.
And of course there’s the34 April 10, 2022