Bridport, United Kingdom

With a population of just 8,332, Bridport is a sleepy English town that hasn't quite shed its industrial past. The rope-making legacy lives on, but so do the bureaucratic headaches - Bridport's two-tiered local government and frequent annexations of neighboring parishes are a persistent nuisance. And while the Jurassic Coast scenery is undeniably picturesque, the town's remote location, 33 miles from the nearest city, can feel isolating. Yet Bridport's thriving arts scene, from the annual literary festival to the quirky Lyric Theatre, suggests this is a place that appeals to creative types seeking a quieter pace of life.