Looking for a forever home by the sea? Whether downsizing or upsizing, read our top tips for making a wise move
Words Lesley Gillilan
BEST FOR: FAMILIES
If good schools top your list of must-haves, Southend-on-Sea is a good choice: the Essex town’s grammar schools are among the best in the country, plus it offers roomy period houses (average price: c£340,000), safe beaches, entertainment and an easy city fix for older teenagers (London by train in less than an hour). Eastbourne, too, ticks all those boxes (Brighton in 40 minutes). The Northumberland border town Berwick-on-Tweed adds story-book looks and a great sense of community (and it’s only a hop across the border to Edinburgh). Beer in Devon is within the catchment area for Colyton Grammar, one of the best schools in the south-west.
BEST FOR: COMMUTERS
Known for its Thames Estuary beaches, seafood restaurants and vibrant arts scene, Leigh-on-Sea is just over an hour by train from London’s Fenchurch Street Station. For those with jobs in Bristol, take a look at Clevedon on the North Somerset Coast (for Edwardian houses, rail links and a busy high street) or nearby Portishead (a new railway connection is scheduled to open by the end of 2027). Working in Liverpool? Head for New Brighton (average house price: c£183,869) where regeneration is giving the place an edge over Merseyside’s Wirral hotspots.
BEST FOR: RETIREES
The old-fashioned notion of retirement was all about bungalows and coffee mornings; today’s active retirees are more likely to go for golf courses, sailing and artisan bakeries, though sensible shifters also factor in good transport links, health services, shops and all-year-round entertainment. In Cornwall, Falmouth fits the bill perfectly. Saundersfoot in south Wales offers three beaches and lower prices than nearby Tenby. Filey in North Yorkshire combines golf, open spaces, vintage charm, three miles of sandy beach and direct rail services to Scarborough or Hull (detached with sea views, c£500,000).
BEST FOR: CREATIVES
The creative community is often the vanguard of regeneration, bringing new life to tired seaside towns which combine cheap property and coastal landscapes (Margate is a classic example). Next up is Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset – a traditional bucket-and-spade resort – which is doing its bit to become a creative hub. Folkestone is at least 10 years ahead (the town’s long-established Triennial festival has left a trail of public art installations by the likes of Antony Gormley, Gilbert & George and Cornelia Parker) but property is still affordable. Meanwhile, in north Wales, beautiful Caernarfon is also a contender – think views of the Menai Strait, Snowdonia National Park, a world-class medieval castle and temptingly affordable homes: terraced properties average at £158,500.
BEST FOR: ESCAPISTS
Take your pick of Scottish islands or head for Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute – not only remote (strung out on the tip of the Kintyre Peninsula) but also UK’s cheapest coastal area with average house prices around £103,000.
Browse the latest seaside homes for sale, discover our property of the week or pick up the latest copy of coast magazine for more coast property inspiration.
