Best seaside towns to live in the UK

Port Bannatyne, Scotland

The picturesque village of Port Bannatyne is located on the Isle of Bute, around two hours west of Glasgow on Scotland’s stunning west coast.

The village, according to consumer magazine Which?, holds the distinction of being the cheapest seaside location in Britain, offering a bustling harbour area with a yacht marina and boatyard.

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The town is also home to an unusual 13 hole golf course built in 1912 - which has since expanded to the usual 18 hole course - and remains one of the less touristic destinations on the island. It’s also just five minutes from Ettrick Bay, Bute’s most popular beach, complete with pristine sandbanks, crystal clear water and a horizon dotted with spectacular mountains.

Average house price: £86,830

Rothesay, Scotland

Just a 40 minute walk from Port Bannatyne down Bute’s eastern shoreline is the Victorian seaside resort of Rothesay.

As the main ferry port on the island, offering a zippy shuttle service from Wemyss Bay on the mainland, Rothesay’s great strength is its accessibility.

The town is also rich in traditional Victorian architecture, while the centrepiece of the town is the 13th century Rothesay Castle, the ruins of which betray a unique circular design.

Average house price: £100,774

Cardigan, Wales

The winner of The Times Best Place to Live in the UK 2019, Cardigan has it all, with a revamped 900-year-old castle, bustling town centre and fantastic walking opportunities in the nearby Teifi Valley and the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Coastal Paths.

But this is no sleepy village; Cardigan has a jam-packed events calendar boasting arts, culture and music festivals including the renowned Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival, which takes place each August.

Average house price: £207,882

Tynemouth, England

When people talk of the underappreciated golden beaches of northeast England, chances are one of them is Longsands, the main beach of the picturesque Northumberland town of Tynemouth.

A mile-long unbroken stretch of sand, it attracts people from across the region with its ample surfing, swimming and sunbathing opportunities while nearby the more adventurous beachgoers can explore rocks, dunes and cliffs. What’s more, it's just a short 20-minute ride from Newcastle City Centre on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

And Tynemouth itself isn’t bad either, taking home first prize in Rough Guides’ list of the best British seaside towns in the UK this year. And with fine weather, great food and a Sunday flea market, a ruined priory and a monument to Lord Collingwood, it’s not hard to see why.

Average house price: £308,890

Brighton, England

Brighton has long been known as “London by the sea” due to its cosmopolitan atmosphere and - during the hotter weeks of the summer in particular - the extraordinary surge of tourists it welcomes from the capital.

For a brief visit, look no further than the beachfront and the city’s famed piers, one of which is now an inaccessible ruin but still great for a sunset photo opportunity. For a deeper dive, head to the ancient Lanes district, comprised of winding alleys and littered with great seafood restaurants, while the North Laine neighbourhood slightly further north is the gastronomic epicentre of Brighton.

Average house price: £395,144

Sandbanks, England

Sandbanks, situated on a spit near the Dorset town of Poole, is the most expensive seaside town to live in the UK and has, by area, the fourth highest land value in the world.

But don’t let the eye-watering prices put you off; this is the UK’s answer to Palm Beach, packed with idyllic beaches, celebrity mansions and a harbour where visitors can enjoy water sports such as paddle boarding and canoeing.

Average house price: £785,426