If you ask us, sea air can used to be prescribed as a cure-all for pretty much any malady. Cutting about a coastal town with an ice cream, soundtracked by seagulls and lapping waves, is a surefire bet for a solid, good vibes getaway.
Being based across two islands, needless to say that the UK has a lot of sensational seaside towns to choose from. Bustling Brighton, fancy Salcombe and beautifully isolated Nefyn in Wales are some of Time Out’s top picks for Britain’s toop beach breaks. But where should you go if you want to feel the sand between your toes year-round?
If you’re looking to permanently relocate to the coast, luggage transportation company MyBaggage has done some heavy lifting to lay out your options. The company put together a report taking into account a wide variety of factors including average house price, median salary, sunlight, rainfall, wifi connectivity, and restaurants per 1,000 people. Basically, everything you’d need to know before you decided to up sticks and move somewhere.
What is the best British coastal town to move to in 2025?
MyBaggage’s top 10 puts Margate in Kent at number one, with a near-perfect relocation score of 98.83. The popular, ever-trendy southeastern town gets around 1,846.03 hours of sunlight each year, with the average property costing £333,025.02.
Millions flock to the town’s attractions every year, including the famous Shell Grotto and Dreamland, but there’s plenty to enjoy even in the off season. The Turner Contemporary boasts an array of modern art, and the town boasts a formidable selection of restaurants.
Second is Whitby in Yorkshire, boasting a relocation score of 97.60. It gets 1,492.78 hours of sunlight per year and has a truly impressive 16 restaurants per 1,000 people. Whitby Abbey was Bram Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula, so it’s a good choice if you’re a bit (or a lot) of a goth. Median salaries are also great in Whitby, at £77,628.
Taking the third spot in MyBaggage’s list is another Kent classic – Whitstable, home to many a tasty oyster establishment. It gets a relocation score of 90.53 thanks to its 1,737.33 hours of sunlight and 675.27mm of rainfall annually. Its houses are slightly more expensive than the top two towns, at £478,370.94 on average.
Six of the top coastal towns are in England, with two in Wales and two in Northern Ireland. Here’s the full list.
Britain’s top 10 coastal towns for relocation in 2025
- Margate, Kent
- Whitby, Yorkshire
- Whitstable, Kent
- Llandudno, Conwy
- Portpatrick, Dumfries and Galloway
- Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
- Brighton, East Sussex
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk
- Penzance, Cornwall
- Portrush, Co Antrim
ICYMI: This pretty English seaside town is providing free wi-fi for visitors and residents.
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