Year-round ocean views, a daily dose of fresh salty air, walks along the sand each evening – who wouldn’t want to live that life, day-in, day-out? But as much as we might wish it weren’t so, seaside towns are sadly some of the most expensive places to buy property in the UK.
A new report by Rightmove revealed that the average house in the Dorset town of Sandbanks will cost you upwards of £1.5 million while for a property in Padstow, Cornwall, you’re looking at around £678,000. But not all coastal areas are quite so out of reach. The same Rightmove report also revealed the most affordable seaside locations in the country.
And coming in as the cheapest place to own a house by the sea is... Saltcoats in Ayrshire, Scotland. Sat at the north end of the gorgeous Irvine Bay, the average asking price there right now is a comparatively reasonable £114,365.
Second on the list is Easington in County Durham, with houses averaging £122,520, followed by Peterlee (also in County Durham) with an average cost of £124,593. So there you have it, a life by the beach doesn't have to be so spenny after all. Here are the top 10 most affordable seaside towns to buy in the UK, according to Rightmove.
The 10 cheapest coastal towns in the UK right now (and their average asking price):
- Saltcoats, Ayrshire (£114,365)
- Easington, County Durham (£122,520)
- Peterlee, County Durham (£124,593)
- Ashington, Northumberland (£132,660)
- Bootle, Merseyside (£133,197)
- Grimsby, Lincolnshire (£135,951)
- Girvan, Lincolnshire (£135,951)
- Maryport, Cumbria (£140,437)
- Workington, Cumbria (£141,765)
- Hartlepool, County Durham (£146,674)
You can read more about the cheapest (and most expensive) places to buy by the sea on Rightmove here.
Time Out by the sea
If you want a slice of seaside living without the long-term commitment, you’re in the right place. Just pay a visit one of Time Out’s 20 coolest, prettiest and quirkiest coastal towns in the UK, most amazing hidden beaches or best fish ’n chip shops.
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