If you live in a city, you’ve definitely had moments of wanting to run away and escape to lead a quiet life by the beach. Maybe you’d own a little cafe. Maybe you’d become a birdwatcher. Whatever it takes to never have to cram into a crowded underground/tram/train carriage on a hot day ever again.
If you’re in your ‘get me out of here’ phase currently, you’re in luck. The Times has named its 20 favourite seaside towns to live in, giving you loads of options as to where to begin your new life.
The list is in no particular order, so it’s worth having a look across the whole thing and seeing which village takes your fancy. The towns are spread across all four of the UK nations, so there’s somewhere nearby wherever you are.
Northern Irish readers should head to Ballycastle in Antrim, which the Times described as having ‘Game of Thrones scenery’ and being ‘a feast for the eyes... and the tastebuds’. Plus, the average house in Ballycastle is apparently only £249,667, which is on the more affordable end of the spectrum.
Welsh and Scottish ocean lovers have two and four options respectively, each with their own unique charms. Mumbles in Glamorgan is apparently ‘described as the country’s answer to the Hamptons’. In Scotland you'll want to head either north or east for the best beaches such as Nairn, which is right up in the highlands, or Portobello, which is a much more respectable half hour bus to civilisation.
In England you’re spoiled for choice, from the top of Tyneside to the Penzance peninsula. 13 of the total 20 are on English soil, and they’re pretty evenly spread across the country’s different coastlines.
The 20 best places to live by the sea in the UK, according to the Times
England
- The Witterings, West Sussex
- Shaldon, Devon
- Folkestone, Kent
- Arnside, Cumbria
- Exmouth, Devon
- Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear
- Amble, Northumberland
- St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
- Waterloo, Merseyside
- Penzance/Newlyn, Cornwall
- Southbourne, Dorset
- Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire
- Cromer, Norfolk
Northern Ireland
- Ballycastle, Co Antrim
Wales
- Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
- Mumbles, Glamorgan
Scotland
To check out what they had to say about each spot, check out the full Times article here. Or, if you’re looking for a second opinion, here’s Time Out’s favourite seaside towns.
Get your beach fix
You don’t have to uproot your entire life to enjoy the beach. Why not plan a trip to one of Time Out’s pick of the best beaches in the country? If you’d rather go a bit more off the beaten track, we've got a list of the most beautiful hidden beaches too.
Did you see that these are the UK’s five most beautiful national parks?
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