As the first rays of sunshine stretch across spring skies, many of us will be clambering to get by the sea. And where better to enjoy brighter days than a coastal bolthole, all of your own?
Seaside property, unsurprisingly, usually comes at a premium – with top resorts pricing out many buyers.
However, if you’re desperate to bag your own coastal cottage, don’t despair: there are several up-and-coming destinations across the country requiring considerably less dosh.
We’ve asked experts to recommend the top alternative spots to buy by the sea – just down the road from the usual over-priced hotspots.
Swap Abersoch for Criccieth, North Wales
Criccieth is described as ‘something of a hidden gem on the Llyn peninsula’
Particularly popular with buyers from Cheshire and the North West, Abersoch commands a real premium on the property market.
‘Criccieth is a more affordable alternative,’ says Tom Carter, director at estate agent Fine and Country, North Wales. ‘Something of a hidden gem at the opposite end of the Llyn peninsula, it has a more quiet, laid-back aura, retaining a more traditional feel – yet, as a coastal town, is equally well equipped.
‘Criccieth Castle is a striking centrepiece and constant reminder of the history here. The beaches are arguably less crowded than those in Abersoch.
‘Independent shops survive and for those needing connectivity there is a railway station where it is 20 minutes quicker to get to Chester than from Abersoch.’
BUY IT: A Grade II-listed apartment on the High Street is £135,000 with Beresford Adams (rightmove.co.uk).
Swap East Lothian for Eyemouth, Scotland
Eyemouth is commutable to Edinburgh and Newcastle yet offers great value
‘The area around Eyemouth, Coldingham, St Abbs and Cockburnspath is stunning, offers much better value and is less populated than East Lothian – which has seen a lot of development in recent years,’ says Andrew Markham, partner agent at Fine and Country, Scotland.
‘Commutable to Edinburgh and Newcastle, the area offers stunning coastlines, remote sandy beaches and unique houses in rural unspoilt locations.
‘We have recently acquired new celebrity neighbour, Alan Carr, purchasing Ayton Castle – a significant landmark in our beautiful coastal district!’
BUY IT: A two-bed apartment on Albert Road is from £95,000 with Gibson estate agents (rightmove.co.uk).
Swap Leigh-on-Sea for Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
Westcliff-on-Sea offers a wide range of property types and good local grammar schools
Leigh-on-Sea and Westcliff-on-Sea are both suburbs of Southend and, although just two miles from each other, property prices vary greatly.
‘The average price for a three-bedroom family home in Leigh is around £525,000, whereas in Westcliff it’s around £375,000,’ says Hope Frith at Winkworth Leigh-on-Sea.
‘Westcliff attracts those in search of local grammar schools, and has two railway stations with trains to London. There’s a wide range of property types.’
BUY IT: This four-bed terraced house on Westbourne Grove, Westcliff-on-Sea, is £425,000 with Winkworth (winkworth.co.uk).
Swap Bolton-le-Sands for Morecambe, Lancashire
From its sweeping promenade, Morecambe enjoys one of the finest views of any English seaside town
Hest Bank and Bolton-le-Sands flow on from Morecambe without any noticeable separation. Yet properties are notably more expensive, averaging around £340,000, compared to £175,000 in the more affordable Morecambe.
‘From its sweeping promenade, Morecambe enjoys one of the finest views of any English seaside town: a magnificent panorama of coastline and bay looking across to the Lakeland mountains,’ says Jo Bond, director at Fine and Country, Lakes and North Lancashire.
‘There are lovely sandy beaches, and festivals and activities during the year. Regarded as a good future investment area, Morecambe will be the site for Eden Project Morecambe [a visitor attraction similar to the one in Cornwall] – an exciting new development on the central promenade.’
The town is surrounded by easily accessible stunning countryside, including the Lake District and the Forest of Bowland, and is well connected by road and rail. Morecambe railway station connects to Lancaster, with services to London Euston and Edinburgh in under two and a half hours.
BUY IT: This characterful period sandstone six-bed Morecambe townhouse is £499,950 with Fine and Country (www.fineandcountry.co.uk).
Swap the Witterings for Selsey, West Sussex
Selsey is among the most affordable parts of the Chichester district, and has fewer second-home owners than other towns in the area
The Witterings carries a clear price premium, mainly due to its property stock, reputation and ‘Hamptons’ feel. West Wittering is regularly listed among the UK’s best beaches, and demand is consistently high and supply limited.
‘Selsey, by comparison, is among the most affordable parts of the Chichester district,’ says Bradley Harris at Hamptons, Chichester. ‘The coastline is more exposed and isn’t as picture perfect, yet it offers a calmer, more traditional coastal setting, appealing to buyers seeking coastal living and value. It attracts a more year‑round, resident‑led market, with fewer second‑home purchasers.’
BUY IT: This chocolate box thatched 17th-century Selsey house is £550,000 with Hamptons (www.hamptons.co.uk).
Swap Brighton for Worthing, East Sussex
Worthing, a few miles west of Brighton, is coming into its own as a coastal destination
Often described as ‘London-on-Sea’, while prices in Brighton haven’t caught up with the capital, they’re certainly notably higher than nearby locations. Keyan Nadim, sales manager at Leaders, Worthing, suggests the town a few miles down the coast as a more affordable alternative.
‘Worthing is really coming into its own as a coastal destination,’ he says. ‘There’s a fantastic events calendar, from Pride and food festivals to concerts and ice skating, and there’s a real buzz about the town.
‘For buyers looking for great value on the Sussex coast, a three-bedroom property in Worthing typically comes in at around £350,000, offering significant savings compared with neighbouring areas.
‘It’s also more sheltered, so you don’t get the same exposure to storms that other areas can experience. It offers a brilliant seaside lifestyle with a lot more for your money.’
BUY IT: A two-bed house on Cradock Place, Worthing, is £350,000 with Leaders (leaders.co.uk).
…or, swap Brighton for Eastbourne, East Sussex
Eastbourne is becoming increasingly attractive for buyers wanting a coastal lifestyle – without nearby Brighton’s price tag
Eastbourne has undergone a real transformation in recent years, becoming an increasingly attractive option for buyers wanting a coastal lifestyle – without nearby Brighton’s price tag.
‘It’s a beautiful, uncommercialised stretch of coastline with so much on its doorstep,’ says Beverly Wilson at Leaders Eastbourne. ‘There’s a brand-new shopping centre, plenty of trendy independent shops and lots of new development, including new seafront apartments. The harbour has wonderful restaurants. The South Downs is on your doorstep, plus there’s a mainline train station into London.’
Stephen Rodgers, branch manager at Fox and Sons Eastbourne, adds: ‘The average house price in Eastbourne is around £306,000, compared with £410,000 in Brighton, 40 minutes down the road.
‘It’s a growing entity, allowing for better capital growth when compared with a market that has peaked in value such as Brighton.’
BUY IT: This imposing six-bed Eastbourne townhouse is £425,000 with Fox and Sons (www.rightmove.co.uk).
