Oh I do like to be beside the seaside…! When the sun is out, where better to be than on the coast?
But that’s not the only reason why you might be happy living by the sea. Property values in Britain’s hottest coastal markets have surged in the past year while overall house prices have remained largely unchanged, according to Quickmove Properties.
Property values across 100 of the nation’s most popular coastal locations have jumped by 4.2% in the past 12 months. In contrast, average national house prices edged up by just 0.8% over the same timescale.
In fact, house prices climbed in 92 of the coastal hotspots. Values remained static in one seaside location, and they dipped in seven, the over-50s property specialist reveals.
Mark O’Dwyer, Sales Director at Quickmove Properties, says somewhat evocatively: ‘From Scotland’s wild shores to the calm sands of Cornwall, so many of us crave to live by the sea.
‘Such is the pull of coastal living that many local house prices stand stoic like a lighthouse in a storm against broader negative trends in the national market.’
Coastal price boom in Scotland
Scotland leads the coastal house price booms. Homes in Lossiemouth on the north east coast increased by 19%. Dubbed the ‘Riviera of the North’ and the ‘jewel of the Moray Firth’, it is known for its wide sandy beaches, picturesque countryside, sailing, and golf. And with an average house price of £178,000, the town appears good value compared with other coastal hotspots.
It was followed by Burntisland in Fife (17.9%), Irvine in North Ayrshire (16.2%), Ayr in south Ayrshire (14%), and Cockenzie in East Lothian (13.1%). Property values in these spots all fall within the £100k - £250k price bracket.
Portmeirion in Wales and Newquay in Cornwall gives Scotland a run for its money though. House prices in these areas jumped by 11.7% and 10% respectively.
Highest premiums in the south (still)
But while a home with sea views tops many buyers’ wish lists, it can come at a price premium. A hefty one, particularly in the south.
Salcombe, which sits on the banks of the Kingsbridge Estuary in Devon, takes the top spot. A familiar name at the top of these types of rankings, values in the seaside town are an eye-watering 104% higher than in the wider South Hams area. If you fancy a home here, expect an average price tag of £809,310.
Following behind is Southold in Suffolk, where homes are worth an average £532,673. That’s £83.6% higher than the surrounding East Suffolk area.
Sandbanks in Dorset comes in third place, with prices 81.2% more than the wider average for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Other coastal locations that command chunky house price premiums include:
- Aldeburgh in Suffolk (77.4%)
- Padstow in Cornwall (66.9%)
- Porthcawl in Wales (40.9%)
- Fowey in Cornwall (40.6%)
- Seahouses in Northumberland (40.2%)
- North Berwick in East Lothian (37.2%)
- Budleigh Salterton in Devon (36.9%).
House buyers pay up to 122% more to live in one of Britain's most beautiful areas
Britain's most expensive street outside London, where homes average £2.6 million — and a bare plot is up for sale at £5.5m
Old Avenue in leafy Weybridge, Surrey, tops the list of the most expensive streets to buy a home outside the
-
'The watch is Head Boy of men’s accessorising': Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin's Summer Season style secretsWhen it comes to dressing for the Season, accessories will transform an outfit. Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin, both stylish summer-party veterans, offer some sage advice.
-
Lewis Hamilton, Claude Monet and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 29, 2025Tuesday's Quiz of the Day looks back at Lewis Hamilton's first win and ponders on the meaning of greige.
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealedNew research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of EnglandCome for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River TayCarnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive streetWinnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
