While the wider housing market has seen asking prices edge down over the past year, a number of Britain’s coastal towns are bucking the trend, with demand for seaside living continuing to drive strong price growth.
New analysis from Rightmove shows that Bootle in Merseyside has recorded the fastest-rising asking prices of any seaside location in Great Britain, with values increasing by 11% year-on-year. Crosby, near Liverpool, and Penarth in South Glamorgan were close behind, both posting annual growth of 9%.
Other coastal markets are also outperforming the national picture. Asking prices in Llantwit Major, South Glamorgan, rose by 8%, while Llanelli in Carmarthenshire saw a 7% increase, underlining continued buyer interest in coastal locations despite broader market headwinds.
The figures stand in sharp contrast to the national market, where average asking prices are currently 0.3% lower than a year ago. According to Rightmove, many seaside towns continue to offer comparatively affordable housing, helping to sustain demand from buyers seeking a coastal lifestyle without the premium associated with more established hotspots.
Nine of the ten seaside locations recording the strongest price growth still have average asking prices below the national average of £378,304. Across the more than 100 coastal locations analysed, over four-fifths remain cheaper than the national average.
At the opposite ends of the pricing spectrum, Sandbanks in Poole remains Britain’s most expensive seaside market, with an average asking price of more than £1.1m, while Peterlee in County Durham is the most affordable, with homes coming to market at an average of £120,657.
Fastest-growing seaside hotspots for price
| Coastal Town | Gov Region | Average Price | Average Price YOY |
| Bootle, Merseyside | North West | £141,680 | 11% |
| Crosby, Liverpool, Merseyside | North West | £330,900 | 9% |
| Penarth, South Glamorgan, Vale Of Glamorgan | Wales | £433,081 | 8% |
| Llantwit Major, South Glamorgan, Vale Of Glamorgan, The | Wales | £340,033 | 8% |
| Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Mid Wales | Wales | £201,570 | 7% |
| Wallasey, Merseyside | North West | £200,753 | 7% |
| Bangor, Gwynedd | Wales | £220,622 | 7% |
| Porthcawl, South Glamorgan, Bridgend (County of) | Wales | £359,412 | 6% |
| Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria | North West | £185,169 | 6% |
| Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire | Scotland | £247,953 | 6% |
At the same time, coastal living remains relatively accessible, with nine out of the top ten fastest‑growing seaside locations still priced below the national average.
Across more than 100 coastal areas analysed, over 80% also have an average asking price below the national figure (£378,304), showing that living by the sea is still within reach for many buyers.
Sandbanks in Poole remains Britain’s most expensive seaside location, with an average asking price of £1,119,945, closely followed by Canford Cliffs in Poole, where the average asking price for a home is £1,045,533.
Top 10 most expensive seaside towns in Great Britain
| Coastal Town | Gov Region | Average Price | Average Price YOY |
| Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset | South West | £1,119,945 | -4% |
| Canford Cliffs, Poole, Dorset | South West | £1,045,533 | 4% |
| Lymington, Hampshire | South East | £545,926 | -1% |
| Barton On Sea, New Milton, Hampshire | South East | £496,143 | -2% |
| Lyme Regis, Dorset | South West | £474,417 | -7% |
| St. Ives, Cornwall | South West | £461,959 | -7% |
| Shoreham-By-Sea, West Sussex | South East | £455,939 | 4% |
| Swanage, Dorset | South West | £455,347 | -3% |
| Sidmouth, Devon | South West | £450,971 | -6% |
| Saltdean, East Sussex | South East | £449,007 | -1% |
Top 10 cheapest seaside towns in Great Britain
| Coastal Town | Gov Region | Average Price | Average Price YOY |
| Peterlee, County Durham | North East | £120,657 | -3% |
| Grimsby, Lincolnshire | Yorkshire and The Humber | £133,706 | 2% |
| Ashington, Northumberland | North East | £133,775 | 2% |
| Bootle, Merseyside | North West | £141,680 | 11% |
| Blackpool, Lancashire | North West | £142,277 | 1% |
| Fleetwood, Lancashire | North West | £147,910 | 2% |
| Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside | North West | £148,942 | 4% |
| Workington, Cumbria | North West | £155,013 | 2% |
| Ayr, Ayrshire | Scotland | £157,754 | 1% |
| Seaham, County Durham | North East | £157,994 | -1% |
Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property commentator, said: “The fastest-growing seaside markets this year show that demand for coastal homes remains resilient, even as overall price growth across the UK stays more modest.
“While some locations are seeing strong price increases, there are still many areas where living by the sea is more affordable, giving buyers a wider range of options depending on their budget.
“We’re also seeing that homes priced realistically continue to attract interest, particularly in locations where price growth is being supported by buyer demand.”
We all want to live by the sea! My small seaside town has almost doubled in size with new builds. Many buyers are downsizing and buying a new 2 bed home. Larger 4 bed detached homes are being snapped up by couples and families leaving our cities for a better way of life. Working from home has made this possible. Who can blame them. Schools are better and more importantly schools have English as the first language.
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