Rightmove’s analysis shows that across the top 50 most expensive seaside areas, average asking prices dipped by 1% year-on-year. However, buyer interest rose by 8% over the same period.
Other most expensive coastal spots include Lymington (£639,316) in Hampshire; Budleigh Salterton (£535,761), Dartmouth (£500,006), and Sidmouth in Devon (£494,811); St. Ives (£507,139) in Cornwall; and Whitstable (£469,586), and Hythe (£466,898) in Kent. Price changes across these towns ranged from a 9% drop in Canford Cliffs to a 4% rise in Dartmouth.
In contrast, Saltcoats in Ayrshire, Scotland is the most affordable seaside town, with homes listed at an average of £122,208. Peterlee in County Durham is close behind at £122,246, followed by Ashington in Northumberland at £135,050.
Saltcoats also recorded the strongest annual price growth, up 13% from last year. Its average asking price is more than £250,000 below the national average.
Other affordable coastal areas include Bootle (£135,208), and Birkenhead (£149,527) in Merseyside; Grimsby (£142,072) in Lincolnshire, Blackpool (£142,804), and Fleetwood (£148,101) in Lancashire; Blyth (£153,487) in Northumberland; and Workington (£158,956) in Cumbria. Most of these towns saw modest price increases, while some remained flat year-on-year.