Seaside towns in Merseyside and Wales are witnessing a surge in property demand, making them the fastest-growing hotspots in the UK. This trend contrasts with the broader national decline in house prices, according to recent analysis from Rightmove.
Key Insights on UK Seaside Towns
- Bootle in Merseyside leads with an 11% increase in average asking prices, now at £141,680.
- Crosby, another Merseyside town, follows with a 9% rise, bringing prices to £330,900.
- In Wales, Penarth recorded an 8% increase, reaching £433,081, making it the most expensive in this analysis.
- Llantwit Major and Llanelli in South Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire also showed significant increases of 8% and 7%, respectively.
Comparative Pricing in Seaside Towns
Despite these increases, prices in these towns remain lower than the national average. The average asking price in the UK as of May stood at £378,304, reflecting a 0.3% overall decrease compared to the previous year.
Affordability and Demand
Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, emphasized the demand for coastal homes. Even amid modest price growth nationally, affordable options abound. Approximately 80% of the analyzed seaside areas had average asking prices below the national figure.
Fastest Growing Seaside Towns
Here is a list of the top 10 seaside towns with the highest year-on-year house price growth:
| Ranking | Town | Location | Year-on-Year Increase | Average Asking Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bootle | Merseyside | 11% | £141,680 |
| 2 | Crosby | Merseyside | 9% | £330,900 |
| 3 | Penarth | South Glamorgan | 8% | £433,081 |
| 4 | Llantwit Major | South Glamorgan | 8% | £340,033 |
| 5 | Llanelli | Carmarthenshire | 7% | £201,570 |
| 6 | Wallasey | Merseyside | 7% | £200,753 |
| 7 | Bangor | Gwynedd | 7% | £220,622 |
| 8 | Porthcawl | South Glamorgan | 6% | £359,412 |
| 9 | Barrow-In-Furness | Cumbria | 6% | £185,169 |
| 10 | Helensburgh | Dunbartonshire | 6% | £247,953 |
The Most and Least Expensive Seaside Towns
Most Expensive Seaside Towns
The following towns are identified as the most expensive seaside locations in Britain:
- Sandbanks, Dorset: £1,119,945
- Canford Cliffs, Dorset: £1,045,533
- Lymington, Hampshire: £545,926
- Barton on Sea, Hampshire: £496,143
- Lyme Regis, Dorset: £474,417
Cheapest Seaside Towns
Conversely, the following are known as the cheapest seaside towns in the UK:
- Peterlee, County Durham: £120,657
- Grimsby, Lincolnshire: £133,706
- Ashington, Northumberland: £133,775
- Bootle, Merseyside: £141,680
- Blackpool, Lancashire: £142,277
Overall, the current trends indicate a robust demand for coastal properties, with many buyers finding value in these seaside towns.
