The 20 finest seaside cities to downsize to, revealed by property specialists and property brokers

What is it about the great British seaside that makes it so popular with downsizers?

A yearning to live permanently in the summer holidays of our youth, perhaps.

But places, like people, change. Many of our resorts have become run-down. So where today are the best seaside towns to downsize?

We’ve consulted property experts, estate agents and local residents, and analysed house prices, transport links and access to amenities and health care to bring you the 20 best seaside towns in Britain for downsizers.

ST MERRYN, CORNWALL

If you like the idea of downsizing to a house in Padstow – a stone’s throw from the harbour and all the restaurants and bars – you better have deep pockets. The average cost of a house on New Street last year was £752,000.

Yet, just three miles inland, in the charming little village of St Merryn, you could be part of a friendly community and, with the average house costing £444,000, have enough money left over to enjoy life.

St Merryn is ideally positioned for seven bays – including the wide sweep of Constantine, pretty Porthcothan and Harlyn, where the Pig Hotel has opened.

St Merryn has a charming selection of shops and amenities on the square, including a bakery claiming to sell the best pasties in the world, a convenience store, The Farmer’s Arms pub, a chippy and a wonderful bistro-cum-wine bar in Raffertys. The primary school has an excellent reputation and the church is the centre of many social activities.

This is a proper Cornish village: the locals muck in and organise carnivals, steam tractor rallies, the church fete and skittles tournaments. Above all, they love a natter in the bar of The Cornish Arms, another Rick Stein outpost, where the man himself often pops in for a few, usually on a Wednesday.

On the market: This two-bedroom cottage near St Merryn church is bursting with charm and character and overlooks neighbouring fields. For sale with Miller Countrywide for £280,000 (millercountrywide.co.uk).

SAUNDERSFOOT, PEMBROKESHIRE

Mention Pembrokeshire and most people think of Tenby. However, if you are downsizing, you would be far better advised to look in nearby Saundersfoot. It may not have Tenby’s picture-postcard harbour view, but it has a cracking little beach.

This is a proper, bustling seaside village. While it’s a frequently heard complaint that Tenby is ‘dead in the winter’, the residents of Saundersfoot make their own entertainment. There is a keen amateur dramatics group, clubs for sailing and walking and societies for everything from geology to history. On New Year’s Day, locals come out en masse for a charity dip and fancy-dress party.

Estate agents report that Saundersfoot is becoming popular with retirees who get far more house for their money than they would do in, for example, Cornwall. The St Bride’s Spa Hotel, meanwhile, offers locals a touch of luxury and fine dining.

The average price of a semi-detached here last year was £273,000.

On the market: This two-bedroom detached house has a charming garden and off-road parking and is set in a cul-de-sac near Saundersfoot’s centre. For sale with Chandler Rogers for £275,000 (chandlerrogers.co.uk).

FOLKESTONE, KENT

Had you said ten years ago that Folkestone was a desirable place for downsizers, your sanity may have been questioned.

That it has changed, and changed utterly, is largely down to one man – Sir Roger De Haan, the multi-millionaire behind the Saga company. De Haan bought the town’s harbour in 2004 with a view to regenerating it – and that has been the springboard for a whole new Folkestone.

Today, the old Harbour Arm promenade hosts street food stalls and superb restaurants, while the Old High Street is home to the Creative Quarter, bursting with independent shops and studios.

‘Folkestone today has a really cool vibe,’ says incomer Alex Rodriguez, 31, a freelancer in corporate communications. ‘The town has a real sense of community.’

The flagship for the new Folkstone is Shoreline, the Gaudi-esque development of 84 apartments at the top of the beach where prices start at £430,000.

On the market: This elegant two-bedroom flat is set in a period building on a tree-lined avenue and is in immaculate condition. For sale with Miles and Barr for £280,000 (milesandbarr.co.uk).

GRANGE-OVER-SANDS, CUMBRIA

If you’re looking for a prosperous Edwardian town steeped in elegance and seaside charm, then you could hardly do better than Grange-over-Sands.

The Cumbrian town is a place of simple pleasures. A leisurely stroll along the promenade, stopping in the Ornamental Gardens with its rare trees and plants, makes for a popular way to spend an afternoon.

Alternatively, just wonder at the danger posed by Morecambe Bay’s tidal sands – but do not cross them without a guide.

Specialist shops abound in this town, including an award-winning butchers and restaurants selling uniquely local fayre, such as Cumberland sausages, Holker venison and Morecambe Bay shrimps.

Its famous small railway station has been voted the best in Europe and l’Enclume restaurant in nearby Cartmel is a favourite with foodies.

In fact, if you want a restful life and glorious scenery, Grange-over-Sands fits the bill. Just don’t expect the bright lights of Blackpool.

On the market: Hideaway Cottage is appropriately named given its position hidden back from the main road, with an attached studio and mature gardens. For sale with Poole Townsend for £260,000 (pooletownsend.co.uk).

CONWY, NORTH WALES

This charming town in North Wales is chocolate box pretty, with the peaks of Snowdonia forming a dramatic backcloth for the sparkling waters of the estuary. High castle walls surround the town and life here meanders along at a civilised pace.

There is something pleasingly French about buying fresh fish from the quay, while the delis, bookshop and posh farm shop all add to the shopping experience. For the weekly shop, there are supermarkets in nearby Llandudno.

This is an outdoorsy kind of place: Conwy Morfa is a sandy beach good for swimming, fishing, sailing or kayaking, there is a popular cycling club and the Park Run is well attended, too.

The locals know how to live well, though – the local chippy is the best in North Wales and the Jackdaw on the high street has an 11-course tasting menu that will set you back £75.

Property prices appeal to downsizers – the average house last year sold for £236,000. A detached cost £321,000.

On the market: This two-bedroom cottage has a charming rooftop garden and is set in Conwy’s town walls within short walking distance of all shops and restaurants. For sale with Iwan M Williams for £225,000 (iwanmwilliam.co.uk).

DEAL, KENT

The Kent coast is lined with seaside resorts – but Deal stands out as different. Smaller and more friendly than Whitstable and less of a hipster honeypot than Margate, the essence of Deal’s charm is its Georgian architecture.

The centre, which is Kent’s first conservation area, has a delightful mixture of pubs and fishermens’ cottages. The shadowy streets and smugglers’ alleys are reminders of the days when Lord Nelson visited.

Nowadays, these central streets are buzzing at weekends with crowds drawn to the French-style patisserie, the fresh fish shop and a mix and match of independent traders.

It is a town for creatives, too. They get a chance to strut their stuff in the Deal Music and Arts Festival in the summer. Along the front, there is a blustery, flat promenade, a pretty pebble beach and a quarter of a mile-long pier with a restaurant at its end.

Just 80 minutes from St Pancras, anyone downsizing here shouldn’t feel cut off from the world.

On the market: This two-bedroom, semi-detached bungalow is set in the sought-after area of Church Lane and has off-street parking and a rear garden. For sale with Miles and Bar for £280,000 (milesandbarr.co.uk).

SHERINGHAM, NORTH NORFOLK

On the posh end of the North Norfolk coast, Sheringham is a mix of nostalgia – buckets and spade and penny arcades – and up-market cool.

Downsizers intent on keeping active are well catered for, with paddleboard hire and yoga on the Blue Flag beaches. There is a surf school five miles away at Cromer and Sheringham Golf Club is one of the most picturesque in the country.

Independent shops are aplenty, from Grey Seal Coffee to the magnificently named Pungleperry’s ice cream parlour, and there’s a twice-weekly market in summer.

Although it doesn’t pretend to be a Mecca for shoppers, Sheringham has some great art and craft stores. For a trip down memory lane, visit Starling’s toy shop and the traditional sweet shop, The Chocolate Box.

Sheringham Little Theatre, which has actress Suranne Jones as its president, puts on a mix of plays, films, cabaret, jazz and tribute acts and a lively local music scene is led by the Sheringham Shantymen – Norfolk’s answer to Fisherman’s Friends.

But downsizing to Sheringham does not come cheap – a detached house will likely set you back over £500,000.

On the market: This pretty, two-bedroom cottage is only minutes from the beach. For sale with William H Brown for £280,000 (williamhbrown.co.uk).

LYME REGIS, DORSET

The off-season is a real worry if you are downsizing to the seaside – particularly if you have children or grandchildren. That is what makes Lyme Regis a good choice.

Winter in Lyme is considered the best time of year by most locals – it’s then they can appreciate the pretty Georgian streets and ancient harbour without the summer hordes spoiling the view.

The youngsters have a skate park and football club and the various sailing clubs still meet, even if they don’t take to the water. The town’s high street is busy, with an independent butcher, baker and fishmonger.

The Marine Theatre shows films and hosts comedy, plays and gigs. The place is even buzzing on Christmas Day, when hundreds put on Santa hats and go for a swim in aid of the RNLI.

On the market: This elegant, two-bedroom apartment has sea views and is a short walk from the beachfront. For sale with Fortnam Smith and Banwell for £325,000 (fsb4homes.com).

SALCOMBE, DEVON

Do you dream of idling away your days just messing about on a boat? If so, Salcombe could be for you.

The pretty Devon town is a cluster of stone and pastel-coloured houses built along terraces on a steep slope overlooking the blue waters of the estuary. Thanks to the ‘bar’ – a spit of sand at the mouth of the estuary – these are safe waters.

The stores – including a jewellery shop, book shop, toy shop and boutique – have a 1950s charm and every street seems to have an art gallery.

The housing stock is made up of former fishermen’s cottages, grand Victorian villas and former warehouses, transformed into cutting-edge loft apartments.

Prices are eye-wateringly high, but Salcombe is not solely for hedge fund managers. ‘You will find more affordable housing on Kingsale Road and Camperdown Road,’ says Charlie Heath, estate agent at Marchand Petit. ‘Malborough is a pretty village just two miles from Salcombe where prices are significantly lower than in Salcombe itself.’

On the market: This one-bedroom studio apartment offers views across the estuary and has a sun terrace and communal gardens. For sale with Marchand Petit for £225,000 (marchandpetir.co.uk).

WHITSTABLE, KENT

If you want to downsize to the seaside but you don’t fancy just another bucket and spade resort, then Whitstable could be for you.

This is typical seaside with a dash of indie charm for good measure. With its pastel-painted shop fronts, long shingle beach and restaurants selling locally farmed oysters, the town is the ideal spot for those who have had enough of city life.

Browse through the quirky shops or head to the harbour for oysters, while watching the trawler fleet. Or walk the seafront path west towards Seasalter and the Old Neptune – one of the few pubs in Britain that stands on a beach.

It seems like a world away but Whitstable is, in fact, only 90 minutes by train from London Victoria and two hours by car.

On the market: This three-bedroom, semi-detached home is just metres from Whitstable station, with direct links to London, and comes with a garage and rear garden. For sale with Miles and Barr for £450,000 (milesandbarr.co.uk).

PENZANCE, CORNWALL

It may not be the prettiest of ports, but Penzance offers plenty for downsizers in its own way.

For sheer drama, it is hard to match the grand sweep of Mount’s Bay and the craggy island of St. Michael’s Mount. The centre has some great period architecture, too, best seen along Chapel Street, and then there’s the main attraction – the superb Jubilee Pool, a classic art deco lido.

Like many seaside resorts, The Cornish town may have suffered deprivation in the past, but £21.5million of public funding has been invested in its rejuvenation and it is now enjoying a cultural renaissance. There are art galleries, theatres and an annual literature festival.

Penzance has some good shops, and then there’s 45 Queen Street – a former warehouse-turned bar and restaurant now serving as a hipster haven.

All the schools are rated good by Ofsted and you can buy a flat for £250,000. What’s not to like if you’re downsizing?

On the market: This two-bedroom, period cottage has enclosed lawned gardens and is set in the village of Mousehole, a ten-minute drive away. For sale with Penzance Marshalls from £365,000 (marshallspz.co.uk).

EXMOUTH, DEVON

Located at the meeting point of the River Exe and the sea, Exmouth sits in a glorious coastal landscape with a sandy beach and an impressive, long promenade.

The sheltered bay is perfect for kayaks or paddleboards and is only a short distance from the Jurassic Coast. It is one of the few places that’s equally appealing to retirees and young people.

The town has a three-screen cinema, all the traditional sports clubs – including a cricket field on the front – and a full range of independent shops.

You could fill your days sampling the boat trips that go up the river and around the coast – but if you prefer more sedentary pleasures, the immaculately manicured Manor Gardens are truly relaxing.

On the market: This purpose-built, two-bedroom apartment comes with a garage and is located close to both the town centre and the seafront. For sale with Pennys for £285,000 (pennys.net).

ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK

If you are thinking of downsizing to the seaside, one serious worry is that you may find yourself in some kind of cultural wasteland – a candyfloss world of arcades and blaring pop music. You need have no such worries if you move to Aldeburgh.

The town is home to a literary festival, multiple galleries and iconic sculptures, as well as the Aldeburgh Music Club started by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears in 1952.

Scenically, it is a flashback to the English seaside of a century ago with wooden shacks and bathing huts, boats pulled up on the shingle and strolls along the prom. There’s bird spotting at the nature reserves of Dunwich Heath and Minsburgh and, if this all sounds a bit worthy, there’s also some of the best fish and chips in the land.

On the market: This two-bedroom, detached bungalow is set in a peaceful corner plot with secluded front and rear gardens, a wide driveway and double garage. For sale with Flick & Son for £400,000 (flickandson.co.uk).

BUDE, CORNWALL

Bude is not your typical Cornish town. It is not as self-consciously arty at St Ives, it’s less twee than Padstow and not as garish as Newquay. Yet it is a proper working town, with a population of 18,000.

Bude has all the amenities locals need, including coffee shops doubling up as office hubs, a golf course, sports clubs and plenty of shopping. The beaches – Summerleaze, Crooklets and further along the coast, Widemouth Bay – attract hardcore surfers.

Then there is the famous Bude Swimming Pool, hewn out of rock on the shore. It has just become the country’s first licensed sea wedding venue, enabling couples to be married in its waters.

Bude gives the impression of being slow to the party as a resort. Visit in June and you’ll find some restaurants in mid-week not yet open for the season. Yet it could be about to take off, which is good news for downsizers with investment in mind.

A semi-detached house sells for £400,000 on average, which is a snip at North Cornwall’s prices.

On the market: This spacious, three-bedroom, first-floor apartment is a short walk from Bude’s beaches. For sale with Bond Oxborough Phillips for £260,000 (bopproperty.com).

PORTHCAWL, SOUTH WALES

This resort town in South Wales has an image problem, and it is all down to one man – Elvis Presley.

Porthcawl holds the world’s biggest Elvis Festival every summer, when the town is filled with men in glittery suits, giving the town a reputation for tackiness. That is a shame because, looked at dispassionately, Porthcawl is the perfect place for downsizers.

It has seven magnificent beaches that enjoy technicolour sunsets. The prestigious golf club, Royal Porthcawl, has hosted the Walker Cup and surfing and paddle-boarding are big in the town.

There is a swish new cafe bar overlooking Rest Bay, while the up-market town of Cowbridge is only a 20-minute drive away, boasting boutiques and wine bars. Cardiff, meanwhile, is just 30 minutes along the M4.

The local comprehensive has a glowing reputation and in summer you will see youngsters heading for the waves as soon as school finishes.

The average price for a semi-detached was £305,000 last year.

On the market: This three-bedroom, 17th century cottage features original floors and fireplaces and is set in the Nottage area of Porthcawl. For sale with Elwood Deere for £265,000 (elwooddeere.com).

SEAHOUSES, NORTHUMBERLAND

This colourful fishing village in Northumberland is home to a beautifully wild beach perfect for body-boarding or, weather permitting, barbecuing in the high sand dunes.

Seahouses has a bustling harbour, a few shops and some of the best fish and chip shops in the north. But really it is the wildlife, including the nearby Farne Islands, where you can see puffins and grey seal colonies.

The village’s past lives on at Swallow Fish, who have been smoking fish on site since 1843 and where it is said they invented the kipper.

Downsizing to Seahouses would not be for everyone – young families may find it too bleak in winter. However, for the wildlife enthusiast with a taste for the great outdoors, it is sheer bliss.

On the market: This two-bedroom fisherman’s cottage has a sun terrace and is set near the harbour. For sale with Rook Matthews for £265,000 (rookmatthewssayer.co.uk).

APPLEDORE, CORNWALL

Think coast, cottages and unspoilt coastal views and you have Appledore – a reminder of Cornwall’s St Ives 50 years ago before the up-country hordes took it over.

With four pubs for a population of 3,000, if you downsize to Appledore you’ll never be short of company. When the tide is in during the summer months you can catch the little Appledore-Instow Ferry across to the beach and the famous John’s Deli at Instow.

If culture is your thing, then there’s the Appledore Book Festival which has Jeremy Vine as its patron. Appledore is famous, too, for its galleries of coast-inspired art, including Appledore Art Gallery and artist co-op, The Appledore Crafts Company.

Perhaps the main attraction of Appledore to downsizers is that sense of living somewhere that’s economically on the up. A £15million award has been granted to the Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre, next to the shipyard, which is due to open in 2025. It is likely to attract wealthy academics and experts, making the little Devonian town more sought after than ever.

On the market: This pretty, two-bedroom terraced cottage is a stone’s throw from the quay. For sale with Harding & Co for £265,000 (hardingresidential.com).

EASTBOURNE, EAST SUSSEX

Eastbourne used to be all about bus parties full of OAPs sitting on park benches in manicured gardens on the seafront. That’s all changed – and now the East Sussex town is brimming with arts and crafts.

The Turner prize exhibition was recently a big hit in the Towner gallery which operates a Sussex Art Shuttle – a brightly painted mini-bus linking three of Sussex’s favourite art venues.

The shopping centre is modern, with all the usual suspects, not forgetting the Sovereign Leisure Centre which has a gym, fun pool with a wave machine and a sauna and steam room. All this, together with comparatively lower prices, explains why Eastbourne is poaching so many downsizing buyers from Brighton.

On the market: This two-bedroom flat has an attractive living room with bay windows and is set in the popular Upperton Gardens. For sale with Fox and Sons for £200,000 (fox-and-sons.co.uk).

LANGLAND BAY, GOWER

You are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches in the Gower. The 70 sq-mile peninsular, near Swansea, has everything from the vast sweep of Rhossili to pretty coves like Port Eynon and Tor Bay.

Yet for downsizers, Langland Bay is ideal. Scenically, it is impressive. Pretty green beach huts stand next to the car park from where you can either walk the coastal path or watch the surfers from the brasserie above the bay.

There are good golf and tennis courts and the Mumbles, a former fishing village which has been rejuvenated in recent years, is a short drive away. The Tivoli Arcade has been turned into a centre for swish restaurants and bars and the old British Legion is an M&S. Even the rugby club has had a make-over – renamed Bar 1887.

‘Langland retains its identity, though,’ says local Roland Herbert-Evans, 69. ‘Fundraising for the RNLI and the two yacht clubs are at the hub of the community.’

Being close to the hustle and bustle of Mumbles, yet only a few miles from remote wild beaches, is the essence of Langland’s charm. You could spend in excess of £20million for one of the detached period homes here. However, there are several attractive apartments for sale in one of the blocks overlooking the sea for as little as £300,000.

On the market: This two-bedroom apartment is arranged over the ground floor of the prestigious Langland Bay Manor and looks out over beach huts and the sea towards Devon. For sale with The Green Room for £399,995 (thegreenroomhomes.com).

WHITLEY BAY, TYNE AND WEAR

There is something exciting about moving to a place that is going through regeneration, which is why downsizers will be drawn to Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear.

Spanish City on the waterfront, once home to a run-down theme park, re-opened in 2018 after a £10million renovation. It now boasts a champagne bar, tea room and wedding venue.

High Point View, meanwhile, is a seafront development of 14 townhouses on the site of an old hotel. Other improvements include a skate park, the refurbishment of the swimming pool and a new library. There are six blue-flag beaches and the town’s schools have an excellent reputation.

On the market: This two-bedroom, double-fronted ground floor flat is set in a period house on a pedestrianised street. For sale with Embleys for £225,000 (embleys.co.uk).