THE UK’s top seaside towns to move to in 2025 have been revealed – and a trendy coastal hotspot home to a “national treasure” beach lido takes the crown.
A new study has crunched numbers from house prices and salaries to weather and Wi-Fi to uncover the best places to enjoy the good life by the sea.
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Margate in Kent has officially claimed the crown, scoring a near-perfect 98.83 in the Coastal Relocation Index.
With sunny skies, decent broadband, and reasonable house prices, it’s no wonder this trendy town has topped the charts.
The seaside favourite boasts, 1,846 hours of sunshine a year, average house prices just over £333,000, and fast broadband speeds of 210.1 Mbps.
Locals expect to earn around £32,415 annually.
They say it’s the perfect blend of old-school seaside vibes and new-wave cool.
Seafood restaurant owner Nadine Morriss said: “We’ve got the beach, we’ve got independent businesses, and there’s just this amazing community feel.”
In second place is Yorkshire’s Whitby, famous for its cobbled streets and dramatic coastline.
It offers a whopping £77,528 average salary and house prices around £306,000, plus almost 1,500 hours of sun a year.
Rounding out the top three is Whitstable, another Kent gem, priced for its charm and strong relocation score of 90.53.
Fishguard, a charming town in Pembrokeshire, has claimed sixth place on the list of most desirable locations with a score of 83.33.
The study by by relocation experts My Baggage found residents enjoy an impressive 1,663.62 hours of sunshine annually, an average salary of £57,542, and relatively affordable housing, with the average home priced just over £293,254.
Coming in seventh with a score of 83.3 is Brighton in East Sussex.
Known for its vibrant atmosphere and coastal charm, the city basks in 1,670.78 hours of sunshine each year.
However, property comes at a premium, with the average house costing £474,403.
Portpatrick stands out for affordability, with houses averaging just £142,305 – the lowest of the list.
Meanwhile, Llandudno offers the highest median salary at a surprising £85,050.
At the pricier end, Aldeburgh commands hefty house prices (£737,916) despite a modest average salary of £25,371 – but still earns its spot for beauty and quality of life.
Paul Stewart, CEO of My Baggage, said:
“Margate leads convincingly as the UK’s premier coastal relocation destination for 2025.
“It hits the sweet spot between cost, connectivity and coastal charm.”
He added that Kent’s strong showing, with two towns in the top three, cements its growing status as a top spot for seaside living.
- Margate, Kent – Score: 98.83
- Whitby, Yorkshire – Score: 97.60
- Whitstable, Kent – Score: 90.53
- Llandudno, Conwy – Score: 88.10
- Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway – Score: 84.53
- Fishguard, Pembrokeshire – Score: 83.33
- Brighton, East Sussex – Score: 83.30
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk – Score: 82.13
- Penzance, Cornwall – Score: 82.13
- Portrush, Co Antrim – Score: 79.78
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