Top 10 seaside house price hotspots (2026)
- Bootle in Merseyside tops the list as Great Britain’s seaside house price hotspot, with asking prices having risen 11% in the past year
- Five of the top 10 most sought-after spots are in Wales, with four in North West England, and one in Scotland
- Across more than 100 coastal areas analysed, over 80% have an average asking price below the national figure* (£378,304)
Following the hottest May day on record, the idea of coastal living with fresh sea air will appeal to many people looking to move soon.
In the past year, house prices have risen in many seaside towns, with new data highlighting the coastal areas that have seen the biggest increases since 2025, as we head into the height of summer.
With an average house price still way below the national average, we can reveal that Bootle in Merseyside has been crowned the seaside house price hotspot for summer 2026. The town situated along the Sefton coastline just north of Liverpool tops the list with local asking prices having increased 11% on average year-over-year to £141,680.
Second place can be found just 10 minutes further up the coast in the town of Crosby, known for its beach that features Antony Gormley’s famous Another Place iron men installation. Here, average asking prices are up 9% compared to last year, reaching £330,900.
Top 10 seaside areas by house price growth
| Coastal area | Region/country | Average price | Average price growth 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% |
While the two Merseyside areas take the top spots, five of the top ten most in-demand seaside towns are situated in Wales. Penarth (+8%), Llanwit Major (+8%) and Porthcawl (+6%) are all located in South Glamorgan, reflecting growing demand for homes along Wales’s southern coastline. Bangor in Gwynedd, meanwhile, has also seen a house prices rise by 7%.
Four of the top 10 are located in the North West, with Bootle and Crosby joined by Wallasey in Merseyside (+7%) and Barrow-In-Furness in Cumbria (+6%). Rounding off the top ten is Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire in Scotland, where average asking prices have increased by 6%.
The data shows that coastal living remains relatively accessible in several areas, with nine of the top 10 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 average (£378,304).
Colleen Babcock, our property expert, says: “The fastest-growing seaside markets this year show that demand for coastal homes in many areas 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,” she adds.
Top 10 cheapest seaside towns in Britain
| Coastal area | Region/country | Average price | Average price change 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% |
The cheapest coastal locations include Peterlee in County Durham (£120,657), Grimsby in Lincolnshire (£133,706), and Ashington in Northumberland (£133,775). Despite local house prices increasing 11% in the last year, Bootle remains among the top 10 cheapest seaside locations in Great Britain, ranking fourth.
Colleen Babcock adds: “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.”
Top 10 most expensive seaside towns in Britain
| Coastal area | Region | Average price | Average price change 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% |
Further South, the average price of coastal homes jumps significantly.
All of the top 10 most expensive locations to purchase a seaside property are found in either the South East or South West, with average property prices exceeding £1 million in two areas – Sandbanks (£1,119,945) and Canford Cliffs (£1,045,533), both in Dorset.
Interestingly, while property prices rose in eight of the top 10 cheapest seaside towns, that trend has reversed in more costly locations, with eight of the top 10 most expensive seaside towns in Great Britain having recorded house price declines. Lyme in Dorset saw a significant 7% drop, and Sidmouth in Devon experienced a 6% decrease.
Looking to make the switch to coastal living?
If you’re eyeing a home by the sea, here are some tips to for kick starting your property search.
- Use our draw a search tool to outline your preferred areas
- Set up instant property alerts for your preferred locations to be the first to know when new properties matching your criteria come to market
- Check sold house prices to get an idea of what properties are typically selling for in your chosen location(s)
- Selling a home as well? An instant valuation can give you a good idea of what your home is worth, before moving on to a property valuation from a local expert when you’re ready to list your home for sale
*Average house price, Rightmove’s May 2026 House Price Index
