Six seaside village hotspots

Over the past year we’ve been seeing a lot of changes in where people are choosing to live, with countryside and coastal locations firmly in the spotlight.

With the summer weather finally here, we’re seeing even more people search for that perfect village location by the sea.

In fact, six of the ten British villages which have seen the biggest jump in asking prices over the past year are near the coast, with many offering long stretches of sandy beaches, much-loved local shops and pubs, and good-value properties.

And, it’s Norfolk which has emerged as the nation’s favourite coastline, with three of the top villages located within the popular county.

Take a look:

Hemsby, Norfolk

Average asking price: £270,144
Annual price growth: 22%

The village of Hemsby, just north of Great Yarmouth, tops the list, with average asking prices increasing by 22% in the past year.

Hemsby has a lovely beach fringed by sand dunes. The village has a small parade of shops and restaurants, a primary school rated “good” by Ofsted, and there is the full range of family seaside fun to be had at crazy golf and in amusement arcades.

A short walk away from the beach there is a wide choice of homes to choose from, including everything from modern family houses to quintessential thatched cottages.

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Heacham, Norfolk

Average asking price: £322,836
Annual price growth: 20%

Heacham saw asking prices increase by 20% in June 2021. This lively village, set on the Wash, has been attracting tourists for well over 150 years. It is also a popular option for those who work in King’s Lynn, 14 miles away.

As well as its two sandy beaches, Heacham is at the heart of Norfolk’s lavender trade, and its blooms scent the air in summer. Local walks are wonderful, and Heacham has decent local shops, a junior school with a “good” Ofsted report, and good local pubs and restaurants.

A four- to five-bedroom detached family house would cost around £500,000 here, while a substantial period house costs around £750,000. Or you could opt for a pretty cottage for around £250,000 mark.

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Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk

Average asking price: £240,909
Annual price growth: 12%

While asking prices in Caister-On-Sea rose by 12% in a year, this coastal village also saw one of the biggest rises in demand for villages, with buyer demand up 46% in June 2021 compared to June 2020.

Another seaside resort blessed with a long and lovely stretch of sandy beach, Caister is just north of Great Yarmouth, and is a great choice for if you’re looking for a sporty spot, with its golf course, racecourse, marina, and lots of routes for walking and cycling around the Norfolk Broads.

There are lots of spacious, detached houses ideal for families, with four-bedroom houses costing around £350,000. Infant, junior, and senior schools in the village are all rated “good” by Ofsted.

There are also bungalows, from just over £200,000, and three-bedroomed semi-detached homes priced at around £250,000. If you want something pretty, you could pick up a traditional brick-and-flint, two-up, two-down cottage close to the High Street, priced around £170,000.

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Hamble, Hampshire

Average asking price: £427,705
Annual price growth: 10%

Norfolk wasn’t the only location where buyers searched for a village home by the sea. The Hampshire village of Hamble is the south coast’s sailing hotspot – set just where the River Hamble meets Southampton Water on its way to The Solent.

With the South Downs to the east and the New Forest to the west, residents are spoiled for choice when it comes to open space, and both Southampton and Portsmouth are close by. Hamble has a narrow, pebbly beach, but most people come here for the sailing. There are several clubs you can join to learn how.

This village’s most expensive properties have water views and seven figure price tags, but you can buy a spacious family house for around £700,000 or a period terrace with three bedrooms for around £400,000. You can also find purpose-built, one-bedroom flats for around £150,000.

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Milford on Sea, Hampshire

Average asking price: £613,116
Annual price growth: 10%

Also in Hampshire, overlooking Poole Bay, is the village of Milford on Sea, where asking prices have risen by 10% in a year.

Milford’s popularity with tourists means it is busy enough to offer a good range of restaurants, cafes, and tea shops, and there are good shops on the high street overlooking the village green, plus an Ofsted “outstanding” primary school.

Community spirit is another great selling point. Every year the village organises a series of events including a carnival, music and arts festival, and seafood week.

Clifftop walks are lovely, with spectacular views of The Needles, there is a shingle beach, and since you are within the New Forest National Park there is lots of open space.

Being within the national park keeps prices – and buyer demand – strong in Milford. At the top end of the market there are large Edwardian houses, modern beach houses with sea views, and semi-rural country houses.

A budget of £600,000 would secure you a three-bedroom bungalow or a 1920s semi-detached house in the village. For around £400,000, you could pick up a period terrace with three bedrooms.

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Freckleton, Lancashire

Average asking price: £226,962
Annual price growth: 10%

Freckleton, in the north west, is on the Fylde Coast, and around 35 miles north of Liverpool.

To be fair, Freckleton is more estuary than seaside – it is close to the mouth of the River Ribble, but St Anne’s Beach in Lytham St Anne’s is a 15-minute drive away.

This nice-looking, traditional village is peaceful and laid back, and it has a clutch of pubs and restaurants, several shops, and great walks along the Lancashire Coastal Way.

You can find a range of properties in Freckleton, including plenty of bungalows, traditional double-fronted cottages, barn conversions, and modern family houses.

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READ MORE: What can £300,000 buy across Britain?

The header image of Hamble in this article is provided courtesy of White & Guard Estate Agents, Hamble.