Best UK city/large town by the sea?

[pepperontoast]

Looking for recommendations please as to the best affordable area in uk, near the sea with lots to do, plenty of shops, good schools, transport links and not too far to spend time in lovely countryside? Bonus if it's warmer....

Cardiff - for a small city it has plenty of culture de to being capital of wales, good transport links, couple of hours to london, beaches not to far, Brecon Beacons and lots of countryside also not too far.
Plymouth - affordable, less connected transport wise (as in takes a lot longer to get ‘up country’ lots of beaches and Dartmoor nearby.
Bristol - not affordable but lots going on, crazy reach of beaches and wye valley. Choice of schools
Exeter - closer to civilisation than plymouth but same access to beaches/Dartmoor. More expensive though.

Do you need large employers too, or is your job transferable?

And when you say affordable, do remember that that might mean Port Talbot not Mumbles. (No offence to PT)

Thanks both! Affordable meaning up to around £300k but less if possible. We only need a two bed...

Brighton! (Born, bred and lived here all my life) You've got the sea, South Downs, plenty to do; good transport links to London and along the coast. Don't know about schools, as I don't have kids.

Bournemouth is lovely

I live in Portsmouth and I like it. I would also look at Brighton and Bournemouth. Bournemouth has a sandy beach.

Brighton

One of the villages near Chichester. Festival theatre in the town, near the sea and the South Downs for walking etc, good transport links to Brighton, Southampton, Portsmouth and up to London. Regarded as having a micro climate, although can be breezy. State and independent schools, Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth and you can get over to the Isle of Wight.

Helensburgh, Scotland. 40 mins by train to Glasgow. 10 mins and you’re at Loch Lomond national park. Can swim in the loch every day! Lovely coffee shops, restaurants & great schools.

However it also rains 361 days a year! 😆

Newcastle area. I realise north east England isn't famous for a warmer climate.
Places like Whitley Bay are by the sea, good schools and easy to get to city centre by metro plus not far from the Northumberland countryside. Morpeth either has good schools, train or bus to Newcastle. Close to countryside and not too far from the seaside.

Falmouth?

Edinburgh. Some areas are close to the Firth of Forth, eg Portobello, rapidly gentrifying, and Cramond, and not at all far from the beaches in East Lothian. It has a wealth of good schools, eg Mary Erskine, Heriots, Watsons,; good shopping, and of course the arts.

Another vote for Portsmouth. I live here and love it.

I would choose Brighton of those mentioned. Though you might consider somewhere else depending on where other family members are (unless you want to avoid them).

@maldivemoment, plus we've recently had whales in the Loch

Brighton meets your criteria except for affordability. For that, you'd need to look further along the south coast eg towards Lancing, but then you lose a bit of the convenience of transport links.

IHaveBrilloHair I know! How lucky we are (in amongst all this current shit!) 😊

One of the towns between Brighton and Worthing might float your boat? I'm in Shoreham-by-Sea, which is pretty much in the middle of them - lovely little town with beach/the Downs, lots of pubs and choice of supermarkets (big Tesco, big Lidl, big Co-op), farmer's market twice a month. It has lots of nice independent shops and cafes/restaurants, but if you need bigger/high street brands, it's easy to get to Brighton by car or train! Plus a direct train into London Victoria in about 1hr 20 mins. Or you could try Hove, Southwick, Goring, Lancing, etc - anywhere along the train line between Brighton and Worthing.

Wirral. West coast - Hoylake, Heswall, Caldy.

Portsmouth! Brighton is not affordable at all! The house prices are crazy!

Lots of places mentioned, thanks! I'm going to look at them all, exciting! We currently live in a small remote village with absolutely nothing apart from one tiny shop.

Bournemouth - especially near Southbourne area - BH6 or BH5 (beachside) postcodes.
Lovely beaches - the whole coastline has quiet beaches which the locals use rather than “Bournemouth beach” which is always pictured in the papers on a hot day. Great independent restaurant and coffee shop scene

I should say im moving from Portsmouth to Bournemouth though 😂

Bournemouths got a bit more going on I think, also a bit more expensive though.

I second Newcastle.
Biased, as I’m from there (and would love to move back!)
Very affordable, close to incredible countryside, lots to do, amazing restaurants and culture.

Property porn:
Windsor Gardens, Whitley Bay
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-98752931.html

Cheviot View, Whitley Bay
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72926958.html

Bournemouth Gardens, Whitley Bay
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-84311534.html

Sorry but imo Bournemouth is utterly depressing (as is neighbouring Poole). My husband grew up there and so we visit reasonably regularly and I honestly cannot think of a town I like less. Soulless, overrun with traffic, depressing town centre, uninspiring architecture.