What's a really great UK seaside city or large town to live in?

[LAHallucinations]

As the title says really. I've lived in a small town in the Home Counties all my life and I'd like to move to the coast within the next year. The trouble is I have very few restrictions/criteria for where I could move, so I'm struggling with very bad choice paralysis. Whenever I do find somewhere I think would suit me, I search for threads about the place on here, and inevitably they'll be a handful of comments saying what a shithole that place is, which just sends me back to square one (even if most other comments are very positive).

So no negativity please, just places that you think are really good to live in.

The only essentials are:

• Must be by the coast (doesn't need to have a sandy beach, just some good coastal walks)


• Must be a big town or a city (I don't drive so I want everything nearby and plenty of things to do/opportunities to meet new people)


• Mustn't be somewhere really 'rough' or rundown

I work from home, I don't have children, and I have a large budget, so none of those things are an issue.

Where would you recommend?

Edinburgh

Brighton

Bournemouth

Cardiff

Eastbourne!

Lancaster

Exmouth in Devon and Newquay in Cornwall come to mind. Both are busy in summer and both have some rough bits, as does any large town, but are overall beautiful with gorgeous walks and beaches and lovely friendly locals.

Formby or Southport
Crosby/Waterloo area north of Liverpool
They are all coastal areas with great access into Liverpool by train or bus but busy towns in their own right with shops, bars, restaurants etc

Swansea. Not a huge city but big enough and lots of things to do.

North Wales Abersoch, Barmouth areas

Edinburgh
but take a look at Newcastle too

Lytham St Anne’s

Brighton, hands down. Or, if you like something a little bit quirky, arty, good music & (small) theatre - then Shoreham-by-Sea. It's basically a suburb of Brighton now, has a real charm. Beautiful properties on the river or on the seafront. I love it.

Falmouth.

Well we live in Plymouth and I love it. It’s sandwiched between the sea and the moor with amazing walks around. It has reasonable concerts, a good theatre and reasonable shops. It’s not terribly trendy and there are some rough arsed areas but the same will be true in any large town/city.

Formby or Lytham St Annes

Edinburgh!

Cardiff. Or Barry. ❤️

Tynemouth. The metro provides easy access to Newcastle.

Oh - and rent for a year before you commit to buying, whatever you decide on

I agree with Edinburgh!

Abersoch if money is truly no object!

Northern Ireland is ridiculously stunning, Helen's bay, Cultra, Holywood, all leafy, community focused, beautiful beaches and a stones throw from vibrant towns, Belfast city and many many forest / mountain / nature trails.

NO they're empty in the winter and depressing. Terrible transport no large town let alone a city.

Abersoch is not a city/large town and it wouldn't be ideal for getting around for someone with no car

Cardiff or Swansea would be better from a Welsh perspective, or I guess Bangor or Aberystwyth, but personally I would go for Cardiff or Swansea (and I say this as a North Walian, so it pains me slightly... 😁)

@justasking111
Well no that's not entirely true... Abersoch has a a year round community of around 600 people, they are generally very active and there is plenty to do in the down months. However rereading the op, I see they would like a big town nearby and that's really very far removed from what you get with Abersoch. Although, for the stunning scenery and £3m houses, I'd quite happily do a fortnightly 2 hour drive to chester 🤣