Are there any decent, liveable seaside towns in UK which aren’t silly expensive or horribly rundown?

[Moidershewrote]

Basically that - DH and I would really like to relocate with our 2 primary aged kids to live by the sea (near a sandy beach) in either England or Wales - ideally we’d like a half decent primary / secondary schools, friendly community feel with clubs / kids activities etc and not run down/full of pound shops etc and access to train station within approx 5 miles and local buses would be great. We’d love to live somewhere that is walking distance of a beach.

It feels like we’ve looked into so many places and for one reason or another we end up discounting it - usually because either schools seem crap or no train station or no community feel.

Places we’ve immediately rejected are:

• Kent (grammar schools / Kent test)


• Brighton (too expensive / pebble beach)


• Portsmouth/S’ton/Plymouth (too big / towny feel)


• Essex/Somerset coastline (not the right vibe for us)


• E/W Sussex (not sandy😆)

Would love to hear any personal recommendations from people who have moved to another coastal town with kids / or live in one and think it’s brilliant (and why)🙏 We do love Devon, Dorset, Anglia.. Would consider Wales, or NW/NE England.

Thank you, you’ve nailed my reasons there :)

I grew up in Kent, by lots of a andy beaches, which I loved. But my school was dreadful, as were all the others with the exception of the grammar schools. My older sister is near Whitstable and both my niece’s and nephew have gone through the mill with 11+ and one didn’t pass and it has caused a real rift between the siblings. I just don’t want t out my kids through it and yet just not choosing to do the test could mean / be seen by them (when older) as not giving them best chances. I’d rather just avoid it altogether.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply😘 When I wrote the post I wasn’t expecting so many replies, so apologies if I haven’t replied to you.

To answer some questions: bother DH and I are self-employed and can WFH permanently so we aren’t tied to a location - however our families are in the South / South East as well as a sibling in S. Wales. We would consider the north, but likely that somewhere south of midlands is going to be more realistic in terms of seeing relatives a few times a year. We don’t rely on them for childcare or anything though.

Budget wise we are up to £650k range and ideally need 4 beds or at least a place with space suitable for us both home-working long term.

I didn’t know that Torbay area also has Grammar school nonsense going on, bummer.

Also no shade to those if you who love your pebble beaches, I am not totally against them😬 But we all do prefer sandy beaches, DH and DS love sea fishing and our youngest is 5.

😮😲😮
Really must go back this year and check out this part of S. Wales as we’ve only looked around Pembrokeshire till now! Thank you!

I was here to suggest this, too - or anywhere on the Gower peninsula.

I would absolutely love to, I spent many years holidaying with my family in County Cork, Kerry, Clare & Galway💚💚💚

This is nonsense, I work in the public sector and my Welsh is extremely basic at best

There are no grammar schools in Wales so that won’t be a problem, and for your budget you will get an amazing house - SA2 and SA3 will get you areas within walking distance of a sandy beach

Imo Hoylake has a nicer beach than West Kirby. Have to admit I'm a bit biased, it's where I grew up.

Given your criteria, I would look again at the edges of Bournemouth, Eastbourne Christchurch etc and if you can feel ok about not doing Kent test (lots don't) then Broadstairs is a great little place and superb beaches. Leigh on sea too worth a look.

11 plus isn't compulsory anywhere if you aren't looking to get your child into grammar school by the way. Is it that you think it will split them up from their friends ? We lived in Canterbury many years ago and quite a lot of the children in my sons class opted for the comprehensive schools- not everyone by a long way took the 11 plus including some bright kids who probably would have passed it

People saying "11 plus isn't compulsory". No but it can adversly affect the Comprehensives. We are in a Grammar school area and the comprehensives are all the poorer for it.

For £650k you would get a gorgeous house in Tynemouth. No grammar school. Kings priory is excellent

@MissyB1 Yes there is that aspect - true!! Unfortunately ' a lot 'of the suitable places for OP have grammar schools - combined with sandy beaches it's a bit limiting as it rules out Kent, Dorset, some of Essex lots of Devon and other suitable areas like Northumberland, Wirral, South Wales are quite far flung if your family is south east .

Leaving out those areas then where there are grammars - I would say Christchurch, Eastbourne, Bridport (west bay) Lyme Regis , Weymouth - a quick check shows Bournemouth has grammars but only 1 of each- boys and girls. Same in poole.

Another option is to live somewhere like Chichester (which is very nice indeed and good shopping) with west wittering and Bognor very close by- great beaches - same with living in Rye (lovely) with camber sands on doorstep

This is incorrect. I work for the council v few Welsh speakers.

children learn Welsh in school as a second language , which gives them a good ear for English.

All three comprehensives in West Swansea are Estyn rated Excellent, the Ofsted equivalent of Outstanding.

I’ll be WFH with own business anyway, so location for work isn’t really an issue.😀

I was brought up in Torbay. Yes, there are a few grammar schools in Churston, Torquay etc, but there are numerous comprehensive schools in Brixham, Paignton & Torquay. So, I wouldn't want the OP to rule out Torbay....

Northumberland coastal areas are stunning. Winters on the cold side though

I think Christchurch ticks all the boxes.

Close enough to Bournemouth & Poole for all the shops/theatres/leisure activities, but has a pleasant market town feel and no grammar schools. Twynham comp had a good reputation back in the day, don't know if it still does. The Grange, on the other hand, definitely didn't, so watch catchments.

It has its own strip of sandy beach (Avon beach) plus easy to get to the vast expanse of the Bournemouth beaches. Mudeford Quay and the river bank park are gorgeous too. Great for fishing, I should think.

Small but nice town with picturesque ancient ruins etc. Very close to the New Forest too. Can't comment on prices there but worth a bit of researching.

Yes I mentioned Christchurch earlier- ticks the boxes although I wonder if OP might find it a bit 'old'

Dorset ?

Looking at the North West, Formby is a lovely area. There is the beach with its sand dunes, and Antony Gormleys iconic 'Another place' iron men. The National Trust have a large park with red squirrels, and you're not too far from Liverpool or Southport.
Perhaps others could give information regarding schools, etc.
More information here
visitseftonandwestlancs.co.uk/discover-sefton-and-west-lancs/places-to-visit/formby.aspx

I also agree about Lytham, St Annes. Fairhaven Park and lake is a great place to take the children.

Felixstowe!

Saltburn in North East, lovely historic town near the sea with its own railway station

Totnes is only 6m from the beach and not Torbay so no Grammar schools

Cromer, Norfolk.