England/Wales coastal living - where should we go?

[CosyKnits]

We currently live in the north-west, suburban, nice but have decided to bite the bullet and move the coast.

It’s something we’ve been considering for years – we never meant to stay where we are for so long and want to get going before DD gets much older (she’s currently 5 and a half).

Trouble is, we don’t know which coast. We love Northumberland (Alnwick, Warkworth, Embleton) and have already discounted the Yorkshire Coast (absolutely lovely but more “seaside” and touristy than we’re after - plus we've lived in Yorkshire before and would like somewhere new if possible). We are basically open to anything in England or Wales and I would be very grateful for any recommendations/experience – if you live or have lived somewhere on the coast, and have the time/inclination, I'd love to hear about it. Thank you!

I would choose saundersfoot/ st Davids. Love Tenby, but wouldn't want to live there due to how busy it can get in the holidays. Same with the gower. Saundersfoot is one of my favourite places so I'd go there! I live near the gower now, its ok here, but if I could I would go further west.

Thank you, will do some research as not too familiar with that part of the country - I work remotely though do need to be in London every couple of months or so.

Thank you @UrsulaPandress - I love Anglesey. Northumberland is chilly but I prefer cold to hot, I have to say!

What about North Cornwall, there are lots of small villages near Bude, which is a lovely small town. It also has the benefit of being close to North Devon as well.
it’s about an hours drive to bigger cities like Truro. Obviously tourists in August but not as many as other Popular Cornish villages. The downside is it’s hard to find NHS dentists and there is a lot of demand for the hospitals.

I would stay well away from Newquay (in Ceredigion, Wales) - the roads are terrible and parking is always a nightmare, even more so in the summer months. The Pembrokeshire coast is a great shout generally though; don't ignore the Carmarthenshire coast either - St Clears, particularly, is lovely and very close to lovely coastal walks, etc

Norfolk 💯

North Cornwall (and North Devon) are beautiful - obviously the furthest from where we are now but definitely not impossible, thank you.

Thank you @LadyMonicaBaddingham!

@prettyrainbows Norfolk is one of my top choices - DH is worried about it feeling too "flat"? He does love a hill!

Great schools and close to Chester and Liverpool

I'd stay up North.

I came on to say vale of Glamorgan! You've got built up seaside towns with fairs etc in Barry and porthcawl but the coast between them is rural and beautiful. places like ogmore, southerndown, llantwit major. Also if you want more of a town but not tacky, Penarth seems a great place to raise a family judging by friends who live there.

Anywhere in the vale isn't too far from Cardiff for amenities, plus smaller towns like Bridgend and Barry. Access to London not too bad on M4 or train, and plenty of hills for your DH in South Wales!

I love Pembs but I wouldn't do the south coast if you don't want touristy and you are getting more rural and isolated further north.

I expect you'd encounter less of the unwelcoming nationalism some of my fellow countrymen sadly seem to be displaying in the vale too!

Cullercoats / Whitley Bay / Tynemouth

I do love the North...

Thank you @Simplelobsterhat, lots of lovely sounding places to explore - DH will be happy about those hills!

Why are you assuming you're the only Welsh person on the thread? I lived in Wales from a few weeks old until adulthood. My mother is still there. I live in a similar area in the far south west now.

As long as people make an effort to integrate, live, work, and they don't simply buy a holiday home, I've never seen a problem with people moving wherever they fancy. You wouldn't want to become insular and unfriendly I'm guessing. Or would you?

Thank you, will add to the lis.

Barry Island - it's not what it was, parts are absolutely beautiful, with rural areas all over the Vale and 20 minutes to Cardiff on the train.

Isle of Wight. Beautiful coastline, beaches and cliffs. A hop to Southampton and Portsmouth on the ferry (there are 'shopper boats' which are far cheaper than the main ferries).

Consider future coastal erosion before choosing? You can Google a UK map showing predictions.

I have a bit of a thing for Bognor Regis. It's perhaps an acquired taste but I had a friend who lived there for some years and I grew to love all the different beaches, Bognor itself and the Arun area.

I think you need to narrow it down. I'd ask

Can you work remotely from home or is employment a consideration?

Do you need transport access to return to visit family and friends?

Most importantly, what kind of budget do you have, are you buying or renting and what you do want to achieve for your money?

If you're considering Wales have you checked out schooling and the curriculum?

I've lived in south Wales, in the south east of England and south Wirral. Different types of properties, different times in our lives, so different requirements. I'd say we love the south east best, but had the best time on the Wirral and also prefer sandy beaches to pebble.

Thank you @LegArmpits @OldTinHat @PermanentTemporary, will have a look at all of those - I've never been to Bognor Regis!

@Worriedprimarymum definitely factoring that in, high up on our list of things to think about

@martinisforeveryone thank you - we will of course be factoring in all those things, but are generally fairly free to go where we want (I work remotely, DH runs his own businesses which he can do from anywhere, we both drive etc - DD's only requirement is that we're near the sea).

This stage is just about getting an idea of which parts of the UK we should look at and then we will begin to narrow it down.

Ps, I love a martini!

Southeast coast, better weather.