Is there anywhere in the UK, that has a lovely sandy beach and is also a buzzy city.?

[JennyTals]

It has to be sandy beach only

I think she means Rye

If your find starts secondary school in September, beware that you need to apply, with a permanent address by 15 Jan.

It really depends what sort of shops you are looking for, but whilst the town centre of Bournemouth has massively gone down hill , areas such as Southbourne, Lower Parkstone and (to an extent) Westbourne are much better for small, boutiquey and different shops. Lots for teens to do, but really depends on their interests. If they are outdoorsy they can develop a whole social life around watersports and the beach (one of mine has!)

Margate?

Portsmouth?! Folkestone? St Ives?

Portsmouth beaches are all pebbles

haylign island is sandy but that’s not buzzy

I love the coastline around Bournemouth and Portsmouth, the cities aren't that thriving though outside the seafront.

Exactly. I love Swansea.
Amazing beaches and lovely woods to explore.
Not far from Pembroke for a nice night away.
Conveniently placed for Cardiff and West Wales.
Great Uni
And of course lovely people

Aberdeen

Definitely, if you want a well-wrapped-up breezy walk, not so much if you want to sit and have a picnic.

I live in Portobello and it’s fucking amazing. I feel like I’ve won the lottery every day because it’s just so lovely.

I used to live there too, and loved it. Had to move away as we couldn’t afford a house big enough for teenagers or any sort of garden at all!

@FKAT
Formby, Crosby, New Brighton ?

Swansea! The city centre is in need of improvement but to be fair those improvements are happening.

The city is built alongside a sandy beach and the Gower beaches are beautiful. It’s a short drive to Cardiff for a more happening city centre but there is lots going on closer to home too.

I love living there!

Huge apologies to the beach babes of Liverpool. I wasn't counting 'beach 30 minutes drive away' counted as being a city with a beach. (Formby looks gorgeous btw.) Not many beach huts in Liverpool 8 so no I didn't get in much sea swimming when I lived there.

In that case if you're after a buzzy city with a beach - why not Manchester? Just an hour away from Blackpool, it surely must count? Or my personal favourite buzzy British coastal city York and its outer suburb of Bridlington.

Tee hee

I’ve always wanted to visit because of the fabulous pool at Stonehaven

The Moray Firth has some of the best beaches, great dog walking but it fails on the buzz. Best wishes to all Scots for St Andrews Day tomorrow.

Don't move to Bournemouth. It's awful now. Failing local authority which is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, huge population of homeless people, many drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres, shabby, empty town centre save the "vibrant" nightlife, and outrageous roads and traffic jams and problems. Much of the affordable housing has been turned into student rentals with all the noise and anti social behaviour that this brings.

OP, do you want a beach within walking distance or, if you're prepared to drive, what's your maximum driving time? This will make a huge difference to the answers. Also if you're prepared to drive would you rather live in the city or near the beach? If places are within driving distance you may also find that there's no public transport so that your children would be reliant upon you as a taxi service.

What about Portishead? Nice seaside town and only a few miles outside of Bristol which is obviously very buzzy.

North Berwick.

Exmouth - not a city but a town. Lovely beach. Not sure you'd describe it as "buzzy" but it's a decent size. Close to Exeter for more excitement. They have issues with sewage in the sea at the moment due to south west water's incompetence ("Look Mummy, the sea has chocolate in it!" 🤢) but hopefully enough people are suing that they'll get it sorted.

Broadstairs - town, cute, lots of independent shops, lovely beaches. Again, "buzzy" might be pushing it.

Also consider Torquay, Paignton, Dartmouth, Sidmouth and (in Wales) Tenby and Swansea.

Only Swansea out of that lot is a city. So that might be the compromise.

Liverpool. Fabulous city.

I grew up in Swansea and my parents live there still. I wouldn’t live there if you paid me