To ask, if you wanted to move from London to somewhere near the sea, where would it be? UK options

[Bunnica15]

Just that really, my lease is up in September and I really feel like I’m done with London.
I want to move somewhere near the sea, but where?? I have a baby and 2 teenagers.
Anyone have any pearls of wisdom?

@gingerkittykat Inverness is right on the coast where the Moray Firth joins the Beauly Firth and where the River Ness flows into the sea; it does not have a sandy beach but it definitely coastal the water is salt water the nearest Sandy beach is Nairn I think, peebles at Ardersier upto Fort George

Having been brought up in one seaside resort in one part of the UK and lived in another on the other side of the country, visited many others, and lived a long time in London, I'd say that it is in the nature of most seaside resorts to be less open-minded and much more insular than a cosmopolitan well-connected hub like London. It is usually a consequence of their geography, because they tend to be dead ends. If that is something that would bother you significantly I'd agree with the south coast resorts, especially Brighton.

Portsmouth!! Great areas, cheap houses, hover in 8 minutes over to the isle of wight, beaches galore around (including west sussex beaches and towns which are lovely but excessively expensive to live in!) And the new forest and Bournemouth Poole etc just down the road. Easy commute into london if needed. Sorted. Enjoy!!

I think you're doing the right thing OP. In the meantime you can start checking out areas and planning your future life but also, can you move your DDs school so she's happier?
I hope you find somewhere nice to move to this year too

I'm not from London, but I'm going to wade in anyway as I love the seaside and depending how far you're willing to move you can't beat the Yorkshire coast!
Beautiful, Filey for old school seaside town, Scarborough for a bit more fast paced.
Whitby and Sandsend too

Not Cornwall, too far away from London and lack of employment opportunities

Year 10 is quite possibly the worst year to think of this,

Oh heck, just seen your update (should have RTFT lol) yeah I agree not a good idea to move far or uproot in year 10!
My eldest has just finished school and year 10 is really intense, studying for GSCE mocks etc.

Bloody hell not Frinton! There’s less than fuck all there!
And as nice as the IOW is the friends I have fro there are among the least streetwise people I know.
I’d go with Bournemouth, but I certainly wouldn’t move when your kid is about to start his GCSEs.

Not a seaside resort but Liverpool is a city with a coastline. And 2 hours away from London on the train.

Another vote for Brighton & Hove if you can afford it. Great place to live and you won’t be bored.

I love Brighton, the advantage for your DS is multiple trains an hour to London, travel outside rush hour and it’s under £20.

Another vote for Bristol - Clevedon is lovely if you’re after the sea. We moved from London 10 years ago; I was homesick for 8 of those years, but we wouldn’t go back now. It’s like a mini London anyway; really diverse, arty, loads to do but with a much slower pace of life. The only downside is the lack of decent public transport.

I live in a Bournemouth Borough and really like it here, near the beach and very quiet with nice neighbours and good transport links but I do love Hove and Brighton too, especially as a quicker commute to London.

Absolutely not Margate. You can call it London On Sea only if in your dictionary London means Kazi.

They keep saying Margate is getting more 'hipster' due to all the funky independent cafes opening up, but that does stop the majority of people from being utterly horrendous!

Plus it borders Cliftonville which doesn't have the best 'let's not be stabbed' rating.

Most people born in Thanet (myself included) don't recommend living there. Unless you can afford the fancier parts of Broadstairs or Palm Bay.

I don't care how up and coming they say Margate is, it's still bloody depressing to drive through.

Don't consider Frinton before watching this!

Re Margate our ex East London hipsters a good thing? 😂. Do like Broadstairs though.

are not out, bloody predictive

Chichester is lovely. I grew up here, moved to London for a bit then moved back here to be near family and have kids. Good schools, near sea and South Downs and the Festival Theatre is very good. I’ve been sailing or down the beach most days recently.
Not far from Portsmouth and Brighton and commutable to London for jobs.

I wouldn’t recommend Devon and Cornwall. I like Exeter but it’s not by the sea but more jobs there.

There are no jobs or industry down here unless you are a teacher or healthcare professional or something of that ilk. Quite deprived and grim in parts and miles from the rest of the UK.

Some nice places around Portsmouth with better links to London and jobs.

I loved living in Brighton. I can't afford to move there now, but I would if I could.

Sunderland is a city with a coast and a beach, but a bit too far from London. Shame, as it has reasonable schools and most areas have decent public transport. :)