AIBU to think DH's dream home location doesn't exist?

[Putmynewshoeson]

DH has long wanted to live by the sea/water. He grew up near the sea and is desperate for DS to have the same activities available to him (paddle boarding, surfing, beach walks etc)

We were all set to do it this year but seeing the crowds packed into beaches has really put me off. Don't get me wrong, I know tourist spots are obviously busy but the behaviour of people just seems to have gone into overdrive.

DH is convinced we can find somewhere on the coast around the south/south east that won't be rammed like Brighton or Bournemouth in summer and where we can find a four bedroom for around 400k.

I think he's living in a Dreamworld. We aren't tied to anywhere for work as we both work remotely and will continue to be working remotely. obviously want a good school for DS when he's old enough but don't mind somewhere quiet with not much going on in terms of shops, pubs - just one or two of each for convenience would be fine.

I just can't see there being a coastline which doesn't have loads of visitors as soon as the weather is nice, where we can actually afford.

We've had a look on Rightmove but because we can pretty much go anywhere, it's a broad spectrum to search and I think we need to narrow it down a bit.

DH is just desperate to move I think (another issue is I don't think our house will sell, it needs a lot of work but he wants to try and take advantage of the stamp duty holiday)

Am I being a grump? Or realistic?! I feel like if it existed we would have been able to find some houses by now

This is cute.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-86508956.html

DH needs to be realistic. Compromise will be required if he fancies the fab Dorset coast. Either small garden/semi det / smaller rooms or slightly further from sea. Plenty of nice places in east Dorset. Christchurch, Southbourne, Hengistbury Head, Hordle, Lymington, Walkford.

Good luck - it is a beautiful part of the world.

Swanage in Dorset is a lovely small seaside town. The main part of the beach does get busy, but you just need to walk further along the bay.

It's not far from Bournemouth and Poole.

Does it need to be sand?
Lots of east sussex/kent might meet that.

Theres a mix of bigger towns eg hastings, eastbourne, folkestone to smaller towns eg bexhill, dymchurch etc to villages like pett, winchelse etc

failed the link above

Try Hemsby

Smallish sea front, not as busy

South east location

We live by the coast. There are lots of places with quiet beaches and to be honest, I've almost never been to the beach on a nice day when it's been busy (you couldn't pay me to go to a Bournemouth beach even in non-COVID times). But unless you are someone who really loves the beach and is there all the time, I think the thrill wears off. We go to the beach maybe twice a year.

I think you'll really struggle in Brighton. It's under an hour direct train to London, and priced accordingly.

I agree with those suggesting North Norfolk (long sandy stretches, best weather in the country) or North East (beautiful beaches, amazing countryside.) You'll get a lot more for your money in either.

Scottish coast - Prestwick say or up to the islands.

We're in Dorset on holiday and there are lots of watersports and the prices look like they would fit the bill.

St. Andrews Road, Worthing
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-94660100.html

I live here and none of the beaches were ridiculous on hot days, so easy to access hove, Shoreham and Littlehampton from here too.

Not every summer day will attract the madness of this year. I can't wait to move to the coast when my eldest leaves home

My dad lives in St Leonards on Sea which is near Hastings and the beaches away from the main town centre area are very quiet. A 4 bed property for £400k is doable and its also fairly close to Brighton.

and Bridport and its surrounding area is nice

Easy in Scotland.

The isle of wight is surrounded by beautiful beaches and lots of secret spots the tourists don't know about! 400k would buy you a beautiful home there!

Eastbourne? West of the pier though, never gets that busy here except airbourne once a year, beaches still quite empty most of lockdown and after.

It's a shingle beach and the town is mixed (but has some lovely bits as well as rougher bits) but you could definitely get what you're looking for in Felixstowe (Suffolk) I think, and the less popular villages round there (IE before you get to Aldeburgh). The villages north of the river Deben would, I think, be in catchment for Farlingaye school which is quite decent. Not sure about schools in Felixstowe.

We dont live by the beach but we live in Canterbury and are between 15 and 30 mins from all the beaches on the east kent coast line. We are most definitely town dwellers but have a kayak and paddle board in our garage as dh grew up by sea. Hour into st pancras on hs1. Great schools.

East sussex

Southsea is amazing plus you have all the history with Portsmouth, Old Portsmouth and the historic dockyard.... always something going on in the(normal!) summer.....loads of SUPS, kayaks and windsurfers off the beach...it’s buzzing

Gosport/Lee-on-Solent have quiet beaches year round, even on the loveliest of summer holiday days it won’t be anywhere near as busy as Bournemouth. In budget too. Look at Alverstoke.

Problem with Bournemouth Beach is that while the beach is four miles long, people crowd by the lifeguard stands. Half a mile down is fine with social distancing, and the Dorset Coast is something like 90 miles long. Try Oakdale, Hamworthy, Southbourne or Christchurch/Lymington area. You can def get a 4 bed for 400K and decent schools and transport links.

Folkestone is getting popular. Lovely seaside location and much less busy than places like Brighton.

We’ve just back from a holiday in Dorset and were nosing around on Rightmove to see what prices were like in the area.

For the £400k mark there are a lot of 3/4 beds in the Weymouth area.

Another vote for Southampton/Portsmouth area...beaches tend to be shingle beaches, but you also have Hamble river and estuaries around Fareham & Gosport that's perfect for kayaking and SUPs, plenty of £400k properties away from New Forest National Park