Do you live near the sea and a city?

[ShutUpAlex]

If you do, where do you live? We want to uproot and start new somewhere as we’ve had enough of Cornwall. I love big cities and my partner loves the beach so trying to find somewhere that has both!

Sorry not really an aibu but wanted a big range of answers so we can explore properties.

Sorry I’ve been at work today hence the rubbish replying!

Portsmouth is a no due to ex living there
Plymouth, Exeter and Bristol are places we have lived before.
Swansea atm is winning for us. There also some amazing places in Cork but they don’t offer the masters degree that I’m looking to do.
My fiancée is horrendous for imitating accents so most of the north has to be a no because it would probably end our relationship

I absolutely love london, but he is a surfer who likes coastal walks so needs to be a compromise. I don’t mind driving around 45 minutes to an hour to a city.

@NotQuiteUsual

I'm in southern Northumberland. It's lovely here. Near Newcastle and the best beaches. My area gets a bad rep as rough. But I'm yet to see anything that made me feel uncomfortable or unsafe or anything of that sort. I actually feel a lot more comfortable here than the rich, safe town down south I lived in before. It's friendly a relaxed. I do struggle with how much laid back it can be, I think I come across as a bit intense as I'm used to a faster pace.

I’m probably fairly close to you. North of Newcastle but within an easy commute, 15 minutes drive from a beach, ex-mining area so a little bit run down but far from the worst place I’ve ever lived...and CHEAP for property. With Newcastle having two universities, several hospitals and a number of Civil Service offices based there it has a decent professional jobs market too, and then there’s the retail/hospitality sector there and the Metrocentre (in non-Covid times, of course).

The only downside is the weather; it’s dryer than many parts of the country but it is also a lot colder!

@ShutUpAlex

Sorry I’ve been at work today hence the rubbish replying!

Portsmouth is a no due to ex living there
Plymouth, Exeter and Bristol are places we have lived before.
Swansea atm is winning for us. There also some amazing places in Cork but they don’t offer the masters degree that I’m looking to do.
My fiancée is horrendous for imitating accents so most of the north has to be a no because it would probably end our relationship

I absolutely love london, but he is a surfer who likes coastal walks so needs to be a compromise. I don’t mind driving around 45 minutes to an hour to a city.

I don't think Swansea is a good idea if he likes imitating accents!!

If your DH is a surfer then Aberdeen or Inverness have surfing beaches in or very nearby to the cities :-D

If he likes surfing then I would definitely recommend areas around Porthcawl/Ogmore/Rest Bay, halfway between Swansea and Cardiff and Porthcawl is a good school. Stay away from the Trecco Bay side though!

I moved to South Wales (Penarth) five years ago and love it (not Welsh) Coast, forest and lakes within walking distance. Can cycle into city centre in 30 mins and sand beach of Barry less than five miles away. Summer weather is normally very mild compared to where I’m originally from in the UK and still a novelty. Family all settled. Penarth is expensive but nearby Dinas Powys and other area etc bit more affordable house wise

I'm 30 minutes from Blackpool and 30 minutes from Manchester, but you wouldn't want to live here 🤣

Rule out Brighton - 400k for a 4 bedroom house isn’t going to work there.

Would you consider Ryde (IoW)? It’s a proper town and when things are normal you can get the fast ferry to Portsmouth.

I live in Southsea which is in Portsmouth. I have both sea and city within a short walk.

@mongoosebaby

Southsea in Portsmouth is fab- loads of quirky shops and bars, near the beach. Solent is great for sailing and water sports, quick ferry to isle of Wight, direct train to London. Good south coast weather if you are used to Cornwall!

Yep, it's very lovely here!

I live in fareham. Right in the middle of Southampton and Portsmouth and just round the corner from the beaches at lee on solent

North Down coast - we're a few minutes' walk from the beach, closer to the coastal path, and half an hour to Belfast. Several commuter town options.

Dun Laoghaire and surrounds (particularly the surrounds) are lovely, but prohibitively expensive.

I've not lived there but you'd get a huge beautiful 6 bed period house a few minutes walk from the beach in Southport. I'd have a look on Rightmove at the whole of Merseyside. That covers many of the places people have mentioned in the post. Liverpool is very multicultural, a lot of free museums, art galleries, parks, great restaurants and street food, multicultural festivals in the summer and an endless supply of beaches. Lots have said South Wales too, we go to the Gower a lot on holiday and love it for a break, but you do have to drive a lot to get places and it's too rural if you are looking for culture.

OP, have you considered moving abroad. If you could go to Aus or NZ you'll have your pick of cities near the beach with fabulous surf!

Swansea

The North East is good for this. Tynemouth and Whitley Bay are nice towns with their own beaches (Tynemouth is quite des res), which can pretty much be considered suburbs of Newcastle given the proximity and metro links. But there are lots of other options strung all along the coast around here. The beaches are all really nice and clean.

Definitely Northumberland/north Tyneside! We live in a town about 7 miles from the centre of Newcastle, plenty here, about 10 mins drive to the nearest beach. 15 mins or so to Whitley bay and tynemouth, close to Northumberland beaches. Literally just off the A1 and A19.

Not sure I understand the issue with northern accents - but the Newcastle accent is arguably the nicest in the UK, and the people are friendly.

I spent 6 weeks last year near Ashburton which is less than 30 minutes from Exeter and less than 30 minutes from the sea. You could get even nearer to both. And Exeter is a lovely lovely city. Also near Dartmoor if you want a change of scene.

Recommend the north east! My house is by the sea and you have newcastle, Sunderland and Durham cities nearby. Also easy access to drive up to the stunning Northumberland coast.

Another vote for Swansea! Came here for uni 25 years ago and never left. Swansea West especially has great schools, Mumbles is fab for eating out and independent shops and the Gower is outstanding. I can be on a beach in 5 mins in the car or 20 mins down the cycle path on my bike. There are so many beautiful beaches and places to explore on Gower. Swansea itself isn't great but nice restaurants around the marina and a fantastic long beach. An hour to Cardiff for shopping trips.
Love it here. Hi to all the other Swansea Jack's!!

Southsea in Portsmouth is lovely, though I can understand why you’d not want to risk running into an ex! £400k wouldn’t get you anything close to a 4 bedroom house either.

The Wirral! Multiple beaches, 20 minutes to Liverpool and Chester and 50 minute drive to Manchester x

@slitheringsnakes subjective

Partner is very Cornish so I’m hoping wherever we move people will rip his accent so he can get a good taste of his own medicine

@GreenSalon we are neighbours. Also a Penarth resident and it’s great. Small town feel, on the coast, 10 mins on the train or in a car into Cardiff.