AIBU to hope for a fresh start by the sea on £250k

[RussetDreams]

I am mid fifties and want a new start. No family support. AIBU to think I can find a house by the sea or in a low-crime market town with a maximum budget of £250k? Any ideas?
YABU - budget is too low
YANBU - these places exist

To be fair I haven’t visited most of them and I keep an open mind.

Cowes, Isle of Wight?

I was going to suggest Saltburn, too. Few Rightmove results, but they're appealing.

The other little towns nearby are lovely, too. It would be easy to resettle in the area. Famously friendly!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?maxPrice=250000&index=0&sortType=2&channel=BUY&transactionType=BUY&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1167&displayLocationIdentifier=Saltburn-By-The-Sea.html&minBedrooms=3&propertyTypes=detached%2Csemi-detached%2Cterraced%2Cbungalow

I second Southsea.

I grew up there and now live just outside Portsmouth.

It’s a uni town around the central Southsea area and although coastal and the ferry port being there the tourists are generally locals!

Victorious festival is held there annually, easy to go across to IoW. Easy to get to places as good train services.

Portsmouth is an odd city in that it has less of a city feel that the bigger major cities but with the benefits of being a city too.

Northern Ireland north west coast you’re welcome!

I know people are negative about Torbay but I'd love to move to Brixham

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/166946255

Agree with the North East. Check out Whitley Bay and surrounding areas. You’ll get a flat for around 250K or less. Loads going on, with independent shops, cafes, a swimming pool, a library and the metro into Newcastle is only 30 mins.

A PP mentioned Alnmouth, not at all affordable on 250K.

The Gower coast (South-West Wales) has a warm micro-climate with more hours of sunshine than nearly anywhere in the UK. Encouraging results on Rightmove!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?maxPrice=250000&index=0&sortType=2&channel=BUY&transactionType=BUY&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E83737&displayLocationIdentifier=Gower.html&minBedrooms=3&propertyTypes=detached%2Csemi-detached%2Cterraced%2Cbungalow

Don't tell everybody but Northumberland coast...
Seahouses...lovely location, fab community and stunning beach
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170201087?utmcampaign=property-details&utmcontent=buying&utmmedium=sharing&utmsource=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RESBUY

Amble (was a bit run down but harbour had been redeveloped and is on the up)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89418645?utmcampaign=property-details&utmcontent=buying&utmmedium=sharing&utmsource=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RESBUY

Im a Londoner, moved here 20 years ago - from the big city to the middle of the countryside where the nearest shop is four miles away

And I love it

https://www.propertypal.com/. is the listings site for here. Grab a map and have a look

When we came over, because it was going to be such a massive move I chose a rural setting, close to the coast with a train line close

And then it really was a pin in the map

Broadband has nearly caught up with the rest of the UK now, there are still some dead spots , and I still miss Waitrose but otherwise, its perfection for me

Ne Wales is alright. Places between Wrexham and Llangollen nicer.
My bit is opposite the wirral and is about 20-30 minutes from beach, forest and city. 250 gets you a decent house in a decent area.

Trying my Gower search link again. Is Rightmove keeping it secret?? 🤔

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?maxPrice=250000&index=0&sortType=2&channel=BUY&transactionType=BUY&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E83737&displayLocationIdentifier=Gower.html&minBedrooms=3&propertyTypes=detached%2Csemi-detached%2Cterraced%2Cbungalow

@RussetDreams there are some interesting suggestions on this thread – some great some less so IMHO.

I would really think carefully about what you want and why you are moving. Is it the dream of sunset walks along the beach?

Be aware that many seaside towns in the UK are relatively deprived and shut up, dismal and uninviting in the winter. Bridlington and Redcar and Skegness are frankly not places I would want to live. I'm a Lincs lass so maybe judging Skeg against that – interesting to read the love for it here. We have been back a number of times since we had our DC but not seen anything very wonderful tbf.

I used to live in Whitby, which often sparks the comment "ahhh I love Whitby" but nothing would induce me to live there again. Sorry to any who do live there but there was high unemployment out of season and a town that was deeply under-resourced. I used to drive 35 miles to go to the cinema. A lot of the people I met had such a narrow outlook as well but maybe I was unlucky. Or blundering and young (more than ready to believe that tbh). That cottage property linked above is clearly dressed as a holiday rental. I would never want to live in a Whitby yard. No garden, no vehicular access.

All that said, Narbeth might be a nice place to live tho a very tourist-driven area; or Northumberland though I don't know it well. Or yy Whitley Bay (also don't know it well) might be good. Metro into Newcastle is a win.

Lots of places on the Isle of Wight.

I vote for the Gower Coast too!

In my eyes it's the most beautiful place on earth.

Places where homes are very affordable - Llanelli, Swansea (specifically Gowerton and Gorseinon) and if you want to splash out on a beachside home look at the area called The Mumbles.

Have a look at the North Yorkshire cost. Scarborough, England's first spa town. 2 beautiful beaches but quite run down town centre. Whitby, beautiful & historic but year round touristy & very busy. Filey, just voted best beach in Yorkshire, absolutely stunning, lots of independant shops & eateries, lovely local community feel. Can you tell which one I am slightly biased towards? 😁

Not Bridlington, very very run down and soulless. I think voted one of the worst seaside towns recently too.

Yes, lovely places, really gorgeous, just missing the weather! :-)

You’d easily get something west coast Scotland

Troon in Scotland is lovely - consistently voted one of the happiest areas in Scotland. Beautiful beaches, nice town and on a direct train to Glasgow.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/90659451?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Isle of Wight, but factor in the £££ to get a ferry.

Avoid !!

Are you in Whitehaven by any chance?!

Seriously though, while I love it here and houses are very cheap, I have never seen Workington recommended as a place to live. Especially wouldn't recommend to anyone who is likely to require hospital treatment (that goes for most of Cumbria).

Well.. Parts of Plymouth are a bit concrete (it was bombed in the war). The docks and Plymouth hoe are regenerated and nice. The moorland towns (Tavistock, Ashburton) are very desirable. Exeter is noy a million miles (on a train). It's probably cheaper than Exmouth (although you should check)..... If you want to live right on a beach then it's not that, but then there are very few market towns really right on the coast....

Have you considered the Isle of Wight? Most towns are coastal, beaches are lovely. Houses are cheaper than most of the south coast. Crime is very low, you’d feel perfectly safe walking on your own.