Millionaire’s Row: Sandbanks tops list of UK’s most expensive seaside spots

Sandbanks, the exclusive Dorset peninsula long favoured by celebrities and footballers, has once again been crowned the most expensive seaside location in Great Britain, according to new research from property portal Rightmove.

The average asking price for a home in Sandbanks now stands at £1,282,565 – more than three times the national average of £378,240. It is also the only seaside location in the country where asking prices still top the £1 million mark.

In second place is Canford Cliffs, also in Poole, with an average asking price of £974,635, while Milford-on-Sea in Hampshire comes third at £728,460.

Despite a slight cooling in values – with prices in Sandbanks down 3% and Canford Cliffs down 9% year-on-year – demand remains strong.

BUYER DEMAND

The data highlights the stark contrasts in Britain’s coastal property market, where demand remains resilient across the board, but location continues to be everything.

While the south coast retains its luxury pull, buyers willing to look further north may find bigger homes, better value and still plenty of sea air.

Across the top 50 most expensive coastal areas, buyer demand has risen 8% compared to last year, even as average asking prices fell by 1%.

Top 10 Most Expensive Seaside Locations in Great Britain

Sandbanks, Poole – £1,282,565 (-3% YoY)
Canford Cliffs, Poole – £974,635 (-9%)
Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire – £728,460 (+1%)
Lymington, Hampshire – £639,316 (-2%)
Budleigh Salterton, Devon – £535,761 (0%)
St Ives, Cornwall – £507,139 (-2%)
Dartmouth, Devon – £500,006 (+4%)
Sidmouth, Devon – £494,811 (-5%)
Whitstable, Kent – £469,586 (-2%)
Hythe, Kent – £466,898 (0%)

MOST AFFORDABLE

At the opposite end of the scale, Saltcoats in Ayrshire, Scotland has emerged as Britain’s most affordable seaside location, with an average asking price of just £122,208 – a staggering £256,000 below the national average.

Saltcoats is also the fastest-growing coastal market in the UK, with asking prices rising 13% year-on-year.

The town, situated on the Firth of Clyde, offers a coastal lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of the south coast’s luxury hotspots.

Other affordable coastal locations include Peterlee in County Durham (£122,246), Ashington in Northumberland (£135,050), and Bootle in Merseyside (£135,208), all offering potential opportunities for first-time buyers and investors alike.

Top 10 Most Affordable Seaside Locations in Great Britain

Saltcoats, Ayrshire – £122,208 (+13% YoY)
Peterlee, County Durham – £122,246 (+6%)
Ashington, Northumberland – £135,050 (+4%)
Bootle, Merseyside – £135,208 (+3%)
Grimsby, Lincolnshire – £142,072 (0%)
Blackpool, Lancashire – £142,804 (0%)
Fleetwood, Lancashire – £148,101 (+1%)
Birkenhead, Merseyside – £149,527 (+2%)
Blyth, Northumberland – £153,487 (+1%)
Workington, Cumbria – £158,956 (0%)

EXPERT VIEW

Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove, says: “Sandbanks now stands out as the only seaside spot with an average asking price of over the million-pound mark.

“By contrast, lower-priced seaside spots like Saltcoats and Peterlee offer home-movers a sea view at a fraction of the price, with average asking prices over a quarter of a million pounds below the national average.”