Tag: house move

The best coastal cities & towns to move to in the UK

Blog post title: The best coastal cities & towns to move to in the UK Description: View of derelict West Pier in Brighton at sunset

The UK coastline is a breathtaking tapestry of dramatic cliffs, golden sands and charming harbours, offering a diverse range of lifestyles to suit every taste. If you’re dreaming of a life by the sea, exchanging bustling cityscapes for the fresh sea air and the rhythmic sound of waves, you’re in the right place. Moving to one of the country’s coastal cities or towns isn’t just a change of address; it’s a lifestyle shift that promises a unique blend of tranquility and vibrancy. But with so many stunning options, how do you choose the right one for you?

This guide delves into some of the best coastal locations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, highlighting what makes each place special and helping you envision your own seaside escape. Whether you’re seeking an affordable haven, a pretty setting, accessible amenities, a practical base for work and family, a lively social scene, a quiet retreat or an exclusive enclave, the UK coastline has something to offer. Let’s explore some of the most captivating coastal destinations awaiting your arrival.

View over the rooftops of St Ives in Cornwall

England

England’s coastline is richly varied, from the rugged cliffs of Cornwall to the sandy stretches of Norfolk and the vibrant resorts of the south. For those seeking a coastal move, England presents a wealth of opportunities, blending historical charm with modern living.

Brighton & Hove

For a lively and accessible coastal city, Brighton & Hove on the south coast is hard to beat. This vibrant city offers a unique lifestyle that effortlessly blends seaside charm with cosmopolitan energy. Known for its iconic pier, bohemian spirit and thriving arts scene, Brighton provides a dynamic environment for those seeking excitement and culture by the sea.

  • Key features:
    • Excellent transport links to London and Gatwick Airport, making it highly accessible.
    • A diverse and vibrant lifestyle with a renowned cultural scene, nightlife and shopping.
    • A mix of architectural styles, from Regency grandeur to modern developments.
    • A bustling and lively atmosphere with festivals and events throughout the year.
    • A good range of job opportunities, particularly in creative industries and tourism.

St Ives

If you desire a pretty and more exclusive coastal experience, St Ives in Cornwall is a jewel in the crown. This picturesque town, famed for its artistic heritage and stunning beaches, offers a more quiet and refined coastal lifestyle. With its Tate Gallery, charming harbour and breathtaking coastal walks, St Ives is perfect for those seeking beauty and tranquility.

  • Key features:
    • Incredibly pretty with cobbled streets, art galleries and stunning coastal scenery.
    • A more exclusive feel with a focus on arts, culture and high-quality dining.
    • Relatively quiet and peaceful, particularly outside of peak tourist seasons.
    • Known for its artistic community and the presence of the Tate St Ives.
    • Offers access to beautiful beaches and coastal walks, perfect for an outdoorsy lifestyle.

Whitby

For a more affordable and practical option in England, consider the historic town of Whitby in North Yorkshire. This charming fishing port, steeped in maritime history and gothic lore, offers a pretty setting with a strong sense of community and a distinctly quiet charm, especially outside of the bustle of summer visitors. Whitby provides a practical base with essential amenities and a sense of history around every corner.

  • Key features:
    • Significantly more affordable than many southern coastal towns.
    • Very practical with a good range of local services and amenities.
    • Pretty and historic with its abbey ruins, cobbled streets and fishing heritage.
    • A strong sense of community and a more quiet pace of life.
    • Access to the North York Moors National Park for further outdoor adventures.

View of Aberystwyth looking out over the rooftops and out towards the sea and horizoncredit

Wales

Wales boasts a dramatic and unspoilt coastline, offering a unique blend of rugged beauty and warm Welsh hospitality. From vibrant seaside towns to secluded coves, Wales provides diverse coastal living options that are often more affordable and accessible than their English counterparts.

Tenby

Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, is arguably one of the prettiest coastal towns in Wales and offers an appealing blend of pretty scenery and lively atmosphere. With its colourful harbour, sandy beaches and medieval walls, Tenby is a popular choice for families and those seeking a vibrant seaside lifestyle that’s also surprisingly affordable.

  • Key features:
    • Extremely pretty with its colourful harbour, sandy beaches and historic walls.
    • Relatively affordable compared to many UK coastal towns.
    • Lively during peak season with a good range of shops, restaurants and activities.
    • Accessible location within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
    • Ideal for families with its safe beaches and family-friendly atmosphere.

Aberystwyth

For a practical and accessible coastal town with a strong sense of community, Aberystwyth in Mid Wales is an excellent option. Home to a prestigious university, Aberystwyth has a youthful energy and a vibrant arts & cultural scene alongside its pretty Victorian promenade and dramatic coastal backdrop. It offers a balance of lively student life and a more quiet town environment, depending on your preference.

  • Key features:
    • Practical with a university town atmosphere, offering services and amenities.
    • Despite being relatively remote geographically, it’s very accessible with good transport links and a walkable town centre.
    • Affordable living costs compared to other coastal university towns in the UK.
    • A noticeable student lifestyle presence alongside a strong local community.
    • Offers a blend of lively student areas and quieter residential zones.

View of Oban and colourful harbour-side buildings

Scotland

Scotland’s coastline is renowned for its dramatic scenery, from rugged sea lochs to pristine beaches and charming fishing villages. For those drawn to breathtaking landscapes and a sense of wilderness, Scotland offers a unique and often more affordable coastal living experience.

St Andrews

St Andrews, in Fife, is a historic and exclusive coastal town famed worldwide as the home of golf and Scotland’s oldest university. This pretty town offers a sophisticated lifestyle with a blend of history, culture and outdoor pursuits. While it can be quiet at times, the university and golfing scene ensure a certain level of activity and prestige.

  • Key features:
    • Perceived as more exclusive due to its golfing heritage and university reputation.
    • Undeniably pretty with historic architecture and stunning coastal views.
    • Offers a sophisticated and cultured lifestyle with a strong focus on golf and academia.
    • Can be relatively quiet outside of university term time and major golfing events.
    • Benefiting from a strong sense of history and tradition.

Oban

For a more affordable and practical coastal town in Scotland, consider Oban, the ‘Seafood Capital of Scotland’, on the west coast. Oban serves as a gateway to the islands and offers a bustling harbour town atmosphere with stunning views and a strong sense of community. It is both lively with tourist activity and surprisingly quiet in its residential areas, offering a balanced coastal lifestyle.

  • Key features:
    • Relatively affordable compared to other Scottish coastal towns, particularly in the east.
    • Very practical as a ferry port and a regional hub with good local services.
    • Offers a lively harbour atmosphere, particularly during tourist season.
    • Can also offer quiet residential areas away from the main tourist areas.
    • Ideal for exploring the Scottish islands and the surrounding natural beauty.

View of Port Rush in the sunshine

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s coastline is a hidden gem; offering dramatic landscapes, stunning beaches and a warm, welcoming culture. Often overlooked, coastal towns in Northern Ireland provide affordable living, pretty settings and increasingly accessible amenities, in locations that can be both surprisingly lively and wonderfully quiet.

Portrush

Portrush, on the Causeway Coast, is a lively and accessible seaside town, famous for its surfing beaches and vibrant atmosphere. A popular holiday destination, Portrush offers a fun and energetic coastal lifestyle that is relatively affordable and increasingly attracting new residents drawn to its natural beauty and growing amenities.

  • Key features:
    • Generally affordable property prices compared to other UK coastal regions.
    • Very accessible with good road links and nearby airports.
    • Known for its lively atmosphere, especially during the summer months and surfing events.
    • Offers a fun and active coastal lifestyle with beaches and outdoor activities.
    • Increasingly developing its infrastructure and amenities making it more practical for residents.

Newcastle

Newcastle, County Down, nestled at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, is a pretty and more quiet coastal town offering stunning scenery and a relaxed pace of life. With its Victorian promenade, Royal County Down Golf Club and proximity to mountains and beaches, Newcastle provides a balanced and practical coastal lifestyle with a touch of understated elegance.

  • Key features:
    • Pretty setting with mountain views and a Victorian promenade.
    • Offers a more quiet and relaxed pace of life than more bustling resorts.
    • Practical with a good range of local amenities and services.
    • Provides access to both beaches and the Mourne Mountains for outdoor enthusiasts.
    • Presents a balanced and comfortable coastal lifestyle in a beautiful setting.

View of Tenby harbour boats and colourful terraced buildings

In conclusion

Moving to a coastal city or town in the UK is a dream for many and, as you can see, the reality is wonderfully diverse. From the lively south coast of England to the quiet beauty of the Scottish Highlands, from the affordable charm of Welsh towns to the increasingly accessible and vibrant destinations in Northern Ireland, there’s a perfect coastal location waiting to be discovered.

Whether you prioritise a pretty setting, a practical location, an exclusive ambiance or an affordable lifestyle, exploring these coastal gems will undoubtedly inspire your next move towards the refreshing embrace of the UK coastline.

Take your time to research, visit these locations if possible and envision the coastal lifestyle that best suits you – your dream seaside home awaits!

Have you made the move to a seaside location? Where did you go and why?

Decorating a new and larger home on a budget

Decorating a new and larger home on a budget

Upsizing from a smaller to a larger home can be a rewarding process. You have more room to stretch your legs, and more freedom to enjoy the things you love. Filling the extra space can also be challenging, however, especially if you have a budget and a specific style in mind that you want to stick to. So, how do you manage this challenge, and what options are available to help the problem?

Budgeting for the move

Before putting any plans into action, you’ll need to ensure you’re in the right place financially. Moving is already an expensive process, often costing more than initially expected. In the long term, the best approach is to start saving with the knowledge that costs will be at least ten percent higher than predicted. This way you’ll have more to pour into decorating in your first months.

Budgets should also be set after you know exactly how much you’ll get for your old home. This can be tricky with traditional systems, but newer online methods can help provide reliable options. If you’re living in the UK and asking how can I sell my house for cash, We Buy Any Home is a perfect example. As the UK’s fastest cash property buyer, offering guaranteed sales on any property, systems like this can help you quickly secure your budget for the next step.

Temporary and flexible solutions

Once you know what you have to work with, you can move onto filling the space. Since each room can easily cost thousands to fill with an ideal setup long-term, short-term solutions can be the best bet. To accomplish this goal, consider low-cost and/or second-hand furniture and decorations until you have enough saved for your preferred choice.

This temporary approach doesn’t have to be the whole room either, as you can start by filling a room with the items you truly want that you can afford, and fill the rest with cheaper temporary stand-ins. Facebook Marketplace groups can be a great help here to find cheaper goods, and websites like Garage Sale Finder can also guide you to local savings.

If the idea and layout you have for a room require more long-term savings, you could also temporarily use the room for something else entirely. It could be used as an inexpensive hobby room with one of the examples listed at Everyday Reading, for example, used for gaming, writing or painting. This way you’ll get use out of the space, while also not leaving the barren unfinished look that you’ll want to avoid.

Ultimately, the central idea here is that even if you can’t yet afford to decorate a room or several rooms as you’d like, you can still find a use for them. These uses can be for exploring new hobbies, jumping into old ones, exercising or even planning their future setups. This way you’ll have plenty of time to plan exactly what you want, look for deals on the perfect items and maybe even discover some new passions and ideas along the way.

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Answer these questions to decide if you should really move in on completion day

Answer these questions to decide if you should really move in on completion day

Moving house can be as exciting as it can be stressful, and the chances are that you’ll have dreamt of living in that space for months before your completion day. Understandably, then, you’re probably keen to get right in there and start making that new property feel like a home. In truth, though, moving in on completion day isn’t right for everyone.

The reality is that exchanging and completing on a property can be incredibly stressful, and it’s also rife with last-minute setbacks that mean you may not even get your keys until late in the day. Rushing to get your things in will then feel more like a marathon than a major life event to celebrate, and everyone will probably be a little worse for wear at the end of moving day.

Of course, sometimes, you don’t have a choice but to move straight out of your old property into a new one. But, instead of assuming that this is your only option, it may be worth asking yourself the following questions to determine whether moving on completion day is the right choice for your situation.

# 1 – Is there much work to do in your new home?

If you’re buying a modern property like a new-build, there’s probably a minimal amount of work to do to make that space liveable. As such, there’s no real obstacle to moving in right away. However, if you’re moving into an older property, you may need to undertake at least some renovation work to transform that space into what you want. In some cases, you may easily be able to live in the property at the same time without major disruption, but improvements like rewiring, plastering or knocking down walls are all best completed in an empty property. If you think you’ll need to embark on these projects, it’s typically easiest to make sure they’re finished before moving all your belongings, or yourselves, into the space.

# 2 – Can you feasibly delay?

If you’re selling one property to move into another, you may have no real choice but to move on completion day, as you’ll need to vacate your old property for the new owners. However, if you’re renting a property right now, or are living with friends and family, then you’ll likely have a little more leeway about when you actually move in. Something as simple as extending your rental for an additional month can buy you a lot of wriggle room for a more relaxed, considered moving process. Alternatively, if you’re keen to complete work or hold off moving right away, it’s worth looking into potential storage for your belongings, and asking loved ones if they’d be willing to let you stay with them for a week or two.

# 3 – What about professional deadlines?

To some extent, your actual moving date will also depend on the professionals you need to help you complete the process. For instance, if you’re having renovation work done, you may need to delay your move for a month or more depending on predicted finish dates. Alternatively, you should talk to a removal company like W Removals about their availability. It may be that they can only move you on completion day, in which case, you’d be best off simply going ahead. Or, they may not have availability until after that date, in which case delay might be best.

# 4 – What’s your preference?

It’s also important to remember that this is your moving day, so personal preference and convenience should also come into play. You may be so keen to get straight into a property you’ve already waited for that the idea of a slightly stressful few hours doesn’t bother you. Or, you may prefer to hold off, so that you can get in and decorate/clean that space before you let your family loose. Either way, it’s important to take your own needs into account. Considering your needs in this way can certainly make your life easier during an inevitably stressful time!

Takeaway

There’s no right or wrong answer to when you should move into your new property, but these questions could, at least, help you explore your options for a moving day that’s entirely suited to your needs. After all, no rule says you absolutely need to move on completion day itself if you’re not comfortable with that. Alternatively, if you think a moving delay would make you miserable or ruin the excitement, there’s nothing to say you can’t get straight down to it and start settling in!

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Key first steps to take after moving into a new home

Key first steps to take after moving into a new home

Moving into a new home signals a very exciting time in your life. Better still, after avoiding the common buying mistakes you can enter your new home with 100% confidence. Still, there’ll be work to do upon moving in, even if the property feels perfect. Focus on the simple steps below to create a happy home environment in next to no time.

Make it safe

There is nothing more important than feeling safe inside your new home. However, the unfamiliar surroundings can make this a little difficult, especially if you’ve moved to a new area. A Smart home alarm system will instantly deliver the extra layer of protection that you deserve, while also putting your mind at ease. Moreover, it saves you from the emotional and financial fallout of an intrusion, which would ruin your relationship with the home.

In addition to human intruders, you must also implement the necessary steps to prevent pest infestations. When combined with smoke alarms and child-friendly items, where needed, the property will feel more homely.

Add personal touches

Even if you purchased a home that has been recently renovated and decorated, you need to stamp your own personality on it. The easiest way to do this is through personalised décor. This could include adding family photos, holiday souvenirs, memorabilia or awards around the home. Meanwhile, a handful of décor pieces that follow you from the old property create a smoother transition into the new home.

You can continue to embrace the character-defining features and unique elements that caught your eye in the first place. However, ensuring that the home feels like yours rather than a bland show home will make a huge difference.

Focus on function

When moving into a new home, you may have your eyes set on luxury additions. While they’ll certainly come at some stage, practical ideas should be your priority. Jobs like improving the shower pressure or fitting a Smart thermostat are a great starting point. Selecting the right window coverings in the bedroom to promote improved sleep habits is vital. And getting your storage under control should be on the list too.

Similarly, you should invest in the right appliances to make daily chores a little easier. This will mean you can spend more time enjoying the new property. Opting for eco-friendly products that protect your finances and the environment will help too.

Get to know the area

Finally, when moving into a new home, you’re not simply purchasing a property. It’s equally vital to acknowledge that you’re buying into a new way of life. Therefore, it’s vital that you get to know your surroundings. From the location of local shops and finding out the bin collection day to the best driving routes to work, the simple issues will help you settle sooner. With this in mind, you should try to implement those steps ASAP.

If you’ve moved to an entirely new location, networking and making friends is crucial too. It will go a long way to making the property feel like home, which should make you feel a lot happier in the process. You’ve got this!

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