Pretty seaside town 90 minutes from London with ‘UK’s best beach’ where house prices fly up by £130K

The average asking price of a house with a view of the sea has risen by more than £60,000 since 2019, outpacing the rest of Britain

As new figures show London’s population has shrunk by more than 400,000 as people move out to for a different way of life in other parts of the UK, it comes as no surprise that house prices are skyrocketing in seaside towns within easy reach of the capital. The South East is now the most expensive region for a sea view property, with asking prices now at £416,375 on average, according to Rightmove.

Among the most popular is Broadstairs on the Kent coast. It ranks as the area with the third highest sea view premium in the UK, with buyers paying an average £128,943 extra to have a sea view – asking prices have shot up from £399,337 in 2019 to £528,280 in 2026.

Broadstairs is 90 minutes from South East London and is home to “one of the best beaches in the UK”. The seaside town is thriving with independent bars, cafes, and restaurants, while the crystal blue seawaters of the Thanet coastline continue to draw tourists. Its multiple beaches are perfect for surfing, dog-walking, or romantic rambles along the shore.

It is being discovered by many on social media where people cannot stop raving about its spectacular beaches. In a TikTok clip, one account declared: “You’ve just found one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK,” with the video receiving dozens of likes.

There’s no shortage of attractions in Broadstairs, from unwinding on Viking Bay to treating yourself to Morelli’s Gelato and discovering the Dickens House Museum.

This delightful seaside town combines excellent beaches with rich local heritage, making it ideal for a family outing. Visitors can choose from seven sandy beaches and bays stretching approximately 4.5 miles along the coast.

Best Places To Visit In Broadstairs from Viking Bay and Botany Bay to Joss Bay

Viking Bay is undoubtedly Broadstairs’ most popular attraction, a charming “hidden gem” on the Kent coastline, praised by one Tripadvisor reviewer as “a crescent of golden sand lined with colourful beach huts and rock pools”, ideal for surfing with lifeguards on duty and plenty of amenities.

Viking Bay is the principal horseshoe-shaped sandy shore boasts vibrant beach huts, donkey rides and a surf school. Visitors can take surfing lessons or hire paddleboards from Kent Surf School, which operates from March through to October.

The Kiddie’s Corner offers a charming vintage roundabout, swing boats and bouncy castle. For those keen to search for marine life amongst the rocks, the tidal pool is ideal. Meanwhile Botany Bay is more of a tranquil location renowned for fossil hunting, rockpooling and water sports.

Coastal rambles are excellent, allowing you to wander along the sand towards the adjacent Joss Bay, which is a dramatic cove overlooked by the majestic Kingsgate Castle, now converted into flats. Dumpton Gap with its towering chalk cliffs is described as great for dog walks, while next to Viking Bay is the dusky, picturesque Louisa Bay, perfect for ambient strolls in the sun.

Alternatively, follow a picturesque clifftop route forming part of the Viking Coastal Trial.

For those wishing to get active, Revolution Skatepark and Climbing Centre offering a steady stream of high octane sports facilities, while Crampton Tower Museum showcases miniature model railways and is another aficionado’s dream in the town.

How to get to Broadstairs

Broadstairs is 72 miles from South East London and takes around an hour and 30 minutes to drive on a clear route from Bromley via either the M20 and M2 or the A2 or M2.

Taking the train is best suited to get to Broadstairs as this takes about 1 hour and 47 minutes from London Victoria. The train route is served by South Eastern Railway, with one-way tickets priced cheapest at £13.20.

‘Buyers are willing to pay a significant premium for a sea view’

A total of 420,500 people moved out of London in favour of other parts of Britain in the year to mid-2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). At the same time Rightmove said the value of a property with a sea view in Britain has jumped by more than a quarter since 2019 as buyers continue to seek out homes by the coast, according to new figures.

The average asking price of a house with a view of the sea in Britain has risen to £298,810, up from £235,635 in 2019 – a rise of 27 per cent. This has outpaced the national average of a 22 per cent increase for British properties during that time.

West Mersea in Essex had the biggest sea view premium, with an asking price of £655,479 on average compared with an average coastal value of £433,185 in the area.

Another spot in Essex also proved appealing to buyers, with Frinton-on-Sea seeing asking prices for homes with a sea view rise 36% when compared with the average on the coast.

Buyers in Broadstairs, Kent, pay an average £128,943 extra to have a sea view, while in Littlehampton, West Sussex, they pay £120,696 extra an average.

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “A sea view has long been seen as one of the most desirable features a home can offer, and our latest analysis shows buyers are willing to pay a significant premium for one.

“While some of Britain’s most prestigious coastal locations continue to command the highest prices, we’re also seeing notable growth in more affordable seaside areas, suggesting that sea view homes are becoming increasingly valuable across a wider range of the market.

“For buyers, it highlights the importance of considering not just the property itself, but the lifestyle and setting that come with it.”

Top 10 locations with a biggest sea view premium

(region/asking price in 2019/asking price 2026/increase)

West Mersea, Essex – £433,185 – £655,479 – £222,294 – 51%

Frinton-on-Sea, Essex – £361,645 – £492,344 – £130,699 – 36%

Broadstairs, Kent – £399,337 – £528,280 – £128,943 – 32%

Littlehampton, West Sussex – £381,117 – £501,813 – £120,696 – 32%

Newquay, Cornwall – £334,291 – £430,284 – £95,993 – 29%

Exmouth, Devon – £352,044 – £448,513 – £96,469 – 27%

Worthing, West Sussex £370,021 – £469,283 – £99,262 – 27%

Ryde, Isle of Wight £284,514 – £354,587 – £70,073 – 25%

Penzance, Cornwall £333,104 – £402,657 – £69,553 – 21%

Boscombe, Dorset £285,939 – £343,408 – £57,469 – 20%