Our seaside town is the ‘best’ in the UK – it’s jam-packed with trendy restaurants & bars… and houses are super cheap

LOCALS living in the “best” seaside town in the UK says it’s jam-packed with trendy restaurants and bars.

Southsea, near Portsmouth, is a hotspot during the summer months as people flock there for the “incredible views”.

Offering a classic taste of the British seaside, there are plenty of chippies to bag yourself some freshly caught cod.

According to one woman living nearby, the waterfront is a great place to socialise and has plenty to do.

Laura Nightingale said Southsea “oozes charm, culture and character”.

She wrote in : “Albert Road is probably the most popular street, boasting dozens of independent traders, superb restaurants, trendy bars and cafes and quirky shops selling retro clothes, antiques and crafts.”

If you fancy a break from sunbathing, a slice of history is also on offer.

Tourists can explore Southsea Castle, which was built by King Henry VIII and where he saw his flagship sink.

The shingle beach is easy to get to from Surrey and London taking around 36-minutes on the train.

Or if you’re looking for some wildlife with your seaside town, Seahouses in Northumberland is like no other in the UK, with history and nature combining perfectly.

It’s home to stunning beaches and incredible wildlife, including dolphins that can be spotted from pub beer gardens.

Dolphin and whale watching tours depart from the harbour in the town, but a shared by one of the town’s pubs, the Olde Ship Inn, also shows a dolphin leaping out of the sea, captured by a regular from the beer garden.

Or for more nightlife than wildlife, opt for the seaside town that’s compared to Las Vegas because of its arcades, nightlife and sandy beaches.

The town of Skegness has been likened to the American city for several years.

Meanwhile, a popular seaside town is winning praise again for its sandy beaches and easy access to Europe.

The port town of Harwich is eclipsed by nearby rivals like Colchester, Felixstowe and Clacton-on-sea by holidaymakers looking for a beach getaway in the UK.

And it is slowly reclaiming its crown thanks to backing from the former Bond girl, Madeline Smith, who played Miss Caruso in Live and Let Die.

How much are house prices in the area?

Houses in the area are cheaper than you might think to buy.

According to Rightmove, the average price for a property in this area last year was £286,812.

That’s cheaper than the average UK house price, which stands at £362,452, according to Rightmove.

The majority of terraced properties in the area sold for around £314,067 while flats were snapped up for £196,590.

House prices surged nationally following the Covid crisis, with a lack of homes on the market and the stamp duty holiday fuelling demand further.

But price growth started to slow last year following mortgage rates hitting a 14-year high in September, though they have now fallen back slightly.

This was caused by political and economic turmoil following former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-Budget.

An increase in mortgage rates has meant people thinking about buying homes are holding off, which in turn sees house prices drop.