The ‘stunning’ UK seaside town where house prices fell by 38% last year

While seaside living is a goal for the majority of Brits, a new report has revealed some locations are more sought-after than others.

Research by estate agent Yopa found that while many coastal hotspots continue to command hefty premiums, others have seen house prices tumble as the post-pandemic property boom cools.

And nowhere has the drop been steeper drop than in Seahouses, Northumberland, where the average property price has plunged 38% year-on-year – the largest decline of the towns analysed.

Although other beachfront locations have also followed this downward trend — with Portmeirion, Wales, next on the list with a 20.2% decline, followed by Cornwall’s Fowey at 18.3% — demand from buyers is resilient overall.

In fact, homes in Sandbanks, Dorset, command an average of 75.6% more than the wider local authority average, while those in Padstow in Cornwalland Salcombe in Devon come in at around 70% higher.

So what’s causing this fall in Seahouses, and is it still considered a desirable place to live?

Property prices in Seahouses

According to Yopa, the average property price in Seahouses now sits at £259,346, down from £418,476 in March 2025.

Verona Frankish, the firm’s chief executive, says this is likely a ‘price correction’, as ‘many of Britain’s coastal hotspots enjoyed exceptional levels of house price growth during the pandemic’, but ‘the market has normalised’ in the years since.

Nathan Khider, founder of Nathan K Real Estate tells Metro that Londoners leaving the city for a seaside retirement created an ‘artificial market’, which has collapsed as people look towards spending their later years in areas with better ‘access to transport, hospitals and doctors.’

Saif Derzi, founder at Property Buyers Today, also notes that while seaside locations still attract some interest, ‘weaker or overpriced stock is having to be reduced to meet today’s more cautious buyer demand.’

In terms of this region more specifically, he tells Metro: ‘Northumberland remains a very location-specific market, with stronger demand for good-quality homes in desirable rural, commuter and coastal spots, but more pressure on properties that are dated, overpriced or harder to mortgage.

‘I would not see this as a blanket market crash, but as a sign that buyers are being more selective.’

Things to do in Seahouses

Despite the recent dip in house prices, it’s easy to see why Seahouses remains one of Northumberland’s most popular seaside destinations.

The bustling fishing village is the gateway to the Farne Islands, where visitors can hop on a boat trip to spot grey seals, puffins and a wealth of other seabirds.

Back on land, the harbour is lined with fish and chip shops — including the top-rated Neptune Fish Restaurant or Lewis’s Fish & Chips — along with an array of pubs, cafés and independent shops.

Meanwhile, the long sandy beach offering spectacular views of Bamburgh Castle and plenty of space for dog walks, picnics, and sunbathing (when the British weather plays ball, of course).

Seahouses also makes an ideal base for exploring the wider Northumberland coastline, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty famed for its dramatic castles and windswept bays.

History lovers can explore nearby Bamburgh Castle or visit Lindisfarne, the tidal island known as the cradle of English Christianity, while outdoorsy types can tackle the Northumberland Coast Path or head to the watersports hub of Beadnell for kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing, and wakeboarding.

What locals say about living in Seahouses

As with many parts of the UK, residents of Seahouses have a wide range of opinions about what it’s like to live there.

Having recently relocated to the area, Hayley Norris said in a local Facebook group: ‘I can hand on heart tell you you’d never regret moving here. It’s a stunning place, friendly locals, close to other towns, great pubs and restaurants too.’

Elsewhere, Rachelle Watson commented that they ‘absolutely love it’ in Seahouses, in particular due to the ‘warm, friendly people’, a sentiment echoed by Marina Hayfield who added: ‘Best move we ever made… Really good community spirit here that you don’t get in big towns anymore.’

There are some criticisms though. On an r/AskUK thread about the best Northern seaside towns to relocate to, GrumpyOldFart74 called Seahouses and neighbouring Bamburgh ‘coastal and nice’, but warned they’re ‘very small and even further from anywhere.’

Some on Facebook also lamented the lack of public transport options and distance from amenities like a hospital, while Reddit user, SparklePenguin24, recommended Amble instead, writing: ‘Seahouses is a ghost town in the winter, and when the tourists arrive it’s terrible.’

This viewpoint is backed up slightly by Liveable, which scored it a C for transport and schools. However, with B+ ratings for amenities and outdoor space, as well as a low crime rate, it was deemed a ‘nice place to live’ — particularly for retirees or young professionals.

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