To celebrate the UK's brilliant seaside towns, James Baker, head of Agency in our Exeter office, runs through some of our favourites

Being in the hustle and bustle of a fast moving city is exciting, but have you ever thought about living by the sea? Imagine a brisk morning walk along long stretches of beach with the wind in your hair and peaceful strolls at dusk. Seaside towns aren’t just a place to live – they’re a whole new lifestyle with vibrant and friendly communities. It’s no wonder that happiness surveys show that people who live on the coast are healthier and happier!

Beer, Devon

Beer is a beautiful town situated on Lyme Bay in south east Devon, named after the original forestation that surrounded it. It’s England’s first natural world heritage site and is the source of Beer Stone, which has been used for iconic buildings such as Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral.

With beautiful steep pebble beaches and delicious fresh fish, Beer’s main income comes from tourism, fishing and the Pecorama model railway exhibition centre. Properties like this one on Beer Hill are an example of how living in Beer really makes the most of Britain’s coastline, with delightful views over Seaton Hole, along Seaton Beach with Dorset coast and Portland Bill in the distance.

Emsworth, West Sussex

Birthplace to Nicholas Lyndhurst, best known for playing Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, Emsworth is a small fishing village on the south coast of England with an array of charming pubs and beer houses, as well as landmarks such as The Quay, The Mill Pond, and St James’ Church. Emsworth may be a small town but has great transport connections with Portsmouth, Southampton, Brighton and London Victoria.

Sidmouth, Devon

This small town of only 15,000 people lies at the mouth of River Sid and offers boutique shops, clear waters, lovely pebble beaches and great cliff walks across Lyme Bay and the Jurassic coastline. Sidmouth is made up of many conservation areas, including the Connaught Gardens from 1820 which played its part in World War II as part of the nation’s defence, thanks to its perfect view of the sea. Taking a walk up Peak Hill Slope offers a breath-taking view over the whole town towards Salcombe Hill.

Deal, Kent

Having just won the Telegraph High Street of the Year award, Deal is just 8 miles north east of Dover and has become one of the busiest ports in the UK. Being a former fishing, mining and garrison town means Deal enjoys a lot of culture and history. It contains the Tudor Deal Castle which was commissioned by Henry VIII and has a rose floor plan. As far as views are concerned, the coast of France can be seen on a clear day as it’s only 25 miles away. Not many places can boast that!

Wells-next-the-sea, Norfolk

Commonly known as Wells, this small town has thrived as a seaport and is also a successful seaside resort with a popular beach full of unique beach huts. Situated in north Norfolk, its long flat terrain and abstract sand dunes make it an interesting place to be.

So there you have it – if you’re considering a new property, why not think about one of the UK’s best seaside towns. Fresh air, open sea and great communities – what’s not to like!

If market towns are more your thing, why not check out our article on our Top Ten Market Towns.