Ramsgate, a seaside town in Kent less than 90 minutes from London, has been named the UK's best place to relocate to, according to research by My Home Move Conveyancing. The study analysed 108 coastal towns, considering average house prices, property availability, summer temperatures, and resident happiness and life satisfaction. Ramsgate topped the rankings due to its beaches, reasonable property prices, and transport links.
Property and lifestyle appeal
The average property price in Ramsgate is £283,069, with several three-bedroom houses available at this price point on Rightmove. The town is one of the sunniest in the UK and scored highly on regional happiness scores. Residents enjoy proximity to the Blue Flag Ramsgate Main Sands, offering golden sands, and the UK's only Royal Harbour, which features pleasant marina-front walks.
For those who still need to commute to London, Ramsgate offers regular direct trains to London Victoria, London Bridge, and St Pancras International, with journey times from as little as one hour and 18 minutes.
Other top-ranking towns
Second in the rankings was Margate, another Kent town just a 15-minute drive from Ramsgate, popular with ex-Londoners, especially those in creative industries. Margate attracts nearly five million tourists a year and is known for its revamped harbour full of stylish restaurants and cafés. However, property prices here are on average over £12,000 higher than in Ramsgate.
Overall, 12 of the top 20 locations were in the South East, with Kent and Sussex leading the rankings. Other Kent winners included Sheerness, Folkestone, and Herne Bay. In Sussex, Eastbourne leads the rankings, a town that has seen artistic regeneration and is full of independent shops. Bognor Regis ranked sixth, despite often being listed among the 'worst' seaside towns, but received high happiness and life satisfaction scores from residents.
Top 20 seaside towns in England and Wales
The full list includes: Ramsgate, Margate, Sheerness, Eastbourne, Folkestone, Bognor Regis, Herne Bay, Hastings, Littlehampton, Whitstable, Cowes, Bexhill, South Hayling, Great Yarmouth, Ryde, Worthing, East Cowes, Lowestoft, Weston-super-Mare, and Broadstairs.
These findings highlight the growing appeal of coastal living within commuting distance of London, supported by transport links and lifestyle factors.
