Our analysis reveals that there are an estimated 832 beaches in England* located across 23 of the nation’s 48 counties.

Cornwall and Devon are home to the most beaches, accounting for 142 and 131 respectively. Dorset boasts 69 beaches, followed by Kent (56), Northumberland (43), the Isle of Wight (41), and Norfolk (40).

Beach county house price premiums

When it comes to house prices, the biggest premium among England’s beach counties is found in West Sussex.

West Sussex is home to 27 beaches and an average house price of £382,755. This is a premium of 31.2% compared to England’s overall average house price of £291,640*.

To live within an easy distance of Hampshire’s 19 beaches, homebuyers are facing an average house price of £363,589, marking a premium of 24.7%.

Essex (29 beaches) has a price premium of 23.2%, followed by Kent (21%), Dorset (15.4%), and East Sussex (10.9%).

While these counties command a hefty price premium to live within easy access of the beach, there are a number of beach counties where house prices sit well below the national average.

Durham is home to 16 beaches, and the county’s average house price of £136,182 is a massive -53.3% below the England average.

Buyers can access Tyne & Wear’s 14 beaches for an average price of £169,672 -41.8% below the national average while Lancashire (-36.4%), Merseyside (-33.9%), Cumbria (-31.5%), Northumberland (-30.3%), Lincolnshire (-24.7%), and East Riding of Yorkshire (-23.9%),also have average house prices more than -20% below the England average.

Sales & Marketing Director at Regency Living, Tim Simmons commented:

“England benefits from having beaches north to south and east to west, but when talking about house price premiums, it's the southern beach counties that command the biggest values while property in the likes of Durham, Tyne & Wear, and Lancashire remain well below the national average.

So if you’re looking for warm weather to accompany your close proximity to beaches, you’re more than likely going to need to absorb a premium with your house purchase. And do bear in mind that premiums will be even steeper for properties that are particularly close to the beach, especially when looking at the most sought-after coastal spots in Cornwall, Dorset, and Devon.

That’s why park homes are seeing a huge increase in demand in these prime beachside areas. They offer prime locations at highly affordable prices within friendly and secure communities that are ideally suited for downsizers and retirees.”

Data tables and sources

• *List of English beaches sourced from The Beach Guide
• *House price data sourced from the UK House Price Index (Feb 2025 – latest available)
• Full data tables and sources can be viewed online, here.