Pembrokeshire coastal village that's 'prettiest place on earth' among UK's best
From "pretty honeypots" to "salty city suburbs", the experts at The Times have come up with a list of the UK's best coastal towns to live in for 2025.
Introducing the list, the news outlet said: "Wouldn't it be nice if every day could feel like a holiday? It can — or at least a lot more so — when you live by the sea.
"Now could be the ideal time to make that move. Increases in council tax and stamp duty on second homes has had a big effect on house prices in the most popular seaside spots.
The Times added: "We've picked 20 of the best places to live by the coast. They're all different.
"Some are pretty honeypots, others are salty city suburbs and a few are wild, wonderful and remote.
"And they all avoid the twin blights that affect so many of our coastal towns, which are often either crippled by deprivation or so overrun with second homes that you won't find a pub, a shop or a light on in winter."
The UK's best coastal towns to live in for 2025, according to The Times, are:
Falmouth, Cornwall
Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear
Beer, Devon
New Brighton, Merseyside
Deal, Kent
Southsea, Hampshire
Hunstanton, Norfolk
Clevedon, Somerset
The Witterings, West Sussex
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
Hove, East Sussex
Isle of Wight
East Neuk, Fife
Portobello, Edinburgh
Cullen, Moray
Gower Peninsula, Swansea
Aberdovey, Gwynedd
Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan
Solva, Pembrokeshire
Dundrum, Co Down
Solva comes highly recommended by travel experts.
Already in 2025, Solva has been named among the best and most beautiful villages in the UK by The Telegraph and Daily Mail, respectively.
It also featured on a list of Britain's poshest villages along with the likes of Abersoch on the Llyn Peninsula (North Wales).
Now it has been named among the UK's best coastal towns to live in (in 2025) by The Times.
Explaining their decision, the news outlet said: "With its sheltered harbour hidden between fragrant, gorse-covered hillsides, Solva could hardly be more beautiful.
"In the lower half of the village, colourful shops line the main road and old cottages sit beside the rushing river.
"Climb into Upper Solva and it's all big skies and distant views of St Brides Bay.
"For surfing, swimming and sandcastles, the epic beaches at Newgale and Whitesands Bay are close."
Solva has been described by visitors as "heaven on earth". (Image: Getty Images) There are also plenty of events held in Solva throughout the years for locals and tourists to enjoy.
These include the New Year treasure hunt and the annual Edge Festival, as well as duck races on the river and a fireworks display.
While the number of second homes in the Pembrokeshire village makes the property market "unforgiving", "there is also a determination among the full-time population to take care of each other and keep Solva lively all year round", The Times added.
The average house price in Solva is £314,167, while the prettiest (and priciest) houses are on Prendergast, beside the river in Lower Solva.
You can get a three-bedroom semi for around £400,000, but you will need to set aside up to £750,000 for something bigger (and detached).
Solva also comes highly recommended by tourists and visitors, boasting a 4.5 rating (out of 5) on TripAdvisor from 354 reviews.
One person, talking about their experience in Solva, said: "Possibly one of the prettiest places on earth!
"Come an hour before high tide and bring your crab bucket & wetsuit! An hours crabbing, a hot chocolate from the lovely cafe at the end of the harbour, then get involved jumping off the harbour wall.
"The Harbour Inn pub at the car park is excellent, then cross the footbridge and walk up the small path for 5 minutes to get a stunning view of the bay."
RECOMMENDED READING:
Discover the little Pembrokeshire village described as 'heaven on earth'
'Genteel' seaside town in Pembrokeshire with 'glorious' beaches among UK's best
Two 'pretty' Pembrokeshire villages named among the most beautiful in Britain
Another visitor added: "This place is heaven on earth! Oh my! It's so beautiful. Visited at high and low tide and both stunning in different ways.
"I took a little swim off the slipway on the quay, although did not go too far (being wary of currents in a place I do not know).
"Lovely to walk to the Quay at high tide and right out along the beach at low tide."
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