While defining the absolute smallest is tricky due to definitions, Bamburgh in Northumberland is often cited as a tiny, popular English seaside destination with a population of around 400 people, making it a strong contender for the smallest significant resort area, though smaller hamlets exist.
Jaywick, near Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, has been named the most deprived neighbourhood in England for the fourth consecutive time since 2010, new data shows.
It shares its name with the Biblical paradise, whose sole human inhabitants were Adam and Eve. And it seems similar solitude can be found in Eden, Cumbria, the most sparsely populated local authority area of England and Wales.
Some of the most deprived towns in the UK, such as Penzance, Hastings and Great Yarmouth, are beside the sea. Long-standing structural problems have built up over decades. Many have suffered from years of Government underfunding as policy and investment have been focused on specific regions and the inner cities.
This decline has been attributed to “a combination of economic, social and environmental challenges.” Among the reasons are the fact that most coastal towns are located in “outlying areas with poor transport links,” which hinder access to employment and education.
As of recent studies, Cornwall ranks among the most deprived areas in England, with 17 of its neighborhoods classified in the top 10% for deprivation nationally. Child poverty remains a serious issue, with nearly 30% of children living in poverty, among the highest rates in the South West.
Middlesbrough is the UK's most affordable city
Scoring 6.51/10, it ranks lowest for house prices, rent, and overall living costs, making it the most budget-friendly place to live.
With this in mind, here are our 10 best coastal retirement developments.
Discover 26 of the Best Seaside Towns in the UK
The city with the lowest White British population as a percentage was Leicester (40.9%) – also the only city below 50% – while the lowest for unitary authorities was Slough (34.5%), followed by Luton (44.6%).
Monowi, Nebraska. Monowi (/ˈmɒnoʊwaɪ/, MON-oh-wye) is the least populous incorporated village in the United States by population by having a population of one.
Fordwich /ˈfɔːrdwɪtʃ/ is a market town and a civil parish in east Kent, England, on the River Stour, northeast of Canterbury. It is the smallest community by population in Britain with a town council.
FAQs
Most Popular Seaside Resorts
The survey asks residents what they love, or don't love, about their local area, using 15 "happiness factors" such as community spirit, access to green spaces and friendly neighbours. The 2025 index reveals that Barking and Dagenham, a borough in East London, is the saddest place to live in the entire country.
The least expensive coastal locations in the UK were found to be:
Traditionally, many have recommended the 4% rule – you should withdraw no more than 4% of your total pension pot a year. This, however, is really a maximum, and many recommend a lower percentage – the Financial Times now cites 3.5% as the maximum 1. You can also choose where this income comes from.
Tucked away on the sparkling south coast of Cornwall, St Mawes is the kind of place that captures your heart quietly but completely. With its pastel-toned cottages, glistening harbour, and gentle rhythm of life, it's no surprise that it's often called Britain's loveliest seaside village.
Top 20 prettiest places to live in Britain
Depending where you are in the country, you can buy properties for £60k or £70k, in parts of Yorkshire and and further north. In some areas of Scotland you can buy them for under £50k, so if you're doing a 25% deposit, you can buy multiple houses. Properties around the £100k mark are more common for most.
Overall, the cost of living in the U.K. is 15.5% lower than it is in the U.S. Rent prices in London are over a third (36.5%) lower than rent prices in New York City. The average monthly salary after taxes is 29.1% less in London than in NYC.
What we find is that Camden, Westminster, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hounslow, Redbridge, Brent, Barking and Dagenham, Enfield, and Ealing all have poverty rates higher than the London average, while poverty rates in Bromley, Richmond upon Thames, Merton, Sutton, Havering, Islington, Bexley, Southwark, Hillingdon and ...
South Sudan is widely considered the poorest country in the world in 2025-2026, consistently ranking first due to extremely low GDP per capita and a high percentage (over 80%) of its population living in extreme poverty, driven by prolonged civil conflict, displacement, and disruption of its agricultural economy. Other nations frequently cited as among the poorest include Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Yemen, also suffering from conflict and instability.
The most deprived neighbourhood in England according to the IMD25 is to the east of the Jaywick & St Osyth area of Clacton-on-Sea in Tendring (Tendring 018a).