Located in idyllic Dorset coast, the luxury community of Sandbanks has once again claimed its spot as the most expensive seaside town in the UK with the average property now standing at a staggering £1.28 million according to official data from the UK Land Registry and corroborated by property market data from HM Land Registry and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Sandbanks, often referred to as Britain’s answer to Monte Carlo, has become a property hotspot for high-net-worth individuals, with property prices now more than three times the national average of £378,240.
While the coastal village offers sweeping views of Poole Harbour and the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast, it is also a living example of how real estate inflation is reshaping the British coastline. In fact, the 2025 report shows a modest 3% price drop from last year — a sign that even the most sought-after postcodes aren’t entirely immune to the UK’s broader housing market slowdown. But even that hasn’t quelled demand.
Property experts at the ONS attribute Sandbanks’ enduring appeal to its rare blend of natural beauty, proximity to London, and celebrity cachet. Local council data reveals that prominent figures like Harry Redknapp, Karl Pilkington, and Liam Gallagher are among the elite who have snapped up homes in the area — a fact that continues to inflate its desirability and prices.
Experts caution that the glamour of coastal living often hides practical downsides: climate risk, erosion concerns, and limited local amenities. The Environment Agency has identified parts of the South Coast, including Sandbanks, as vulnerable to future sea-level rise — adding a layer of long-term uncertainty to million-pound investments.
Still, for many, the emotional pull of owning a piece of Britain’s coastline is worth the premium. Whether it’s a penthouse on Poole Harbour or a modest cottage in Ayrshire, seaside living continues to stir the imagination.
