All about holiday homes in the UK
If you’d told me a few years ago that I would be writing about holiday homes in the UK I would have laughed at you. I work in Britain’s overseas property industry, specifically in the area of selling holiday homes and holiday investment properties around the world to British buyers. Returns have always been the focus of my work; rental yields and potential capital growth. Well, it just so happens that now, holiday homes in the UK offer some of the best rental returns of holiday properties all around the world. It is somewhat of a perfect storm for demand on UK holiday homes.
Why should I invest in a UK holiday home?
On one hand we have growing demand from the domestic population. This is not only because of financial constraints, but also because people are becoming more environmentally aware, and know that airlines are the biggest gas guzzlers of all. On top of that foreign demand is also growing, not least because of current foreign exchange rates; with Stirling at an all-time low against a whole host of currencies, including the Euro and the US Dollar, holidays in Britain are much cheaper than normal for people from affected countries. Owners of UK holiday homes are therefore finding demand to be strong and occupancy good. The fact that UK house prices have fallen quite a bit, which increases rental yields for those buying recently, and you have the completed picture of a perfect storm in the UK holiday lettings scene.
Many buyers prefer to stay in the UK for their holidays for many different reasons; possibly they don’t like the heat of the sun or prefer not to fly. Whilst most of us cannot wait to jet off somewhere warm to discover pastures new, the UK does have some truly beautiful areas including the delights of Devon and Cornwall, the Cotswold’s, the Lake District and we have to mention the amazing landscapes of Scotland and Wales. Let’s be honest if the UK had amazing weather how many of us would want to leave it?
Is buying a holiday home in the UK a good idea?
This is a different type of person who prefers to invest in holiday homes in the UK, this person wants to escape the rigours of hectic working weeks and on Fridays at 5pm wants to jump in the car and leave the rat race behind even if it is only for a couple of days – it’s great! Who doesn’t enjoy a weekend away? Can you imagine being able to have a weekend away each and every weekend? Long weekends that cover Bank Holidays can be taken at your favourite place, your weekend retreat, sounds fabulous and it is. So you have to ask yourself when you have this type of option at your fingertips, does the weather really matter that much?
What does buying a holiday home in the UK offer?
Within a few hours of leaving your usual home base, you could be by the beach listening to the rolling waves or enjoying the landscapes of mountains and simply breathing in fresh air. As we are an Island we have plenty of coastlines to head off too and inland we are lucky with National Parks some stunning Stately Homes and Castles to explore. We also need to take into account some investors live in these rural areas and their need is probably one of excitement with lots to see and do, and they head for the cities for their time out. Our UK cities have so much to offer, London, Manchester, Edinburgh to name a few are the places to go for a fun filled time. Museums, art galleries, concerts, exhibitions, theatres, opera and ballet are all there simply waiting for you to enjoy.
Where do you live? What do you like to do on your weekends off? You can hop on a ferry to Ireland or fly it’s less than an hour away. Sometimes it’s easy to forget what a wonderful place the UK is, we may be a small Island however it’s packed with beauty and our heritage and culture is second to none, you only have to look at how many foreign tourists visit year on year from around the globe. Buckingham Palace and all the pomp and pageantry that we take for granted is admired and respected by tourists from other countries. Stratford upon Avon is a favourite and those who travel there come to pay their respects to the literary genius of William Shakespeare.
What are the benefits of buying a UK holiday home?
You don’t need to fly to your holiday destination. You can easily drive there as the motorway links in the UK offers excellent roadways. You can always get the train and you may need to use a ferry crossing. It means long summer holidays and as many weekend breaks as you are able to take. Buying in the UK has its many advantages, you can travel last minute if you find you have a few days free, it’s a case of simply loading up the car.
What type of holiday homes are for sale in the UK?
You have the choice of an apartment, detached house, semi detached home, cottage, lodge, barn, bungalow, townhouse, farm houses, log cabin, static home and a castle or mansion. It really does depend upon your budget.
Where are the best locations in the UK to buy a holiday home?
There are some truly scenic parts of the United Kingdom, and now more than ever UK citizens are opting to invest within their own country.
Cornwall – the gem in the crown of the United Kingdom. This is an area of exquisite beauty. Rugged landscapes and stunning beaches that span this delightful coastline. This is the area most would opt for given the chance. Yes, property prices do have a higher price tag here than other UK locations, but as the saying goes “you get what you pay for”. Cornwall is found on the south west coast of England and therefore has better weather than the north. Home to some of the loveliest towns and fishing villages and views that have graced the most prestigious magazine covers.
Cornwall basically has it all when it comes to UK holiday homes. Everyone wants fresh air and rolling hillsides, fantastic beaches, clear blue water and be at one with nature. History buffs will have more than their fill of ancient landmarks, castles, museums, gardens and National Trust sites to visit. Saint Columb is a firm favourite for prospective buyers to invest in a beautiful holiday home in a lakeside setting, serving up tranquility and peace for a relaxed holiday in beautiful surroundings.
Isle of Wight – how about a holiday home on the Isle of Wight? Great weather and lots of coastline to explore, this could be the perfect holiday home hideaway for you. The quickest way to reach the Isle of Wight is to drive to Portsmouth and take the Portsmouth to Ryde fastcat catamaran, which takes only 22 minutes to cross. The Isle of Wight sits in the English Channel just 1.2 miles from the coast of the UK. It most known for its span of golden beaches, beach huts and sailing regatta’s. The islands most famous landmark is The Needles Rocks and Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in the 19th century to give guidance to sailing ships and the Needles are three huge, white chalk rocks that jut spectacularly from the sea.
All summer long there are festivals including, jazz, folk and blues amongst others. Plus don’t forget the Isle of Wight Walking Festival. The Isle of Wight is a popular summer destination with many holiday makers from the UK mainland visiting its shore and it’s the perfect location for a holiday home. In particular the tourist destinations of Colwell Bay and Ventnor are a magnet for holiday home buyers.
Colwell Bay has sandy beaches that are ideal for family holidays, it’s located on the western tip of the Isle of Wight. The famous attractions of Yarmouth, The Needles and Freshwater Bay are all close to Colwell Bay. Bike trails and walking routes are the best way to see this part of the island. If you enjoy sailing you can yourself, or there are umpteen boat trips from here. This is where you can invest in stunning red brick cottages that are set on a holiday park with excellent amenities.
Ventnor is located in the centre of the Isle of Wight, and the countryside scenic landscapes are second to none. It’s just a 20 minute drive to any of the islands beautiful beaches making it a two centre holiday home haven. This is where you have the best of two worlds, countryside and nature and the glorious beaches when you need to cool down. Beautiful lodges are here and are perfect for a family of four or six as two and three bedroom options are available. Lake houses are set in premium locations with picturesque views.
Yorkshire – or as its referred to by the locals as “Gods own county” is a county in north central England between the Pennine Mountains and the North Sea coastline. It’s a beautiful county without any doubt. Here you will find, coastal pathways, moorlands, fells and plains. Yorkshire is divided in to three ridings called East Riding, North Riding and West Riding and they all come together in the old city of York, which is positioned in the very centre of the county.
For many years holiday makers and UK holiday home buyers, have flocked to Yorkshire to marvel at the rolling lush green countryside and holiday on the east cost of the UK. Filey Bay is found here, it’s a small coastal town in the borough of Scarborough, between Bridlington and Scarborough. Walkers and hiking enthusiasts visit Yorkshire year round, to get fit, but also take in the beauty of the landscapes. If you want to get away from it all, a country lodge would be perfect for you to kick back and relax.
As a matter of fact, Filey Beach was named 2018 beach of the year by The Sunday Times. It’s a draw for locals in the area to spend their weekends there and for holiday makers to invest in UK holiday homes for sale. Country lodges in Filey, Yorkshire start from one, two and three bedrooms overlooking beautiful countryside and lake side settings.
What are the best city locations to buy a UK holiday home?
Its true most of the holiday homes buyers in the UK, invest in areas by the sea side or in a countryside location. However, some buyers want a bolt hole in the city, a city pad to escape to at weekends. Popular choices for this type of holiday home in the UK, are Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff. Manchester is in the heart of the northwest of England and close to many attractions, it’s a great location for a base to further explore the rest of the UK. Cardiff is the capital of Wales and again it’s a great city in itself and is set in a fabulous location to see more of south Wales. Birmingham is a vibrant city with excellent nightlife, the social scene is good plus, it’s close to areas of natural beauty.
Some buyers want the hustle and bustle with great shopping and bars, restaurants and nightlife. Live music is on hand and concerts, plus nightclubs and plenty to do after dark. This type of buyer is usually a young professional, maybe they will purchase a city UK holiday home with family or friends. City living is becoming popular, the culture is changing as cities across the UK, turn in to magnets for the younger generations to spend their free time. Not everyone wants to head to the beach or countryside in their free time.
Whichever delightful location you decide to invest in a UK holiday home, you will enrich and enhance your lifestyle.