Pretty seaside city with no deserted retailers and properties for £85,000 | UK | Travel

Nestled along the County Durham shoreline where the North Sea extends infinitely towards the horizon, the city possesses a quiet sense of willpower solid by its historical past.

Previously a mining group with three coal mines, its character was long intertwined with the collieries that formed both the panorama and on a regular basis life.

When those industries vanished, Seaham confronted the same difficulties as quite a few cities all through the North East.

However, its coastal location has supplied the platform for regeneration. Today, the seafront has emerged as its vibrant centre, where pristine, expansive space, pounding waves and the shimmer of sea glass entice both locals and vacationers all through the yr.

The regeneration is most obvious along the promenade and harbour, where cafés, impartial retailers and strolling paths now border a shoreline that was previously industrial.

Beaches including Seaham Beach and Blast Beach present panoramic vistas, putting cliffs and more secluded, wilder sections of shoreline.

These seashores are not just picturesque but internationally famend for their sea glass – clean, vibrant fragments of glass moulded by a long time in the ocean.

Previously discarded by the city’s glassworks industry, these items have been reshaped by the tide into tiny, burnished treasures.

It is along this rejuvenated stretch of shoreline that one of the city’s most putting landmarks emerges into view. The Tommy sculpture (formally titled 1101) stands quietly overlooking the sea, its presence both understated and commanding against the expansive horizon.

Crafted by Ray Lonsdale, the metal determine of a First World War soldier captures a second of profound contemplation, its lowered head and clasped fingers conveying the emotional burden of warfare.

Initially conceived as a short-term set up, it resonated so deeply with the public that it was made everlasting after a committee of locals raised the £102,000 needed to purchase it for the city.

The city has lately welcomed its first direct rail connection to London. The new service operated by Grand Central now offers 4 direct trains per day in each direction and is anticipated to draw quite a few guests as summer season attracts close to.

Maureen Clasper, who was raised in Seaham and now resides in Northumberland, still speaks with real fondness for the city, describing it as “a lovely place to live” and “a friendly place”.

She remembers growing up when “every pub down was always chock-a-block” and weekends brimmed with exercise, but recognises issues have advanced.

“I don’t think anywhere is like that now,” she says, highlighting broader modifications affecting high streets across the nation.

Ms Clasper notably emphasised the seafront as a main attraction and pointed guests towards native favourites including Gills for fish and chips, a family-run and award-winning institution, as effectively as The Lamp Room, a seafood restaurant located on the harbour.

Tom Wilson, recognised for his appearances on Celebs Go Dating and more lately I’m a Celebrity in 2025, was really noticed at The Lamp Room just days in the past.

She also highlights Dalton Park, the North East’s largest outlet buying centre, as a constantly bustling vacation spot, while recommending close by Dancing Betty as another worthwhile venue to discover.

Ann Stewart, who has operated Seaside Chic for roughly a decade, is Seaham born and bred.

She welcomed us with outstanding heat at her Harbour Marina store, which boasts direct views across a sea that sparkled magnificently on such a shiny, sunny day.

Her store shares an array of items, including candles, diffusers, domestically crafted objects, sea glass jewelry and images of Tommy, the city’s imposing metal sculpture of a First World War soldier gazing out over the seafront.

She said: “I’m a Seaham girl. It’s beautiful and it’s changed so much.” She described how the city has reworked from a mining village into an more and more sought-after seaside vacation spot.

“It’s so much cleaner, the sea’s cleaner, the air, everything, and so many tourists come now where you never, ever had that before.”

For Ms Stewart, it is the locals that actually set Seaham aside. She instructed the Express: “The people are so friendly and I think that’s what makes Seaham. The people are so nice and everybody who comes says that – ‘We love the people, they’re so friendly.’ They chat with you even though you don’t know them, and I think that’s one of the best things about Seaham.”

She famous that the arrival of the Tommy sculpture has performed a vital position in attracting larger numbers of guests. The business proprietor revealed that some guests journey from as far afield as Australia and Hawaii in search of the city’s famend seaglass, with the space turning into noticeably busier and more vibrant during the summer season months.

Ms Stewart also highlighted the outstanding resilience of impartial companies, notably along the seafront. “I think a lot of people would like to come and open more businesses, but there are no empty premises.”

Along the seafront, she pointed to an spectacular selection of pubs and eating choices, including the fish and chip store Downey’s, which she ranks amongst the prime 5 in the UK, alongside the award-winning ice cream parlour Lickety Split and the neighbouring Nicey Icey.

Ms Stewart described the marina as “the jewel in the crown,” particularly during summer season, and urged guests to discover Nose’s Point, Seaham Beach and Blast Beach — the last of which famously featured in the opening scenes of the movie Alien 3.

She also highlighted The Coalface, a pub located at the decrease finish of Church Street, as an wonderful venue for having fun with a pint accompanied by reside music. At the rear, Pizza Slice serves pizza alongside drinks and becomes notably hectic at weekends, with queues regularly developing, she famous.

Ms Stewart said the model new direct practice line from Seaham to London will be great for the city and it is expected to deliver even more guests to the city this summer season.

Craig Fraser operates Frasers Meats alongside his son and maintains a thriving stall at quite a few markets across the area, including Seaham, which he described as a robust market with “plenty of people walking around.” He added that Seaham is a “busy little town” with a “different variety of stalls.”

Mr Fraser instructed the Express: “There’s a whole lot of shops and pubs for people who want to go there, florists, there’s a sandwich and pasta shop as well. It’s a good town centre.”

He added: “It’s good. I enjoy coming here.

“You can see for yourself up there,” he said, gesturing towards the high street, “There’s loads of people and it’s busy.”

Jac Seery Howard is an artist and co-chair of EDAN Gallery positioned directly on the seafront at the terminus of Church Street. It remains the sole dedicated art gallery in East Durham.

EDAN represents the East Durham Artists’ Network, which was established in 2004 and comprises a voluntary collective of East Durham professional and amateur artists working across a diverse range of media. She said: “We love having a gallery in our own city. It’s great to have a actual artwork gallery in our hometown.”

Ms Howard, who was raised in Seaham with a father employed in the mines, reflected on the town’s remarkable transformation.

She said: “When the three native collieries shut down, the principal source of income for the complete group disappeared in a single day. The city bore the brunt of the coal mining industry’s collapse, which triggered widespread redundancies and a deterioration of the high avenue.

“When I left off to college, everything was closing down [..] but because we’re rooted on the coast, there was a chance that tourism could rescue us.”

Challenges such as vacant store models, absentee landlords and some run-down properties persist, notably in the outdated city, she famous, which stands in stark distinction to the seafront space that is significantly more energetic and populated with companies and cafés.

Nevertheless, she said: “But I would say it’s a town on the rise. Our first exhibition was in February, and we had 421 visitors.”

With a bid for Town of Culture 2028 looming and proposals to convert the Greek-columned Londonderry Institute into a heritage centre, Seaham is no longer merely a former mining city — it is evolving into a cultural vacation spot in its own proper, according to Ms Howard.

At the artwork gallery, free exhibitions are held all through the yr masking a selection of topics agreed upon by EDAN members.

Ms Howard revealed that the East Yorkshire coast has lost 258 villages to the sea since Roman instances.

However, one of Seaham’s most compelling attracts stays its property costs. At the time of writing, no fewer than 11 homes were on the market for £85,000 or less, while 10 were priced between £90,000 and £100,000.

Helen Wall, director at Bradley Hall Sunderland and managing director at Bradley Hall’s national Auctions business, instructed the Express: “Seaham’s property market continues to demonstrate strong resilience, underpinned by sustained demand, improved connectivity and its distinctive coastal appeal. The introduction of a direct rail link to London has significantly elevated the town’s profile, attracting both buyers and renters seeking an enhanced quality of life without compromising on transport links.

“Our Sunderland workplace is experiencing firsthand how this elevated curiosity is translating into constant exercise across a vary of property varieties. Over the previous yr, the average property price in Seaham reached £168,240, with terraced properties averaging £111,208, semi-detached properties at £154,548 and indifferent properties at £299,965. While costs have seen a modest year-on-year adjustment of around 1%, they stay above the 2021 peak-reinforcing the space’s underlying stability.

“Ongoing investment is also playing a key role in Seaham’s growth. Developments such as Seaham Garden Village are helping to meet demand, while the town centre continues to perform well, maintaining relatively low vacancy rates compared to other parts of County Durham.

“Drawing on our experience in both native property company and national property auctions, we recognise that these mixed elements are positioning Seaham as an more and more engaging location for owners, landlords and traders alike-offering both speedy alternatives and long-term potential.”

With its flourishing cultural panorama, beautiful shoreline, and strong sense of group, Seaham represents a city effectively value discovering and a vacation spot residents take great satisfaction in calling home.