Coastal towns, in particular, are proving to be enticing destinations. Walking around Dartmouth at Christmas, before the third lockdown, I decided this was where I wanted to live, says Penny Lowe, a fiftysomething IT executive from Reading. I love the sea, the people are friendly; I could work from home, so I went for it.
Retro charm: Cromer in North Norfolk. The town has two blue flag beaches and the last end-of-the-pier show in Europe
According to Roger Punch, of estate agents Marchand Petit, Penny is typical of many homebuyers who have moved to the coast. Lockdown has focused their minds, making a fantasy a reality, he says.