FOR… AFFORDABLE DORSET

Weymouth, Dorset

The Dorset coast is not cheap; in fact, Sandbanks – the celebrity beach hang-out between Bournemouth and Poole – claims the most expensive properties in the UK with an average house price of just over £1m. Weymouth is a bargain by comparison – and it has a lot going for it, too: a combination of ultra-traditional seaside resort (think donkeys, deck chairs, beach huts and sandcastle sculptures), elegant Georgian esplanade and salty fishing harbour with a glorious beach and easy access to the sailing waters of Portland harbour and the beautiful Jurassic Coast – a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are some swish houses in the town, but generally it’s good value. Step inland a few blocks and you’ll find three-bedroom period houses for around £325,000 (in Sandbanks, a three-bedroom apartment can cost as much as £3m).

• Average house price: £277,580