With warmer temperatures and more accessible air travel, it’s easy to see why Brits opt to buy a holiday home abroad rather than in the UK. Countries like Spain, France and Italy top the list of most desirable overseas locations to own a holiday home.
But what if you could get the coastal beauty of Spain or the rolling hills of France right here in the UK? Would this lure more Brits to holiday or purchase a bolt hole in this country?
Here is a selection of six popular holiday home investments abroad that could almost be twins with the UK, plus a comparison of house prices to help with your decision.
From the French Riviera to Torbay, Devon
The French riviera or Cote d’Azur is a beautiful stretch of coast along the Mediterranean in the south eastern area of France. Featuring famous beaches such as Saint-Tropez and Cannes, it is certainly a dream location to own a holiday home. But what if you want to own a piece of the French Riviera in the UK?
Torbay in South Devon, affectionately known as the English Riviera, is home to some of UK’s most beautiful beaches, many of which are award-winning. The properties built up into the cliffsides looking down on the sailing boats in the harbour are reminiscent of their French counterparts.
How much does property cost?
Prices for a three-bed property in Torbay range from £32,000 for a holiday caravan to over £1 million for more plush dwellings (source: Rightmove). On the French Riviera, prices currently start at around 97,000 euros for a three-bed villa property and up to 11,300,000 euros for a flat in the very heart of Cannes – a red carpet price tag!
From the Loire Valley France to Bodmin and the Camel Valley, Cornwall
If your trips abroad involve visiting vineyards to find the perfect tipple, then the Loire Valley has almost certainly been ticked off your list. But what if you could enjoy the same picturesque scenery here in the UK?
Look no further than Bodmin in Cornwall. Home to grapevines stretching across rolling hills, Cornwall boasts award-winning wines from the Camel Valley Vineyard and some of the British Isles’ most beautiful scenery.
How much does property cost?
An average three-bed property in the Bodmin region starts from £140,000; whereas a three-bed property in the Loire Valley can start from as low as 20,000 euros for a mobile home to over 300,000 euros for larger, countryside retreats.
From Provence, France, to Norfolk
There’s a bit of a theme running here – France seems to have many beautiful and desirable locations to visit. But fear not, if you aren’t able to hop on a plane or board the Eurostar to see Provence’s spectacular lavender fields, you can always head to Norfolk’s very own lavender fields. If you go at the right time, it is hard to tell the difference between the two places:
How much does property cost?
In terms of property prices, the Provence property packs real character, with a three-bed house in the pretty village location of Lachau starting at around 80,000 euros. Property, and subsequently the prices, in Norfolk are variable, with some areas benefitting from gentrification and more second home ownership than others. You could purchase a three-bed holiday park home in Norfolk from as little as £12,000 in Heacham and up to £800,000 in nearby quaint villages for a detached three-bed home.
From Tuscany, Italy to Portmeirion, North Wales
If you’ve ever been to Portmeirion in Wales, you will know full well that this small village has an enormous power to displace your sense of reality. You could very easily be forgiven for thinking that Portmeirion is somewhere in Tuscany thanks to the dreamy, pastel coloured buildings, domes and Roman empire-esque statues.
How much does property cost?
If you’re considering a holiday home for sale in Wales near Portmeirion, then you could look at anything from £20,000 for a pre-loved caravan on a holiday site or up to £350,000 for a larger home. Small holiday home prices in Tuscany are relative to that of Portmerion – a three-bed mobile home starts from around 29,000 euros. But dependent upon how exclusive you would like your overseas property to be, you may pay well over 5,000,000 euros for a three-bed luxury villa in the heart of Forte Dei Marmi.
From Dubrovnik, Croatia to St Ives, Cornwall
The walled old town and sandy beaches in Dubrovnik are reminiscent of the harbour and narrow street surroundings of Porthminster Beach in St Ives. Recently, Croatia has enjoyed an upsurge in holidaymakers, which is likely to be because it has been used as the set for King’s Landing in the popular television series Game of Thrones. St Ives is famed for its surfing and arts scene, with a Tate Gallery on the seafront and the Barbara Hepworth museum and Sculpture Garden. If you are into surfing, then do visit Dream-Guides today as they are one of the leading websites for surfboard buying tips and advice.
How much does property cost?
Property in Dubrovnik costs around 250,000 euros for a three-bed apartment but anything on the sea-front will likely cost over 1 million euros. Property in St Ives with sea glimpses start at £275,000 but can also reach the £1,000,000 mark the closer you get to the sea front.
From the Spanish Balearic Islands to Lulworth Cove
The Spanish Balearic Islands (consisting of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera) welcome thousands of visitors a year to their beaches, many of whom look forward to swimming in the warm watered coves. But Lulworth Cove, on the Jurassic coastline, is a UNESCO World Heritage site which boasts aquamarine waters that resemble tropical climes. Lulworth Cove’s beautiful circular rock formation resembles the exotic beaches in the beautiful Balearic Isles.
How much does property cost?
Lulworth Cove is in Wareham, Dorset, which is an incredibly popular holiday destination and tourist spot. Properties within the area can start from as low as £28,000 for a three-bedroom holiday caravan at nearby family-favourite, Weymouth (source: Caravans For Sale). However, you could pay up to £800,000 for a large detached three bed house in Osmington, which is closer than Weymouth along the coast and a small village location. Property prices in Mallorca start off more expensively, with three-bed properties ranging from 95,000 euros up to 10,000,000 euros for newly-built sea-front villas.
