Top 10 places to buy a holiday home in the UK

1. Haworth, West Yorkshire

Nestled in the stunning South Pennines, Haworth is the perfect location for a weekend break. Whether it is to follow in the footsteps of the Brontë sisters over the lavender moors, or explore the old cobbled main street and cosy traditional pubs, this West Yorkshire village is a popular destination for international and local tourists alike, all year round. A short drive from Bradford, in the running for the UK’s City of Culture 2025, it offers the best combination of low house prices and high revenue. With an estimate of just nine years needed to pay off the median house price (£135,000), this peaceful, picture postcard village is perfect for those looking to buy a holiday home that offers sound investment potential.

Haworth, Yorkshire

2. Buxton, Derbyshire

The beautiful spa town of Buxton recently received a multimillion-pound donation from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, meaning it is guaranteed to see a surge in tourists in the near future. Tourists flock to the two-million-year-old natural limestone cave, watch shows at the Opera House and ramble through the lush countryside of the Peak District. Although the average house price is slightly higher than the other areas in our top 10, Buxton and its surrounding areas is definitely one to watch. With annual rental revenues of £31,910, Buxton is an ideal location to invest in a holiday home.

Buxton, Derbyshire

3. Alnwick, Northumberland

According to UK property experts Rightmove, Alnwick near Newcastle-upon-Tyne is one of the UK’s most searched-for countryside market towns, with an average asking price of £230,853. Tourists flock to this quaint medieval town all year round, attracted by the stunning Northumberland coastline, cheery Christmas markets and Alnwick Castle where Harry Potter was filmed. If Alnwick’s charm alone is not enough to convince you that it’s a great place to buy a holiday home, it is also a stone’s throw away from other gems of the North East, such as Lindisfarne and Seahouses.

Alnwick, Northumberland

4. Llandudno, North Wales

Alongside the likes of Santo Domingo and Atlanta, the Victorian seaside town of Llandudno has been tipped by Booking.com to be one of the world’s top emerging holiday destinations for 2022. Typically, North Wales property prices are around 30% lower than the rest of the UK. The average house price in Denbighshire is £164,062, which is well below the national average of £270,000. Buying a holiday home in North Wales offers the savvy investor a great yield. Llandudno itself and the surrounding area is steeped in history – the town is reputed to be the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice in Wonderland. The Great Orme coastal headland and traditional promenade pier make Llandudno a great draw for tourists, and therefore a good location to buy a UK holiday home.

Llandudno, North Wales

5. Plymouth, Devon

While summer 2021 saw an extra 30,000 tourists flocking to Cornwall, neighbouring naval city Plymouth is a great choice when it comes to buying a holiday home. With a median house price of £197,000 and an Airbnb occupancy rate of 70% per year, Plymouth is a serious contender for investors looking to generate some serious revenue. The city itself is steeped in maritime heritage – tourists are attracted to the old cobbled streets of the Barbican district and the famous Mayflower Steps. Picturesque harbour town Dartmouth is nearby, and Dartmoor National Park offers plenty of opportunities for those wishing to explore the vast moorland. A holiday home in Plymouth will give you the best of both worlds, city and countryside.

Barbican Marina, Plymouth, Devon

6. Sea Palling, Norfolk

Situated between the traditional and super popular seaside towns of Cromer and Great Yarmouth, Sea Palling's Blue Flag beach offers a quieter escape to lose yourself amongst the unspoilt sand dunes or go exploring at the nearby Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve. With demand for holiday rentals higher than ever and an average annual revenue of £31,791, Norfolk`s wide flat horizons and endless web of waterways make it an ideal location to own a holiday home in this tranquil environment.

Windwill at Sea Palling, Norfolk Broads

7. Liverpool, Merseyside

Home of the Beatles, Albert Docks and the Ferry across the Mersey, Liverpool has continued to experience transformative growth. In recent years the city has seen a boom in tourism, in particular with its popularity as a weekend city break destination. What’s more, the rental market is thriving, with the city’s property growth outperforming London by five times and average rental yields topping 10%. If you are looking for a lively bustling place to buy a holiday home, investing in Liverpool will certainly pay dividends.

Liverpool

8.Glasgow, Scotland

Whilst some property owners in Glasgow may have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons thanks to COP26, the city certainly should not be overlooked as an investment hotspot. No less than five Glasgow postcodes appear in TotallyMoney's top 25 best rental yields. Glasgow is a creative and entrepreneurial city, with popular spots such as the West End, Kelvinbridge and Finnieston great locations for the savvy investor. Further afield, Bearsden and Milngavie offer great access to tourist hotspots Loch Lomond, The Trossachs and The West Highlands. Recent increased investment in hi-tech sectors, is likely to attract even more rental growth into Glasgow.

Glasgow, Scotland

9.Salford, Greater Manchester

Situated just 3 miles outside of Manchester city centre, Salford has become a bustling cultural and entertainment hub. The area has enjoyed continued growth since the BBC moved key operations to Salford’s MediaCityUK in 2011. Additionally, the famous Quays has become one of the most sought after areas of Greater Manchester to live in, boasting swanky modern architecture and waterside dining and bars. The area has grown exponentially in popularity not just with young professionals but also property owners. This is due to the attractive high rental yield, which exceeds the national average at 4.87%. With an average house price of around £182,000, it’s definitely worth considering Salford as one of the best places to buy a holiday home.

Manchester

10. Belfast, Northern Ireland

In recent years property prices have increased on the Northern Irish coastline. However, the capital city of Belfast continues to offer attractively low prices with high rental yields, averaging at 6.1%. The vibrant city has seen significant regeneration and investment with exponential growth in tourism, particularly in areas such as the Cathedral Quarter and Titanic Quarter. A recent Government report noted that spending by tourists in Belfast outpaced the Northern Ireland average by a whopping 20%! With tourists keen to explore its historic and culturally brimming streets, alongside the city`s high ranking for recoupment for investment, Belfast would be a profitable place to have a holiday home.

Belfast