The UK’s best place to live by the sea has been named – and it’s easy to see why. Mumbles, at the western tip of Swansea Bay, offers easy access to the city on one side and the beauty of the Gower on the other
Once known for its pub-crawl culture, this village is now better-known for being an idyllic place to live. It boasts easy access to a city on one side and an area of outstanding natural beauty on the other, not to mention its prime seafront location at one end of a seemingly endless beach.
So it’s no wonder that Mumbles, located on the western tip of Swansea Bay in south Wales, has been named one of the best places to live by the sea in the UK.
In addition to its enviable location, Mumbles has also reinvented itself as a culinary and shopping hotspot, offering more dining and retail options than you’d expect for a town of its size. A vibrant mix of independent and mainstream retailers can be found here, along with a local produce market held every second Saturday of the month, according to WalesOnline.
The town is also home to a trendy craft beer scene, with pubs like The Pilot, The Dark Horse Mumbles and Ty Cwrw (Welsh for ‘Beer House’). And let’s not forget the famous Verdi’s and Joe’s ice cream, hailed by many as the best around. But that’s not all. How many villages can boast a pier, let alone a castle?
To the east lies the city of Swansea with its urban offerings, while to the west you’ll find Langland Bay, Caswell and the majestic Gower with some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in Britain.
It’s no wonder The Sunday Times has named Mumbles as one of the best places to live by the sea in the UK. It wrote: “For somewhere that’s essentially a suburb of Swansea, Mumbles has a frankly indecent amount to offer the most demanding thalassophile [that’s someone who is attracted to the ocean]. Within a few miles of the centre of Wales’ second city, you can watch wading birds forage on the shoreline of Swansea Bay, explore the rockpools of Bracelet Bay, join the hardy year-round swimmers at Langland Bay or hop on your surfboard at Caswell Bay.
“An ice cream from Joe’s, Forte’s or Verdi’s is the perfect reward for a day on the beach. For those seeking even wilder landscapes, Rhossili Bay, on the tip of the Gower peninsula, is 40 minutes in the opposite direction. The best addresses round here – some would say in all of Wales – are Caswell Bay and Langland, sometimes optimistically described as the country’s answer to the Hamptons. Average house price: £412,524.”
Where to eat and drink in Mumbles
Mumbles boasts a plethora of dining options, including Mor (which translates to ‘sea’ in Welsh), renowned for its seafood offerings such as oysters, turbot and line-caught bass. The Lighthouse, a bar and kitchen, offers casual dining from breakfast through to dinner.
Other culinary delights include Fika, Papi’s Pizzeria, Gower Safood Hut, Nishimura, Croeso Lounge and Boo’s Kitchen, alongside well-known chains like Bistrot Pierre and Prezzo. And let’s not forget Verdi’s and Joe’s ice cream!
For those seeking a tipple, the historic Pilot pub is a must-visit, along with The Dark Horse and Ty Cwrw.
