The beautiful seaside town that's the 'best place to live in the UK'

A seaside town that was previously named the most depressing in the nation has now been named the best coastal town to live in the UK. As well as four beaches and stunning views, the town reportedly boasts a "young" and "creative" population.

The Times recently named Falmouth, in Cornwall, as the best coastal town to live in the UK. The site picked 20 of the best places to live by the coast and concluded that Falmouth topped them all. However, travel journalist Tim Palmer did concede that the town had not always been rated so highly.

He said: "You may have seen this Cornish jewel cited as Britain's 'most depressing town' last year." Tim added: "But Falmouth has everything you need for a happy life by the sea: four great beaches, sparkling views at every turn and a town centre that's like the coolest bit of a cool city, along with a young, fun and creative population."

Falmouth is larger than other popular holiday spots in Cornwall, such as St Ives, and tends to be far quieter. The town has two universities, but by the busier summer months, most of the students have gone home.

Falmouth is the largest port in Cornwall and boasts the third deepest natural havour in the world. It has been the starting or finishing point for a number of round-the-world voyages, including those of Dame Ellen MacArthur and Robin Knox-Johnston.

The town also benefits from a selection of beautiful beaches, including Gyllyngvase and Castle Beach. They are popular for swimming, sunbathing and a range of watersports.

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall opened in Falmouth in February 2023. The building was designed by architect M.J. Long and showcases the town's rich maritime history.

There are a number of high-quality restaurants and cafes throughout Falmouth who pride themselves on providing fresh local produce. Some sell seafood caught on a local fishing boat and serve it the same day.

Falmouth plays host to a diverse range of events and festivals throughout the year, meaning there's rarely a dull weekend for locals. The Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, Falmouth Week and the Falmouth Oyster Festival attract visitors from far and wide.

The town is easily accessible with good road and rail connections. It is a terminus of the A39, which connects Falmouth with the A30 via Truro and provides a fast link to the M5 motorway at Exeter, in Devon.

There are also three railway stations in Falmouth - two more than in St Ives. The fastest trains from London to Falmouth can take as little as 4 hours and 37 minutes, which is also quicker than St Ives to the capital.

Falmouth has a number of positive reviews on TripAdvisor. Many visitors noted the number of shops on offer in Falmouth, in comparison to other towns in Cornwall.

Diane H said: "We visited Falmouth whilst on a trip to St Ives, both are equally beautiful seaside resorts but Falmouth has so many independent shops in the most amazing shopping high street. Due to the university being near by there are lots of modern things as well as the traditional."

Somean49 added: "Very pleasant town and proper working town with docks, marine businesses, stores and small shops etc. Not just geared up for tourism with the obvious tat and traps.

"Fair mix in the population between young, not so young and old, making for a normal atmosphere (unlike Newquay, for example, where "surfer dudes" predominate)."