The Sunday Times has crowned Mumbles, Swansea as the Best Place to Live in the UK in their annual guide. Last year, the suburb was named Best Place to Live in Wales.

The judges were impressed with Mumbles’ last year because of its proximity to good parks and beaches, as well as several highly rated schools. The multi-million pound face lift and the chance you might walk into Catherine Zeta-Jones or Bonnie Tyler whilst having an ice cream on the pier were also exciting.

In the Guide this year, they stated they’re “still big fans of this swoony suburb by the sea”.

Oyster Wharf, built on the site of the old Tivoli Arcade, is a hub of trendy restaurants including Prezzo, Le Bistrot Pierre, and La Parilla. All with seating spilling out onto terraces overlooking Swansea Bay, they give SA3 a swanky, continental feel.

Swansea Council have announced plans to widen the promenade between Oyster Wharf and Verdi’s, mirroring plans to pedestrianise sections of Swansea City Centre in the work being conducted as part of the City Deal.

Mumbles retains its individual spirit; independent “proper” pub and the starting point for many a student’s Mumbles mile-long pub crawl, The Pilot, is still going strong, as is The White Rose. There are still a high percentage of local independent shops, and lots of fish and chip bars.

The beaches at Langland and Caswell are always hugely popular with bathers and surfers, with having earned a Blue Flag certificate from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

Property prices in Mumbles have risen 19% in the last year. It’s possible that this is the result of its ranking in Best Places to Live Guide 2018, but is more likely because of the “renaissance” redevelopment work (and the facelift!) that is still on-going in the area.

The priciest property in Mumbles is a newly built four bedroom detached house in Langland that is currently on the market for £2.1 million. According to Zoopla*, the average price of a 4 bed in Mumbles is £448,115.

Last year, we looked at Mumbles’ suitability as an area for buy-to-let investment and looked at prices for 3 bedroom houses. Again according to Zoopla, the average asking price for a 3 bedroom house in Mumbles is £337,599 (19.7% increase from 2018).

The average asking rent for a 3 bedroom house has increased too – now at £797pcm, that’s a 4% increase. The yield decreases from 3% in 2018 to 2.8% in 2019.

That isn’t to say that there isn’t demand for rental properties in Mumbles, but as desirable as Mumbles is, not all tenants will be able to afford to live here, especially given there are more competitively priced areas such as Killay and West Cross just a short car drive away.

One of Dylan Thomas’ old stomping grounds, and with beaches and even Oystermouth Castle to explore, Mumbles has lots of attractions for tourists.

In an article for Wales Online, local tourism consultant Dr Terry Stevens said the needs of tourists visiting the area are becoming more aligned with those of local residents. He said “the market trends are telling us that visitors increasingly want to do things that local people do.”

Why not live like the locals and stay in an Airbnb?

Where renting in Mumbles may not be so easy, holidaying here really could be – and with Pass the Keys Swansea launching next month, there are increasing opportunities for holiday let landlords to reap the benefits of short term letting whilst letting someone else handle the nitty-gritty aspects of management.

Swansea has also caught the attention of The Times Best Beaches in Britain Guide this year. Coming 2nd and 3rd respectively are Three Cliffs and Rhossili, both on the Gower Peninsula and popular with Swansea locals.

Taking 1st place is Llanbedrog on the Llyn Peninsula.

Three Cliffs Bay earned its place for the “sheer spectacle” of its eponymous limestone cliffs and the ruins of Pennard Castle overlooking a truly vast beach. Riptides at Three Cliffs have been known to be murderous.

Rhossili Bay is hugely popular with surfers. Dramatic shipwrecks can be seen dotted along the 3 mile stretch of coast.

The National Trust have been transforming Rhossili into a haven for rare animals, birds and wildflowers. Seventeen fields surrounding the bay have been planted with 400,000 sunflowers, poppies, lavender and lupin, and are a spectacle to behold when in bloom.

If you’re considering investing in buy-to-let, whether residential or for short term lets, please do not hesitate to get in touch. For residential lets, you can call McCartan on 01792 430100 or click here to email the team.

Find out how much you could earn for a short term let by clicking here. For more information, check out our article on the launch of Pass the Keys Swansea! 

Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is of a general nature and no assurance of accuracy can be given. No action should be taken without consulting the detailed legislation or seeking professional advice. Therefore, no responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a consequence of this material can be accepted by the authors or the firm.

*as at 26/07/19

Sources: Best Places to Live in the UK Guide 2019 / Best Beaches in Britain 2019 / Wales Online / Zoopla / National Trust – Sunflowers at Rhossili / Visit Swansea Bay

Related: Mumbles Best Place to Live in Wales 2018 / Floating Community in Swansea Bay “Financially Viable” / Revealed – Most Expensive Streets in Swansea