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Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK's 'most walkable' seaside resort is perfect for exploring on foot
Experts looked at various factors such as the number of beaches and average hours of sunshine to determine which place in the UK is the best for a leisurely stroll New data has revealed the most walkable seaside town in the UK. The Co-operative Bank experts used Rightmove information to analyse factors such as the number of beaches and average sunshine hours, determining the ultimate UK location for a pleasant stroll. The experts assigned 20 towns and cities a walkability score out of 100, with the top spot achieving a perfect 100, earning it the title of the nation's most walkable seaside town. Brighton, home to over 277,000 residents, has been crowned as the country's most walkable city. The Sussex resort, famous for its iconic Brighton Palace Pier and bustling North Laine shopping district, offers an ideal layout for locals and tourists to explore on foot. It boasts pedestrian-friendly streets, lined with independent cafes, and a vibrant arts scene, making it perfect for those who enjoy wandering and soaking up all that the city has to offer. "What is not to like about walking along the Pier, the hustle, bustle and the sound of visitors just enjoying themselves, kids will love it and it also takes their parents back in time to when they were youngsters at the seaside," one person wrote on TripAdvisor, reports the Express. Speaking about North Laine, another person said: "This is my favourite place to walk around when I'm in Brighton, as there are so many quirky wee shops and cafés to see." Bournemouth nearly clinched the top spot with a score of 97 out of 100, praised for its coastal paths, town centre shopping and stunning cliffside views, all within an easy stroll. Eastbourne, Ramsgate and Swansea were hot on Bournemouth's heels, each scoring just one point less. These towns are ideal for leisurely explorations. Eastbourne is renowned for its expansive promenades and Victorian architecture, offering idyllic seafront walks and treks up to Beachy Head. Ramsgate combines seaside allure with historical intrigue, featuring its Royal Harbour Marina and a "compact" town centre perfect for pedestrian discovery. Meanwhile, Swansea boasts a waterfront that stretches from the marina to the beach, adjacent to must-visit museums, markets, and restaurants.
Metro
4 days ago
- Business
- Metro
The UK's most affordable seaside town is a 'paradise' with £220,000 house prices
Relocating by the sea sounds like a dream until you see the house prices. Cornwall for one is eye-wateringly expensive, and Brighton is practically London-on-Sea. But not every seaside town requires a trust fund or a six-figure salary to move there. New research from the Co-operative Bank has revealed the UK's most affordable seaside towns — and the winners make coastal living seem like a surprisingly realistic prospect. For each place, the bank looked at average house prices, monthly rents, the house price to income ratio, and the proportion of salary that goes on rent to calculate an overall affordability score. Oban, a small town in the Argyll and Bute area of Scotland, came out on top of the list, with an overall affordability score of 9.82 out of 10. Often referred to as the seafood capital of the country, this picturesque spot offers some of the lowest average house prices (£220,458) and the most reasonable rents (£800 per month) which works out to just 34.7% of the average monthly income. You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK's leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won't charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. And a low cost of living isn't all it has going for itself. Located on Scotland's west coast, Oban is a harbour town known for its fresh seafood and sea views. Surrounded by a rugged coastline and rolling hills, it's considered a gateway to the Hebrides and although its population is small (home to just over 8,000 people), the town has plenty to see and do. McCaig's Tower is its most notable attraction, a colosseum-like landmark that sits above the town, offering views of the bay and nearby islands. Nestled beneath a cliff in the town centre, there's also Oban Distillery – one of the oldest in Scotland – where you can take a guided tour and sample some of its signature whiskies. Near the harbour, you'll find lots of fishing boats and ferries, along with plenty of local restaurants serving freshly caught seafood. But if history's more your thing, head just north of Oban to explore the 8,000-year-old ruins of Dunollie Castle, Experts at Co-operative Bank found two Lancashire seaside towns to be the most affordable in the UK. Morecambe came second on the list, with an affordability score of 9.8 out of 10. 'This Lancashire gem captures the essence of the English seaside and has some of the most affordable house prices in the country,' the bank says. 'The average house price here is actually lower than in Oban at £194,295, however, rent prices in Morecambe are slightly higher.' Blackpool tied with Morecambe for second place. The bank says: 'The average house comes in around £147,449 in Blackpool, making Blackpool the most affordable seaside town to purchase a property in the UK. Unfortunately, Blackpool is slightly let down by its rent prices. At an average of £704 per month, rent in Blackpool works out as 40% of the average monthly salary.' It might feel remote to some, but Oban is well-connected. Scotrail runs regular daily trains to and from Glasgow, with tickets starting from around £20. The scenic journey does take about three hours by rail, but since it runs through the Highlands, you're spoilt for beautiful scenery. Oban also serves as the main ferry port for those wanting to reach the islands of Mull, Iona and Staffa and is often used as a base for island-hopping. Oban has been described as a 'paradise' for seafood lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, and many locals have raved about life there, declaring it a 'gorgeous part of the world'. More Trending One resident on Mumsnet wrote: 'Oban is beautiful, a wonderful place to live and work. Winters are mild, being on the west coast. You get used to midges, they are not the big problem everyone thinks they are, especially by the coast, a bit of sea breeze and they can't fly so won't bother you.' Others praised its pace of life compared to the city, including Redditor Stevoknevo70 who commented: 'I've lived in Oban for six years now, wild horses couldn't drag me back to Glasgow. Wonderful place to raise a family, can be on the beach in under 10 minutes, and easy access to numerous islands.' According to Rightmove, the majority of properties sold in Oban during the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £151,783. Detached properties sold for an average of £351,993, with semi-detached properties fetching £227,786. View More » So, while you might not secure a five-bedroom beachside property for £200,000, there are definitely affordable options. Oban – £220,458 (average house price) Morecambe – £194,295 Blackpool – £147,449 Troon – £225,977 Filey – £213,669 Scarborough – £202,600 Whitby – £253,519 Southport – £239,472 Dunbar – £327,821 Swansea – £200,648 Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Schoolboy who left teacher disfigured after throwing her onto concrete spared jail MORE: Body found in search for British man Greg Monks who went missing on stag do in Portugal MORE: Youngest ever Omaze winner puts £3,000,000 house on the market — for £2,500,000
Scoop
14-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Smaller Banks Pack A Punch: Consumer's Best And Worst Banks In 2025
Press Release – Consumer NZ The Co-operative Bank has taken out the top spot in Consumers latest banking satisfaction survey, earning a customer satisfaction score of 77%. At the other end of the scale, ANZ the countrys largest bank scored just 57%. The average satisfaction … The Co-operative Bank has topped the rankings for customer satisfaction, while ANZ finished at the bottom, according to Consumer NZ's latest independent survey of New Zealand banking customers. The Co-operative Bank has taken out the top spot in Consumer's latest banking satisfaction survey, earning a customer satisfaction score of 77%. At the other end of the scale, ANZ – the country's largest bank – scored just 57%. The average satisfaction score across all banks was 64%. 'This is the fourth year in a row that The Co-operative Bank has won our People's Choice award,' says Jon Duffy, CEO of Consumer NZ. 'It's an impressive result, especially considering its market share – less than 1%. 'Bigger is not necessarily better. ANZ is New Zealand's most profitable bank, with the biggest market share, but when it comes to customer satisfaction, it finished bottom of our survey. Consumer's annual independent survey measures customer satisfaction across 17 areas, including trust, value for money, digital banking, and customer service. Don't bank on the big banks Duffy notes this year's survey results come amid persistent concerns about the state of competition in New Zealand's banking sector and the ever-present threat of scams. Our survey also found that more than 1 in 5 New Zealanders have fallen victim to a scam that has involved their bank account or a financial service. While some progress has been made by banks to address scams – following pressure from central government and advocates for banks to increase efforts to protect customers – New Zealand still lags behind other countries when it comes to banking technology. 'The pace of innovation in the sector has been glacial. Technologies like comprehensive open banking and real-time payments that could save consumers money and keep us safe are still on the 'to do' list for banks,' says Duffy. 'Our research also shows fewer than 3% of New Zealanders switch banks each year – one of the lowest switching rates of any service sector we monitor. 'Low switching rates and low satisfaction scores – particularly among banks with the biggest customer bases – is never a good sign for consumers. Banks are yet to deliver improvements to their switching services, as recommended by the Commerce Commission's market study to improve competition in the sector. 'This is why we publish our annual satisfaction surveys. We strongly encourage people to do their homework and switch to a bank with higher customer satisfaction. It's easier than you might think and a powerful way to foster competition so that we can collectively raise the bar,' says Duffy. Key findings from Consumer's 2025 banking satisfaction survey The Co-operative Bank achieved the highest overall satisfaction score (77%) delivering consistent, above-average experiences across the board, particularly around digital banking, savings interest rates, and advice ANZ scored the lowest customer satisfaction rating (57%), with particularly low scores for interest on savings, fees, responsible lending, advice and overall value for money Consumer says the 20-point gap between the survey's top and bottom performers highlights just how much customer experience can differ between banks. The full survey results (paywalled) and methodology are available on Consumer's website: Best and worst banks in 2025. Note: Our data is from a nationally representative survey of 1,920 New Zealanders, aged 18 years and older, conducted online in February 2025 Ratings cover satisfaction across 17 key service areas. Satisfaction ratings show the proportion of respondents who scored their provider 8, 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied). Market share is based on the latest figures from the Banking Ombudsman Scheme Dashboard. Annual profit before tax figures are from each bank's latest financial disclosures.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Smaller Banks Pack A Punch: Consumer's Best And Worst Banks In 2025
The Co-operative Bank has topped the rankings for customer satisfaction, while ANZ finished at the bottom, according to Consumer NZ's latest independent survey of New Zealand banking customers. The Co-operative Bank has taken out the top spot in Consumer's latest banking satisfaction survey, earning a customer satisfaction score of 77%. At the other end of the scale, ANZ – the country's largest bank – scored just 57%. The average satisfaction score across all banks was 64%. 'This is the fourth year in a row that The Co-operative Bank has won our People's Choice award,' says Jon Duffy, CEO of Consumer NZ. 'It's an impressive result, especially considering its market share – less than 1%. 'Bigger is not necessarily better. ANZ is New Zealand's most profitable bank, with the biggest market share, but when it comes to customer satisfaction, it finished bottom of our survey. Consumer's annual independent survey measures customer satisfaction across 17 areas, including trust, value for money, digital banking, and customer service. Don't bank on the big banks Duffy notes this year's survey results come amid persistent concerns about the state of competition in New Zealand's banking sector and the ever-present threat of scams. Our survey also found that more than 1 in 5 New Zealanders have fallen victim to a scam that has involved their bank account or a financial service. While some progress has been made by banks to address scams – following pressure from central government and advocates for banks to increase efforts to protect customers – New Zealand still lags behind other countries when it comes to banking technology. 'The pace of innovation in the sector has been glacial. Technologies like comprehensive open banking and real-time payments that could save consumers money and keep us safe are still on the 'to do' list for banks,' says Duffy. 'Our research also shows fewer than 3% of New Zealanders switch banks each year – one of the lowest switching rates of any service sector we monitor. 'Low switching rates and low satisfaction scores – particularly among banks with the biggest customer bases - is never a good sign for consumers. Banks are yet to deliver improvements to their switching services, as recommended by the Commerce Commission's market study to improve competition in the sector. "This is why we publish our annual satisfaction surveys. We strongly encourage people to do their homework and switch to a bank with higher customer satisfaction. It's easier than you might think and a powerful way to foster competition so that we can collectively raise the bar,' says Duffy. Key findings from Consumer's 2025 banking satisfaction survey The Co-operative Bank achieved the highest overall satisfaction score (77%) delivering consistent, above-average experiences across the board, particularly around digital banking, savings interest rates, and advice ANZ scored the lowest customer satisfaction rating (57%), with particularly low scores for interest on savings, fees, responsible lending, advice and overall value for money Consumer says the 20-point gap between the survey's top and bottom performers highlights just how much customer experience can differ between banks. The full survey results (paywalled) and methodology are available on Consumer's website: Best and worst banks in 2025. Note: Our data is from a nationally representative survey of 1,920 New Zealanders, aged 18 years and older, conducted online in February 2025 Ratings cover satisfaction across 17 key service areas. Satisfaction ratings show the proportion of respondents who scored their provider 8, 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied). Market share is based on the latest figures from the Banking Ombudsman Scheme Dashboard. Annual profit before tax figures are from each bank's latest financial disclosures.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis issues alert as three banks paying up to £175 to open accounts
Banks and building societies often offer cash incentives to new customers willing to make a full switch from their existing current account Martin Lewis has issued an alert as three major UK banks are now paying customers to open bank accounts. Banks and building societies often offer cash incentives to new customers willing to make a full switch from their existing current account. Martin issued the alert in the recent Money Saving Expert (MSE) newsletter. The Co-Operative Bank has launched a brand new switching offer. The new offer joins First Direct's switching incentive which is also paying £175, and Natwest which is paying £150. However, it's important to note that Natwest's offer is only for those who switch to its Reward Accounts, which have a monthly fee. To get the incentive when switching banks, you need to close and switch your current account using the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). This free service will move your balance, direct debits, and salary to the new bank within seven days. To get the bonus from the Co-operative Bank you must switch your account to a Co-op Standard Current Account, Current Account Plus, Privilege, Privilege Premier or Everyday Extra account. New customers will get £100 completing a bank switch to Co-op, and £25 each month for three months, giving a total of £175. To receive the first £100 payment, you will need to deposit a minimum of £1,000 into your accounts within 30 days. This can include balances transferred as part of the switch. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money WHATSAPP GROUP: Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. You must also transfer two active direct debits and make a minimum of 10 card transactions. You must also register for Co-op's online or mobile banking service. To get the extra £75 - so three payments worth £25 a month - you must deposit a minimum of £1,000 into your account each month, have two active direct debits, and make a minimum of 10 debit card or digital wallet transactions. If you have received a switching incentive from the Co-operative Bank after November 1, 2022, you will not be eligible for the bonus. Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics For all you savvy savers and bargain hunters out there, there's a golden opportunity to stretch your pounds further. The Money Saving Club newsletter, a favourite among thousands who thrive on catching the best deals, is stepping up its game. Simply follow the link and select one or more of the following topics to get all the latest deals and advice on: Travel; Property; Pets, family and home; Personal finance; Shopping and discounts; Utilities. However, even with the new offer Martin Lewis - who regularly encourages households to take advantage of bank switching deals - says that First Direct is still the "overall top pick". In the MSE newsletter, he explained: "As well as giving newbies a free £175, it's top rated for service (92% 'great'), has a top debit card for using abroad, a linked 7% regular saver, and a £250 0% overdraft for many." To get the incentive with First Direct, you will need to deposit at least £1,000 and open two direct debits or standing orders from the account within 30 days of opening it. You must also register and log onto digital banking within 45 days of the account opening, and make five debit card payments.
