One of the UK’s most affordable market towns is experiencing a tourism boom – and the locals are welcoming it with open arms.
House hunters can look for all kinds of things when aiming to put down some roots: from remote rural villages to bustling city living.
Perhaps that’s why market towns seem to tick all the boxes – often offering cosmopolitan cafe culture while also being surrounded by beautiful English countryside.
Guisborough – which is seen as the gate to the stunning North Yorkshire Moors – most definitely hits the spot when it comes to quaint countryside charm. And it also happens to be one of the UK’s most affordable market towns, with houses listed from just £60,000.
The properties are being snapped up and turned into holiday lets and Airbnbs according to Gary Robinson, 35, who runs Blossom Holiday Lets with his partner Claire Robinson, 37.
Mr Robinson, from Stockton, Teesside, says that there has been a surge in the amount of properties that are being let out to tourists in the town that has a tiny population of just 18,000. He says it now has 59 properties registered to Airbnb bringing in a collective £990,000 a year.
Houses listed on Rightmove in the town sell for as low as £60,000 and in 2022 Lloyd’s Bank revealed it was the seventh most affordable market town in the UK.
He said: “People go for different reasons but I think they like the nice calmness of it. The locals there are lovely, you can get away from the hustle and bustle and it’s just a nice place to be.
“You have access to the North York Moors, you’re right next to English Heritage sites, it’s nice and quiet, it’s out of the way but not too out of the way.”
Like Mr Robinson explains, there is lots for visitors to do on the doorstep – Gisborough Priory and Gisborough Hall are both gorgeous places to visit.
There are also plenty of opportunities for keen walkers, with woodland at the edge of the town and the locally renowned Roseberry Topping to climb – a hill that offers amazing views across spectacular countryside.
Steven Ivison, 53, is the landlord of The Ship on the high street in Guisborough. He runs the pub with his partner Caroline Breckon, 53.
He said: “There are more people coming in as we have bands on at the weekend. I do think that visitors are a good thing as it’s better for business. I do like living here.”
Nic Davis, 53, has lived in the area for 13 years and worked for Oxfam and Age UK. She was also keen to say how much she loves the area.
The mum of three boys and nana of one said: “I came here to get away and I call Guisborough home now – it takes me 20 minutes to walk up the high street as I know everyone. I class it as being a holiday living here.”
Derrick Langley, 70, owns Dandy Threads which is an award winning tailors attracting customers from around the world. His business is moving into new premises in the high street’s old Barclays Bank and he isn’t surprised at the town attracting interest.
“We have some of the most beautiful scenery and are located near to some of the most scenic coastal towns in the country,” said Mr Langley, referencing the town’s proximity to the beautiful beach resort of Saltburn.
Derrick’s son Nick Langley, 36, is the brand’s consultant director.
He added: “There is a charming centre and high street.”
Nick says it could do with a “few extra shops” but that there is “potential for growth.”
Their new store is opposite the recently renovated town hall – which includes trendy gin distillery Shorty’s Gin. A slew of cute coffee shops are also dotted up and down the main stretch.
He added: “It’s a nice place – we have the best of the moors and the sea: it’s just a nice town.”
His husband Chris Chamber has relocated to Guisborough from Croydon in south London – and thinks it’s far superior to where he was living.
He said: “People are more friendly and it’s a slower pace of life. I know them [passers by] all by their first name – I didn’t know anyone by name down south.
“It’s also more affordable – for the same price of a two bedroom home down south I have a five bedroom house here.”
Town councillor Andrew Hixon, 55, works in the petrochemical industry and is immensely proud of the area which he says wants to encourage tourism.
He said: “As someone who moved here from outside it’s a lovely welcoming community, steeped in history but also embracing change while maintaining its heritage.
“We are encouraging tourism as we are the gateway to the moors.”
