Looe - Harding Laity Estate Agents

A thriving town overlooking the South-East Cornish coastline!

Connected by a seven arch bridge, East Looe and West Looe come together as one community that really does have it all. On one side you have the lively bustle around the shops and beach and on the other, some stunning vantage points to look back over the harbour, town, beach and Banjo Pier.

There’s plenty of things to do in Looe throughout the whole year and it’s certainly not one of those towns that shuts down in the winter, fuelled by a growing population and a popular location from surrounding towns and villages. As a working fishing port, it’s one of the very best places to live in order to take advantage of fresh seafood right on your doorstep!

Location & transport links

Looe might be off the beaten track, yet it is still within easy reach of surrounding towns. Both the A38 and the A30 are within a 30 minute drive from where you can continue your journey further into Cornwall. Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth, may be across the border in Devon but is only 20 miles away, accessible via the A38 and over the Tamar Bridge or alternatively, on the Torpoint ferry across the Tamar River.

Regular bus services run to and from Liskeard and Plymouth and the scenic Looe Valley Line, an 8.5 mile stretch of railway, follows the river through the valleys between Looe and Liskeard where you can join the mainline services that connect you to the rest of the country; Exeter (90 mins), Bristol (2 hours) and London (4 hours).

Places to eat & drink

Where to start? Looe is bursting with pubs and restaurants! Along the main street in East Looe there is a variety of cuisine and eateries including Thai restaurant “Ocean and Earth”. There’s also a Chinese and two Indian restaurants as well as the quirky, local restaurants and cafes, many of which offer fresh same-day catch that the fishermen have bought back to the local working quay.

You won’t go thirsty either, there is a widespread choice of pubs and bars to go for a drink whether you want somewhere to watch the boats returning to the harbour, listen to a live band or enjoy a “shanty” night. A seaside venue is never complete without a fish and chip shop with Looe boasting five! If you fancy a change of scenery, near-by Polperro is famed for it’s restaurants and annual feast-week.

Local amenities

Benefiting from a Co-Op store on the main street as well as various other convenience stores dotted around the town. The town has numerous butchers, bakeries and food stores, a 24-hour petrol, many clothing outlets, gift shops and lifestyle shops making it a great place for those who like to shop! The is a doctors surgery, two pharmacies, including a Boots along with a dental practice, all within a close walking distance to the town centre.

When you’ve made it past all the shops and cafes, you will reach the sea front and Looe Beach. Sheltered by the rocks on one side and the Banjo Pier that separates the harbour, East Looe beach has plenty of sandy space to lay down your towel. Or, you can take a seat on the large stone steps along the seafront, perfect for watching the world go by.

For a lovely coastal stroll, you can take the steps up to the coastal path leading East towards nearby Plaidy and Millendreath beaches. Alernatively, it’s always nice to walk to close-by Hannafore and along the promenade of the dog-friendly rocky beach. Here, you can enjoy views over to Looe Island, inhabited only by wildlife. Talland Bay and Polperro are also accessible from a coastal path to make Looe the perfect spot for those who enjoy coastal walking.

If you like to have a busy, social calendar, Looe is most definitely the place for you! There are many events throughout the year including Carnival Week, held in the summer to help support local charities. Soon after, Looe Live takes place in September and the streets are filled with music and arts in a whole town take-over. In the winter,

Looe comes alive and has been noted as one of the top places to be in the UK to celebrate New Years Eve with its traditional custom to be in fancy dress! Two firework displays are let off from the Banjo Pier throughout the evening and the streets become a sea of locals and tourists, all in great-spirit! Clear the cobwebs the next day by taking part in the annual New Year’s Day swim!

Housing

With a mixture of charming cottages and impressive townhouses either tucked away in the small, narrow streets, perched upon the hills or standing tall looking out over the harbour and sea, it’s no wonder that house prices in Looe have increased by almost 25% over the last 5 years, the average house is now valued at £275,000.

The town has become the ideal location for some super modern homes as developers look to take advantage of the prime coastal views. If you have children, they can attend Looe Primary before heading down the road to secondary school, Looe Academy and with several new-build housing developments popping up around the town, there’s no shortage of choice for first time buyers and families.

There’s no doubt that Looe is an enviable place to live and which is why the population continues to steadily rise to a latest 2017 estimate of around 5213 residents. With it’s close proximity to Plymouth and accessible to the A38 to either east or west Cornwall, it’s not surprising that Looe is becoming increasingly popular as a place to call home.