Orihuela, Mijas and Calvià are the three places in Spain with the highest proportion of British residents living there. Discover if it would suit you to call them home too.
Orihuela, where 1 in 8 residents are British, the highest proportion in all of Spain.
Do you dream of owning a home in Spain but feel anxious about it because your Spanish language skills aren’t quite up to scratch? Would you like to live near a British pub to watch sports from? Would you like to taste fish and chips that transports you to childhood summers in Margate or Whitby?
We all have different pluses and minuses when it comes to buying a home overseas. Some of us would prefer a home where there’s not another Brit for miles around (or even any kind of neighbour). But if you would like to move somewhere that feels familiar, then you may be interested in searching for a home in a region with a large proportion of British people already living there. This can make it easier to find schools, a job and let’s be honest, it can take the edge off any homesickness.
According to the Express, one in ten UK passport holders (roughly 5.5 million) live abroad. Many opt for the ease of moving to an English-speaking country, such as Australia (1.3 million), the USA (700,00) and Canada (530,000). A total of 1.3 million live in the EU. Furthermore, over 300,000 people move to Spain for its winning combination of gorgeous Costas, over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year (twice that of the UK) and lower cost of living. Plus, it goes without saying that it is heaps nearer than Canada or Australia.
To dig deeper into this trend of Brits seeking home in Spain, the Express uncovered the locations with the highest proportion of British residents.
Orihuela, in the southern Costa Blanca, came out on top. Incredibly, one in eight (10,000) residents in Orihuela are British. In second place was Mijas in Andalusia where one in ten are UK nationals. While third place goes to Calvià, on the Balearic island of Majorca.
Spain’s expat hotspots. Source, Express.
Find homes in Costa Blanca via our property portal.
1st: Orihuela
Fancy adding your umbrella?
Orihuela is divided between the old town inland and the coast. Known for its 16km coastline with splendid Blue Flag beaches and golf courses, such as Villamartin, Campoamor and Las Ramblas. For a spot of nature, you also have the Sierra de Orihuela mountains, which are excellent for hiking and cycling. Shoppers will be pleased to learn that Orihuela is home to Alicante province’s largest shopping centre, Zenia Boulevard. From designer to Highstreet, it has 150 shops, including favourites like Zara, Bershka and H&M. It also has cafes and restaurants, a children’s section, a bowling alley and arcade. Weather wise, Orihuela boasts of 320 days of sunshine a year and an annual average temperature of 20 degrees.
Orihuela is about a thirty-five-minute drive away from Alicante International Airport, where you can get a budget-friendly flight to the UK whatever the time of year.
When it comes to property for sale in Orihuela, there’s a real variety. In the more rural areas, you can find a home in need of some TLC for as little as €50,000. But it also easily to find a one- or two-bedroom apartment for upwards of €100,000. Orihuela is full of new builds, often, these homes come with great amenities like communal gardens, swimming pool and closeness to the beach. If you are after a family villa, Orihuela is a great place to look, a budget of €500,00 will get you one with amazing sea views.
2nd: Mijas
Pretty Mijas.
Mijas is as pretty as a picture with a mountainside white-washed traditional Andalusian village. It also has 12km of coastline, including the sought-after resort La Cala de Mijas and other Blue Flag beaches. There are also great golf courses nearby. Mijas enjoys from long summers and short winters. July and August are the hottest with an average daily maximum of 31°C. Even January, the coldest month, can see highs of 18°C. Fortunately, Mijas is a stress-free 18 minute drive to Malaga Airport.
3rd: Calvià
Would Calvià fit you like a glove?
Located in the southwest of Majorca, Calvià riffs between a pretty historical town and an administrative hub (very handy). It is also close to the fabulous beach resorts of Magaluf and Palma Nova. With its rocky cliffs, Calvià is a visual treat too. June through to early October sees warmish weather, with August grabbing highs of 31 degrees. Calvià is just a twenty-minute drive from Palma Mallorca Airport.
