Ilfracombe, a seaside town in North Devon, has been ranked as the most deprived area in Devon and one of the most deprived nationally, according to recent data. Around 30% of residents in the town centre face income hardship, while nearly 40% of children live in poverty. The town also has the lowest healthy life expectancy of any rural town in England, at just 59 years.
A visitor to Ilfracombe described the town as a 'town of two halves', with a stunning natural coastline contrasting sharply with a run-down town centre. The high street was eerily quiet on a weekday morning, with around a dozen boarded-up shops and neglected buildings. Overgrown footpaths off the main street indicated a lack of care, and independent retailers are struggling due to low footfall, online shopping, and high business rates.
Ilfracombe relies heavily on seasonal tourism, creating a cyclical problem where businesses scale back or close during quieter months. The town missed out on a significant £24m Levelling Up Fund bid, which could have supported infrastructure improvements and regeneration. Despite these challenges, the seafront offers spectacular views, with colourful Victorian buildings, a harbour dotted with fishing boats, and panoramic vistas out to Lundy Island and Wales.
The situation in Ilfracombe mirrors that of other Devon seaside towns, such as those in Torbay, which have also suffered decades of neglect. The visitor noted that while the natural beauty of the coastline is remarkable, many areas are in need of support to revitalise their town centres.
