A spirited young woman leaves behind her life at her rural home and moves to Sanditon, a fishing village looking to re-establish itself as a seaside resort town.

Tom Parker is obsessed with turning the sleepy seaside village of Sanditon into a fashionable health resort, enlisting the backing of local bigwig Lady Denham. Through a mishap, Tom makes the acquaintance of the Heywoods and invites their eldest daughter, Charlotte, for an extended stay at Sanditon. Meanwhile, Lady Denham, a widow, is playing matchmaker for her destitute nephew, Sir Edward, who is determined to seduce Lady Denham's ward, Clara.