The beautiful Bedfordshire village of Studham has just been crowned the UK's 'most desirable' place to live.
According to new research by Savills for The Telegraph, 60% of estate agents reported a rise for rental homes in the most aspirational countryside locations during the pandemic — with 57% saying that demand was coming from those were unable to afford their dream location.
The research is based on house prices in villages around the country, taking into consideration factors like the highest property prices, transport links, best lifestyle amenities, and their 'chocolate box' appeal. Demand for city life might be bustling once again, but there is still a desire to settle down in a thatched cottage away from it all.
As well as Studham, some of the UK's desirable villages also include Rock in Cornwall, Turville, Buckinghamshire, and Cumbria's Hawkshead.
"People want villages that have a bit of everything, from schools to stunning countryside, with accessibility to cities and transport infrastructure," Savills analyst, Frances Clacy, said. "Less well-trumpeted factors count too, such as the main road through the village should only lead to other villages."
Take a look at the full list of places below...
54 most desirable villages in the UK:
- Studham, Bedfordshire
- Sunningdale, Berkshire
- Turville, Buckinghamshire
- Hemingford Abbots, Cambridgeshire
- The Alderleys, Cheshire
- Rowen, Clwyd
- Rock, Cornwall
- Brancepeth, County Durham
- Hawkshead, Cumbria
- Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, Denbighshire
- Edensor, Derbyshire
- South Pool, Devon
- Studland, Dorset
- Gullane, East Lothian
- Sutton upon Derwent, East Riding of Yorkshire
- Kingston-near-Lewes, East Sussex
- Ramsden Bellhouse, Essex
- Elie, Fife
- Bourton-on-the-hill, Gloucestershire
- Haigh, Greater Manchester
- Beaulieu, Hampshire
- Bosbury, Herefordshire
- Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire
- Fishbourne, Isle of Wight
- Ightham, Kent
- Great Eccleston, Lancashire
- Newton Linford, Leicestershire
- Uffington, Lincolnshire
- Hightown, Merseyside
- Shirenewton, Monmouthshire
- Burnham Market, Norfolk
- Kirkby Overblow, North Yorkshire
- Church with Chapel Brampton, Northamptonshire
- Warkworth, Northumberland
- Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire
- Harpsden, Oxfordshire
- Newgale and Roch, Pembrokeshire
- Strathtay, Perthshire
- Burley, Rutland
- Cound, Shropshire
- Wellow, Somerset
- Cawthorne, South Yorkshire
- Shenstone, Staffordshire
- Killearn, Stirling and Falkirk
- Walberswick, Suffolk
- Shackleford, Surrey
- Dinnington, Tyne & Wear
- Whichford, Warwickshire
- Oxwich, West Glamorgan
- Barston, West Midlands
- The Lurgashall, Lodsworth and Lickfold Triangle, West Sussex
- Scarcroft, West Yorkshire
- Avebury, Wiltshire
- Ombersley, Worcestershire
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
