Whether renting or buying a home, many are looking for a more rural place to base themselves. In fact, 60 percent of real estate agents working for Savills nationwide reported an increase in demand for rental housing in the most desirable rural areas during the pandemic. With demand for housing high and housing stock low, 57 percent said demand came from those who couldn’t buy a home exactly where they wanted.
New research by Savills, exclusively for The Telegraph, has revealed the most desirable villages in each ceremonial country.
The research is based on real estate prices, lifestyle amenities and transport links.
But why are rural villages so in demand?
Frances Clay, Analyst at Savills, commented: “People want villages that have everything from schools to stunning countryside, with access to cities and transport infrastructure.
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In the north of Britain, Haigh in Greater Manchester made the list.
Residents of Haigh Woodland Park can enjoy miles of woodland walks and gardens.
Close to Wigan city center the area was the site of Greater Manchester’s only remaining windmill, built in 1845 and restored in 2011.
The average house price is currently £257,020.
In North Yorkshire, Kirkby Overblow has large family houses, good pubs and is close to other villages.
According to Savills’ Ed Stoyle, the average house price of £698,656 is being pulled up by the large family homes available.
He said: “It has all the things that make a village, like good pubs. It has a school and a quiet road leading to other villages.”
Cumbria is home to stunning villages including Hawkshead where buyers can expect around £460,001 for a house.
Although not the most expensive in the country, it is home to traditional inns and restaurants and has a lot of life.
Full list of the most popular villages:
Bedfordshire: Studham (average property price £700,494)
Berkshire: Sunningdale (average property price £1,101,285)
Buckinghamshire: Turville (average property price £1,463,240)
Cambridgeshire: Hemingford Abbots (average property price £829,437)
Cheshire: The Alderleys (average property price £1,268,175)
Clwyd: Rowen (average property price £363,214)
Cornwall: Rock (average property price £1,080,534)
County Durham: Brancepeth (average property price £390,238)
Cumbria: Hawkshead (average property price £460,001)
Denbighshire: Llanarmon-yn-Ial (average property price £290,118)
Derbyshire: Edensor (average property price £670,644)
Devon: South Pool (average property price £999,000)
Dorset: Studland (average property price £972,831)
East Lothian: Gullane (average property price £356,615)
East Riding of Yorkshire: Sutton upon Derwent (average property price £409,071)
East Sussex: Kingston-near Lewes (average property price £782,339)
Essex: Ramadan Bellhouse (average property price £1,017,722)
Fife: Elie (average property price £349,951)
Gloucestershire: Bourton-on-the-hill (average property price £799,348)
Greater Manchester: Haigh (average property price £257,020)
Hampshire: Beaulieu (average property price £1,524,287)
Herefordshire: Bosbury (average property price £452,954)
Hertfordshire: Little Gaddesden (average property price £1,333,501)
Isle of Wight: Fishbourne (average property price £509,356)
Kent: Ightham (average property price £836,260)
Lancashire: Great Eccleston (average property price £430,630)
Leicestershire: Newton Linford (average property price £692,157)
Lincolnshire: Uffington (average property price £467,548)
Merseysire: Hightwon (average property price £299,304)
Monmouthshire: Shirenewton (average property price £474,775)
Norfolk: Burnham Market (average property price £826,770)
North Yorkshire: Kirkby Overblow (average property price £698,656)
Northamptonshire: Church with Chapel Brampton (average property price £681,450)
Northumberland: Warkworth (average property price £289,459)
Nottinghamshire: Colston Bassett (average property price £786,955)
Oxfordshire: Harpsden (average property price £1,307,182)
Pembrokeshire: Newgale and Roch (average property price £219,555)
Perthshire: Strathtay (average property price £287,476)
Ruthland: Burley (average property price £737,762)
Shropshire: Cound (average property price £454,587)
Somerset: Wellow (average property price £954,993)
South Yorkshire: Cawthorne (average property price £512,288)
Staffordshire: Shenstone (average property price £575,613)
Stirling and Falkirk: Killearn (average property price £315,927)
Suffolk: Walberswick (average property price £832,131)
Surrey: Shackleford (average property price £1,161,183)
Tyne & Wear: Dinnington (average property price £210,671)
Warwickshire: Whichford (average property price £901,115)
West Glamorgan: Oxwich (average property price £309,519)
West Midlands: Barston (average property price £571,202)
West Sussex: The Lurgashall, Lodsworth and Lickfold Triangle (average property price £1,055,250)
West Yorkshire: Scarcroft (average property price £630,325)
Wiltshire: Avebury (average property price £422,413)
Worcestershire: Ombersley (average property price £435,943)