Property agents are recording a rise in people looking to enjoy a more quiet life in Britain's lush green countryside.
Three in five estate agents at Savills have reported seeing a rise in demand for rental properties in some of the country's most desirable countryside locations throughout the pandemic. Meanwhile, Knight Frank reported making the most country sales in 15 years - with an increase of registered potential buyers up by 35 per cent last year.
It is believed that many tenants are spending vast amounts of money renting in less sought-after areas over months and years while waiting for the ideal place to pop up in the right village. Out of all these potential buyers, more than half are unable to buy what they want and are therefore renting instead, the Mirror reports.
Read more: The 10 cheapest homes that sold in Greater Manchester for less than £50,000 this year
Frances Clacy, an analyst at Savills, provides an explanation for this trend. She told The Telegraph : "People want villages that have a bit of everything from schools to stunning countryside, with accessibility to cities and transport infrastructure."
"Less well-trumpeted factors count too, such as the main road through the village should only lead to other villages." It is also believed that the older and greener a village is, the more attractive it is to potential buyers, while historical and strong community ties are also important factors.
Research by Savills has revealed what they believe to be the most desirable Countryside locations across Britain. Here's the list in full.
Bedfordshire
Studham was named one of the best places to live in lockdown by Savills, containing an average property price of around £700,500. It is located in the Chiltern Hills area and offers a good primary school, a picturesque common, hiking trails and a pub dating back to 1502.
Berkshire
Sunningdale tops the list of sought-after villages in Berkshire, containing good links to London as well as a variety of French cuisine and its own Waitrose. However, the average home here will set you back a painful £1,101,285 with easy access to the countryside.
Buckinghamshire
Also with an average price tag above £1 million, Turville comes first place among countryside buyers in neighbouring Buckinghamshire. This village, where properties cost an average of £1,463,240, is nestled within the Chiltern Hills featuring 16th-century cottages, an excellent pub, a church, nursery and riding centre.
The beloved Cobstone Windmill appeared in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang while its setting was used in The Vicar of Dibley and Killing Eve.
Cambridgeshire
Hemingford Abbots is among the most popular villages in Cambridgeshire, with its wildflower meadows, 500-year-old pub and Roman origins. With an average house price of £829,437, it also benefits from a village hall, playing fields and community events including its much-loved flower festival.
Cheshire
Nether Alderley is the more subtle version of the achingly hip Alderley Edge. With the Grade I-listed St Mary’s church at its centre, it sits within what is known as the Cheshire Golden Triangle, the poshest bit of the Cheshire countryside, where plenty of high-profile, Manchester-based footballers choose to reside.
The Beckhams once owned a house in Nether Alderley. The Alderley wins most hearts in Cheshire and makes up the Cheshire Golden Triangle, known as the poshest part of the local countryside with prices averaging at £1,268,175.
Clwyd
Vale of Conwy in Wales contains lush green hills between rocky Snowdonia and the moors of Mynydd Hiraethog. The average property costs £363,214 with surrounding farmland, riverbanks and a local church and pub to enjoy.
Cornwall
Rock tops the charts for Cornwall with an average property price of £1,080,534. The village became more popular after the royals holidayed there in the 90s and gained a foodie reputation with Gordon Ramsay among its residents.
County Durham
Brancepeth proves most popular in County Durham with its ivy-covered cottages, impressive golf course and 12th-century castle with a cafe at its gates. There is also an active village hall, while house prices average at £390,238.
Cumbria
Hawkshead tops the charts for Cumbria with an average property price of £460,001. The market village has links to Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth and boasts a collection of old arches, squares and stone houses.
Despite being one of the most established and affordable in the county, it is also one of the more affordable compared to Cartmel Fell, which averages almost double at £803,980.
Denbighshire
The community-run shop and friendly atmosphere of Llanarmon-yn-Ial make it the area's most sought which is pegged on by its close proximity to Offa's Dyke Path. The Welsh village has a strong neighbourly spirit with live music, quizzes and curry nights at the Raven Inn, a community choir and local panto.
Derbyshire
Edensor wins in Derbyshire where homes rarely hit the market and average £670,644. Landowners and residents often look after the grounds in this region, with Edensor commissioned by the 6th Duke of Devonshire to house the estate workers of Chatsworth House and grounds in 1839.
There is also a picturesque church which houses the grave of JFK's sister Kathleen Kennedy.
Devon
With an average price of £999,000, South Pool is Devon's most sought-after rural location. The village boasts a Grade I listed 12th-century church and the award-winning Millbrook.
It also benefits from a cosy gastro-pub and community-run events including its famous charity duck race.
Dorset
Studland's sandy beaches and fine dining are what helps give it its popularity with an average price of £972,831. At its heart, residents enjoy a village store with post office and a B&B for visiting beachgoers.
It also boasts transport links to Poole and the beautiful nearby Studland Bay in between the white cliffs, where there is even a nudist beach
East Lothian
Gullane has been named the most desirable village in East Lothian, with an average house cost of £356,615. Art galleries, museums, and excellent restaurants are tucked away in this Scottish village which is popular among windsurfers.
Meanwhile, its charming centre is surrounded by large villas and three golf courses.
East Riding of Yorkshire
Sutton upon Derwent performs best in the East Riding of Yorkshire thanks to its well-established sports clubs including cricket, tennis and balls. The countryside hub also offers a popular pub, a primary school and village events with an average house price of £409,071.
East Sussex
Kingston-near-Lewes is one of East Sussex's most desirable villages with an average house price of £782,339. Locate two miles from Lewes, the community runs an energy project and pavillion with a living roof and is just one mile from the famous South Downs Way.
The area also holds a variety of social events including bridge nights, yoga classes and whisky tasting while its 13th-century church and country pub add to its picturesque setting.
Essex
Ramsden Bellhouse tops the chart for Essex with its close links to London and nearby grammar schools. Overall, prices average £1,017,722, while the area boasts a village hall and the extremely popular Fox & Hound pub.
Fife
Elie in Fife averages around £349,950 for a house. For this, the village offers five beaches, a gallery and a farm shop.
It also comes with a 16th-century harbour and tennis club with Michelin-starred Peat Inn restaurant.
Gloucestershire
Bourton-on-the-Hill is one of the most charming villages in Gloucestershire with its country pub, cottages and Soho Farmhouse celebrity hangout. Prices range from £325,000 to more than £2 million and average at £799,348.
Greater Manchester
For Greater Manchester, Haigh in Wigan is a comfy village haven. The area is home to Haigh Woodland Park mansion and the striking Haigh Hall.
House prices average at £257,020 and offer a lush rural setting surrounded by trees and greenery. The restored Haigh Windmill, built in the early 1800s, and Haigh Woodland Park, with winding nature trails, are favourites among residents.
Hampshire
Beaulieu was ranked Hampshire's most popular village with its 16th-century high street, artisan shops and stunning countryside. The chocolate-box village borders the New Forest and offers a range of state and private schools, with an average houses price of £1,524,287.
Herefordshire
Bosbury was named the poshest village in Herefordshire with an average property price of £452,954. Residents love the monthly farmers' market, cricket and tennis clubs, and village hall events including pilates and film nights. There is also a historic church, with 13th-century bell tower, that served as a refuge for parishioners in troubling times.
Hertfordshire
Little Gaddesden is nestled within an area of outstanding natural beauty, with a high average house price of £1,333,501 which is driven by its proximity to Berkhamsted market town. Popular among London commuters, the village offers tennis and cricket clubs and is full of character with a local shop, post office, and primary school.
Isle of Wight
With an average house price of £509,356, Fishbourne offers a posh way of life sailing at Royal Victoria Yacht Club and easy access to the idyllic beaches of Portsmouth. UK tourists clocked to the Isle of Wight during the pandemic with many deciding to buy a house there.
Kent
Ightham oozes British countryside charm with its traditional listed cottages, farm produce shop and National Trust-run medieval house Ightham Mote. The village also features big detached modern mansions and a Waitrose supermarket within a five-minute drive. The average house price is £836,260, with another selling point being its proximity to Sevenoaks.
Lancashire
Residents are spoilt for choice when it comes to good pubs and country walks in Great Eccleston , which carries an average property price tag of £430,630. The area is known for its annual agricultural show and tractor-pulling event which creates a great community atmosphere along with its bustling farmers' market and clothes boutique.
Leicestershire
Newtown Linford tops the list in Leicestershire with an array of unusual features including one of few surviving police boxes in Britain. It also comes with a private members' club which was originally part of the British Legion. The club's skittle alley was used as a temporary factory to create aircraft parts during the Second World War and now hosts rock 'n' roll events, Brownie meetings and exercise classes. House prices come in at £692,157 on average.
Lincolnshire
Uffington hosts a lively community with its annual scarecrow festival, horse trials and golf club at the nearby Burghley House. A thatched-roof 17th-century pub and church steeple standing amid the treetops are what give the village its charm.
House prices come in at an average of £467,548.
Merseyside
The quaint, coastal village of Hightown is a favourite for those seeking countryside living in Merseyside with an average house price of £299,304. Featuring sandy beaches, dunes and wetlands, the village is full of wildlife and offers open views of the surrounding farmland and seaside.
Monmouthshire
Another rural hotspot in Wales, Shirenewton offers beautiful views of the Severn Estuary and an unrivalled sense of village community. It is the biggest of three villages that are tucked between the Usk and Wye valleys in the Monmouthshire hills, with an average house price of £474,775. The village boasts a primary school, yoga and several pubs and is known for its famous Christingle service with women bringing donkeys.
Norfolk
Known as 'Chelse-on-Sea', Burnham Market is brimming with antique shops, boutiques, and fashionable hotels and restaurants. Properties cost an average £826,770 and the area is surrounded by nature reserves and the nearby Brancaster Beach.
North Yorkshire
Kirkby Overblow is located in a cluster of scenic villages and stands out for its large family homes and fantastic pubs. Homes cost an average of £698,656 and benefit from a local school and quiet countryside setting.
Northamptonshire
Church with Chapel Brampton is nicknamed "millionaire's village" with an average property price of £681,450. Its posh charm comes from its popular farm shop, historic pub and riding school as well as its quaint houses.
Northumberland
The medieval village of Warkworth fights for its place with three pubs and historic setting including Warkworth Castle. It is almost completely surrounded by the meandering River Coquet and has been described as a scene from a storybook. Average house prices come in at £289,459.
Nottinghamshire
Colston Bassett is a foodie's rural dream with the award-winning Martin's Arms village pub and England cricketer Stuart Board's pub Tap & Run. The village is home to Colston Bassett Stilton, arguably the king of British blue cheese, and even hosts its own spa.
Oxfordshire
The riverside village of Harpsden is on the borders of the Chiltern Hills and Henley-on-Thames with great links to London and Reading. Demand spiked during the pandemic, according to Knight Frank, with city goers flocking for its golf club, picturesque houses and breadth of nature trails. The average property price will set you back at £1,307,182
Pembrokeshire
With an average house price of just £219,555, Newgale and Roch is the top choice when it comes to rural living in Pembrokeshire. The village benefits from an excellent pub and fish and chip shop, great seafood and a two-mile stretch of sandy beach.
The area is popular among surfers, kite surfers and sea anglers with the majority of houses set back from the coast along with a pub, shop, chippy, and crab and lobster takeaway.
Perthshire
Strathtay has won homeowners over with its Victorian architecture, stunning wildlife, pub selection and 1909 golf course. Residents share the village with its red squirrel population while the nearby woodland is blanketed with bluebells in springtime. House prices cost an average £287,476.
Rutland
With its fascinating local history and waterside setting, Burley allows its residents to play lord of the manor in the mansion at Burley, offering a mix of grand apartments with an average price of £737,762. The building inspired many poets and was partly destroyed by a fire in 1908 during an event attended by Winston Churchill. It is now part of a 67-acre housing estate in the hamlet of Burley, overlooking Rutland Water.
Shropshire
Cound tops the charts for the most desirable countryside living in Shropshire, with properties costing £454,587 on average. This ancient village turned commuter's paradise boasts 68 listed buildings plus a village cricket and tennis club within its close-knit community.
Somerset
The bustling village community of Wellow is what adds to its charm in Somerset, where houses cost an average of £954,993. Residents enjoy a village shop, good stables, monthly newsletter and excellent pub. There is also a church, primary school, and tennis courts.
South Yorkshire
The beautiful village of Cawthorne was once an iron and coal mining community. It was also the original seat of the aristocratic Spencer-Stanhope family at Cannon Hall which is now a popular attraction with its 70 acres of parkland, fine arts museum and Victorian kitchen. The Spencer Arms pub is also named after the dynasty at the village, where house prices cost an average £512,288.
Staffordshire
Shenstone offers a beautiful countryside setting as well as excellent transport links to Birmingham and London. It boasts a list of famous former residents including Helen Baxendale and William Parker. Lichfield Trent Valley station is just a 10-minute drive away, with a direct train link to London Euston, making it popular among those still wanting to access the city. The average house price is currently £575,613.
Stirling and Falkirk
Beloved for its highland malt whisky distillery and village hall, Kilearn is found near the north western end of the Campsie Fells, just 17 miles from Glasgow. Average house prices are £315,927 in the village, which also plays host to a theatre school and popular cafe. The church village hall puts on a range of events including yoga and baby music classes.
Suffolk
Walberswick is an artistic hub set back from a shingle and sandy beach in Suffolk, with an average house price of £832,131. English impressionist artists were drawn to its beach, dunes and mudflats where deer and otters can be spotted on the banks of the River Blyth. It now hosts a charming pub and a lively community with events including the annual crabbing contest.
Surrey
Located within an area of outstanding natural beauty, Shackleford dates back to the 14th century and has an average house price of £1,161,183. A shop, primary school and pub feature in the village which includes the former home of Ashley Cole and Cheryl complete with its own helipad.
Tyne & Wear
The small village of Dinnington comes with a church, village hall and average house prices of £210,671. The popular Masons Arms pub overlooks a green at the medieval settlement which dates back to the 13th century. Other amenities include a doctor's surgery, primary school and social club. Adding to its allure, the village is located near Ponteland and Darras Hall, the millionaire’s row of the north home to many footballers.
Warwickshire
With an average house price of £901,115, Whichford is popular among Cotswold commuters offering traditional village homes in a beautiful rural setting. Amenities include a cafe and pottery shop.
West Glamorgan
The medieval town of Oxwich dates back to the 6th century with an abundance of wildlife at its nature reserve. The Welsh village is full of history with an ancient church shrouded in myth, and smuggling stories from the 1500s. Traditional fishermen's cottages, including some thatched, add to its charm while other features include a post office and hotel. It is located just 11 miles from Swansea while average house prices cost £309,519.
West Midlands
Barston offers rural charm with good transport links to Birmingham. Bordered by the River Blythe, it offers scenic countryside views despite being a five-minute drive to the M42, with Birmingham trains running from the neighbouring village of Knowle. House prices cost an average of £571,202.
West Sussex
The Lurgashall, Lodsworth and Lickfold Triangle is the most desirable village setting in West Sussex with an average house price of £1,055,250. The area is nestled within the South Downs National Park with a 16th-century pub and garden along with many more pub and restaurant choices. Other amenities include a shop, church, campsite and surrounding farmland.
West Yorkshire
Scarcroft is a popular horse racing hub which backs onto a nature reserve on the outskirts of Leeds. The area offers a good primary school and average house prices of £630,325.
Wiltshire
Avebury earns its place as the most desirable village in Wiltshire thanks to its wildflower meadows, thatched cottages and prehistoric henge and stone circles maintained by National Trust.
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