Britain's villages are booming with more people wanting to live in quaint countryside locations, according to property experts.
Three in five estate agents working for Savills saw a rise in demand for rental properties in the most desirable countryside spots during the pandemic.
While Knife Frank reported making the most country sales for 15 years, with the number of registered wannabe buyers up 35 per cent last year.
Many tenants are said to be spending a fortune renting in less sought after areas for months or even years while waiting for the right place to come up in the right village.
More than half of them are prospective buyers who are not yet able to buy what they want and decide to rent in the meantime.
Savills analyst Frances Clacy explains the reasons behind the 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."
The overall look of a village and its surroundings are also a factor, being the older and the greener the better. While history and a strong community feel are also important.
Research by Savills revealed the most desirable countryside locations across the UK.
Bedfordshire
Studham was named one of the best places to live in lockdown by Savills, with an average property price just shy of £700,500. The village is located in the Chiltern Hills offering a good primary school, a picturesque common, hiking trails and a pub dating back to 1502.
Berkshire
With good links to London, superb French cuisine and its very own Waitrose, Sunningdale tops the list of sought after villages in Berkshire. The average home will set you back by an eye watering £1,101,285 with great access to the countryside.
Buckinghamshire
Also with an average price tag above £1 million, Turville comes first place among countryside buyers in neighbouring Buckinghamshire. The tiny village, where properties cost an average £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 proves most popular 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 Alderleys wins most hearts in Cheshire and make up the Cheshire Golden Triangle, known as the poshest part of the local countryside with prices averaging at £1,268,175. Neter Alderley could be the most likely place to bump into a professional footballer, once home to the Beckhams and now a favourite among Manchester-based players.
Clwyd
Seemingly behind the expensive villages of the London commuter belt, the Vale of Conwy in Wales is no less picturesque with its lush green hills between rocky Snowdonia and the moors of Mynydd Hiraethog. The average property costs a much more affordable £363,214 with surrounding farmland, riverbanks and a local church and pub to enjoy.
Cornwall
The teen haunt of Prince William and Harry, Rock tops the charts for Cornwall with an average property price of £1,080,534. The village surged in popularity when 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
Cumbria's posh appeal goes to Hawkshead 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 after as well as its proximity to the stunning 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 the average price just shy of £1 million at £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
The sandy beach and fine dining at Studland 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 benefits from 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, costing an average £356,615 for house hunters. 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 East Riding of Yorkshire with 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
With a much higher average price tag of £782,339, Kingston-near-Lewes is East Sussex's most desirable village that is green in more ways than one. 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. Social events include bridge nights, yoga classes and whisky tasting while its 13th century church and country pub add to its picturesque setting.
Essex
Large plots, proximity to London and links to nearby grammar schools put Ramsden Bellhouse in first place among the most desirable villages of Essex. Prices are high overall, costing an average £1,017,722, while the area boasts a village hall and the extremely popular Fox & Hound pub.
Fife
Returning to the more affordable of Britain's poshest villages, Elie in Fife has an average house price of £349,951 and really earns it. The village offers five beaches, a gallery and farm shop, a 16th century harbour and tennis club with Michelin-starred Peat Inn restaurant.
The Scottish bay was transformed from a fishing village to a tourist destination by the Victorians who built large detached properties and flocked to its shores.
Gloucestershire
Ranking as the poshest village in Gloucestershire, Bourton-on-the-Hill packs a punch with its charming country pub, characterful cottages, and Soho Farmhouse celebrity hangout. Prices range from £325,000 to more than £2 million and average at £799,348.
Greater Manchester
Haigh is Greater Manchester's most desirable countryside haven, home to Haigh Woodland Park mansion and the magnificent Haigh Hall. With prices averaging at £257,020, the village offers a more affordable rural location surrounded by trees and just a few miles from Wigan. The restored Haigh Windmill, built in the early 1800s, and Haigh Woodland Park, with winding nature trails, are favourites among residents.
Hampshire
Positioned near the sailing hub of Lymington, Beaulieu was named Hampshire's finest 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 gives the village its charm. House prices come in at an average £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 story book. 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 at average price £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 not 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 £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 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 price cost an average £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.
The village also offers Georgian townhouses, a community-run shop, meadow walks and access to the Ridgeway trail which leads to Marlborough. The average house price is currently £422,413.
Worcestershire
Ombersley is brimming with characterful buildings and fine dining from butcher's and local pubs.
Savills has placed the village among its top five most beautiful places to live in the UK due to its stunning black and white timber properties. Amenities include a pub, butcher's and deli with the average house price coming in at £435,943.
