Ampthill - Bedfordshire

After a gorgeous market town, where you can't move for independent shops and restaurants? Ampthill may well be the one for you. This pretty riverside town has oodles of character, and great independents. and as they say, it's very much 'on the up' right now.

Newbury - Berkshire

Soak up the history, river location and period architecture, Newbury is a vibrant market town with a buzzy foodie scene and indie shops aplenty, that's just a stone's throw from open countryside.

Marlow - Buckinghamshire

Well-heeled Marlow is a dead cert for city dwellers thanks to the super-speedy London commute, fabulous shopping and Michelin-starred foodie scene (courtesy of local boy Tom Kerridge).

Ely - Cambridgeshire

This fenland town has a lot going for it - direct trains to Cambridge and London, indies aplenty and of course the cathedral. Rolling hills there are not, but the flat, water-logged countryside has a strange kind of beauty you'll come to love.

Falmouth - Cornwall

This laid back, pretty waterside university town has an arty feel and has an attractive town centre, surrounded by beautiful Cornish countryside.

Topsham - Devon

Want a waterside location but without the tourists and schlep to the shops? Welcome to Topsham, an oh-so pretty, bijou town on the Exe estuary, less than five miles from the bright lights of Exeter.

Sherborne - Dorset

Picture postcard market town in north west Dorset with gorgeous medieval and Georgian properties, good schools, a magnificent abbey and not one but two castles.

Saffron Walden - Essex

Cosy pubs, a medieval market town and more country walks than you can shake a wellie at. Here's how SW serves up a slice of the good life.

Cheltenham - Gloucestershire

Cheltenham Spa gives you one of the poshest postcodes in Glos, with top-drawer schools, leafy Regency streets and an arts, culture and shopping scene to rival the capital. Worthy of the weighty price-tag? Read on to find out.

Lymington - Hampshire & IOW

Perched between the forest and the sea, Lymington is the best of both worlds when it comes to countryside living.

Hitchin - Hertfordshire

I'm just going to come out and and say it - I am in love with Hitchin. This super convenient commuter town has everything you could possibly want, and more.

Sevenoaks - Kent

Craving the rolling hills of rural west Kent but still want an easy commute into London and a busy social scene?. Sevenoaks could be just the ticket although – be warned – it’ll cost!

Market Harborough - Leicestershire & Rutland

Great shopping, beautiful buildings and a growing arts and culture scene, you'll be hard pushed to find a better place to live than this pretty market town plus, it's easy to head to the city when required..

Earls Barton - Northamptonshire

Looking for loft living but want to ditch the Shoreditch price tag? Welcome to Earls Barton where the legacy of the Northants shoe industry lives on in warehouse conversions and, for the wine lovers, there's even a local vineyard.

Norwich - Norfolk

With its indie shops, buzzy cultural scene and riverside walks Norwich is one of the UK's coolest cities with a radical history and vibrant future-facing energy.

Jericho - Oxfordshire

For those who're not quite ready to ditch city life Jericho is a happy middle ground - its foodie scene punches well above its weight, plus you're a stone's throw from central Oxford.

Langport - Somerset

Thriving laid back indies and a spirit to match on the edge of the Somerset Levels (and with the possible return of the railway it could be a good time to buy).

Godalming - Surrey

A pretty historic market town on the River Wey, with an impressive high street bulging with independents.

Southwold - Suffolk

Want to feel like you’re on holiday every day? Time to move to this scenic seaside town with fabulous architecture, great pubs, hot hotels, sandy bay and colourful beach huts.

Chichester - Sussex

Bright lights, cathedral city. The administrative capital of West Sussex is pastoral and quaint with fine dining galore and indie HQ Draper's Yard.

Henley-in-Arden - Warwickshire

The one-mile long High Street here is a conservation area with more than 150 buildings of historic interest, close to the lush ancient Forest of Arden and Stratford.

Malmesbury - Wiltshire

A charming market town with plenty of indy shops, cafes and a fabulous newly refurbished hotel.

Tenbury Wells - Worcestershire

Keen to leave behind the stresses of the city but not willing to compromise on your foodie and arts scene passions? Then get your sat nav firmly pinned on Tenbury Wells.