THE NEW HOTSPOTS Discover the UK places where property is booming

WHAT HOME MEANS TO ME Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones

PHOTOGRAPH CHRIS LOCK/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO FEATURE ARABELLA YOUENS

The new hotspots

Once the holy grail was to live in a village within an hour and a half of London. Now, buyers are casting their nets far wider

COMPETITION for the best houses is fierce, warns Philip Harvey of Property Vision. Not only is there plenty of interest from Londoners but also from people currently based in the ‘shires’ moving further out in search of unspoiled countryside, quieter roads, fewer chimney pots and the all-important decent broadband. So where are 2021’s must-lives and what can you get for £1m? Read on…

BRUTON-CASTLE CARY-WINCANTON TRIANGLE, SOMERSET ■ Known for Bruton – which saw the biggest increase in buyers searching for places to move in 2020, according to Rightmove. They included George Osborne who bought a house last year. Nearby are Babington House and The Newt in Somerset, a hotel and spa, and plenty of well-known locals including Alice Temperley. ■ The prettiest villages Pilton, Batcombe and East Pennard. ■ Schools to know about Sexey’s – one of the only state-funded boarding schools in the country, which (despite poor recent Ofsted reviews) is still locally well-regarded, says buying agent Jess Simpson. Independent schools include Hazelgrove, All Hallows and King’s Bruton. ■ Connected to the city Fast trains from Castle Cary to Paddington take one hour, 35 minutes. ■ Don’t miss The garden at Hauser & Wirth designed by Piet Oudolf. ■ £1m would buy you A detached four-bedroom house within walking distance of Bruton high street.

THE CHALKE VALLEY, WILTSHIRE ■ Known for It’s one of the prettiest – and least accessible – of the five river valleys that descend into Salisbury; it forms part of the Cranborne Chase AONB. Until recently, the major challenge was lack of mobile signal and broadband but enterprising locals addressed this by establishing Ch4lke, which hopes to deliver 5G connectivity shortly. ■ The prettiest villages Broad Chalke, where Savills

Broad Chalke in Wiltshire, viewed from Knighton Hill

sold Cecil Beaton’s former home Reddish House last year; it has an award-winning volunteer-run village shop and post office. Others include Bowerchalke, Ebbesborne Wake and Coombe Bissett. ■ Schools to know about Sandroyd, Port Regis, Clayesmore, Salisbury Cathedral School, Godolphin School and Bryanston. ■ Connected to the city Trains from Salisbury to London Waterloo take 90 minutes. ■ Don’t miss The annual Chalke Valley History Festival (21-27 June, 2021). ■ £1m would buy A thatched cottage with four bedrooms with change to spend on the move. →

“PEOPLE IN THE ‘SHIRES’ ARE MOVING FURTHER OUT IN SEARCH OF UNSPOILED COUNTRYSIDE AND DECENT BROADBAND”

CHICHESTER HARBOUR, WEST SUSSEX ■ Known for Sailing and paddle-boarding in the harbour as well as easy access to cultural highlights in Chichester (the Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery among them). Then there are the beaches of the Witterings and, to the north, acres of countryside within the South Downs National Park. ■ The prettiest villages Harbourside villages of Itchenor and Bosham and others including Funtington (which has an excellent farm shop) and Lavant. ■ Schools to know about Prep school Westbourne House School, Churcher’s College and Bedales. ■ Connected to the city Fast trains to Victoria from Chichester take one hour, 30 minutes. ■ Don’t miss Getting out on the water – learn to sail at either the Bosham or Itchenor sailing clubs. ■ £1m would buy A contemporary three-bedroom house just yards from the harbour in Bosham.

OAKHAM, RUTLAND ■ Known for It’s the largest town in England’s smallest county, and home to some pretty Georgian architecture and independent shops and restaurants. ■ The prettiest villages Braunston, Empingham and Edith Weston (which has a good shop). ■ Schools to know about Catmose College was rated outstanding by Ofsted and Harington School, a sixth-form college is highly regarded. There are two established independents Oakham and Uppingham. ■ Connected to the city Oakham to King’s Cross takes 90 minutes (changing at Peterborough) but many drive to Peterborough for direct links (49 minutes). ■ Don’t miss Rutland Water, a nature reserve and a

Hide at Lyndon Nature Reserve, Rutland Water

paradise for bird watchers. There is a 23-mile trail around it as well as water sports, fishing and swimming. ■ £1m would buy A four-bedroom village house with half an acre of garden.

WOODBRIDGE, SUFFOLK ■ Known for Its buzzy community, which attracts creatives – it has a cinema, theatre and various galleries – as well as interesting shops and places to eat. ■ The prettiest villages Melton (which has a farm shop and a station), Waldringfield and Orford. ■ Schools to know about State secondary Farlingaye High is popular while independents are Framlingham College, Woodbridge School and Ipswich School. ■ Connected to the city Locals often drive to Manningtree in Essex (30 minutes) where fast trains to Liverpool Street take 1 hour, 10 minutes. ■ Don’t miss The beach at Shingle Street in the spring and summer when it is covered with wildflowers; the antiques shops in Framlingham. ■ £1m will buy A large family house with a garden in central Woodbridge. &

LIVING THE DREAM

Having lived in London all her life, artist Amy Shuckburgh and her family have moved to a village near Castle Cary in Somerset ‘We left London before the first lockdown to live on the Isle of Man for six months, on my husband’s family farm. This allowed us to try out rural life, which we loved: the space, watching seasons change, and as an artist, it was endlessly inspiring.Duringthethirdlockdown we sold our house and moved to Somerset with our children (aged seven, nine and 11). We did research and honed in on an area with something for everyone: the right schools, creative industries andbeautifulcountryside,enroute to Cornwall where my mother is. In London, finding studio space was challenging and expensive. We’re now renting while we look to buy a house with land where I can build my dream studio.’ amyshuckburgh.com

S (HIDE AT LYNDON NATURE RESERVE) LOUISE HEUSINKVELD/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO;