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

- ARABELLA YOUENS

Broad Chalke in Wiltshire, viewed from Knighton Hill

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