‘The happy memories people make at university can certainly exert a very strong pull,’ Andrew Perratt, head of country at Savills, told Country Life.
‘We’re seeing both young families and older couples returning to these locations, which offer a brilliant quality of life, as well as an attractive price differential with London.’
With that in mind we've picked out a top 10 – and examples of what sort of money you'd need to afford a fine family home in one of these superb spots.
Oxford – £2.35 million
Lathbury Road – six beds, needs a bit of work. £2.35m via Savills.
Cambridge – £1.5m
Chesterton Road – six beds, and a gorgeous family home. Particularly if you like blue kitchens... (you have been warned). £1.5m via Carter Jonas.
Edinburgh – £1.075m
Chester Street - absolutely stunning. £1.075m via DJ Alexander.
Bristol – £1.2m
In the village of Redland, away from the centre - but not too far away. £1.2m via CJ Hole.
York – £1.395m
Just traditional enough, just modern enough. Splendid. £1.395m via Carter Jonas.
Leeds – £1.1m
An Arts-and-Crafts house in Weetwood, north of the city centre. £1.1m via Carter Jonas.
Newcastle – £995,000
Six bedroom home, totally refurbished by someone with a taste for Footballers' Wives chic, next to the cricket club in Jesmond. £995k via Sanderson Young.
St Andrews – £1.5m
A few steps from town, the golf course and probably 90 seconds from the beach. You could get something for under £800k, but this one is a cracker and thus £1.5m via Savills.
Exeter – £800,000
A pretty incredible chance to buy a proper Victorian pile. Work needed, but not as much as you might think. £800,000 via Stags.
Norwich – £825,000
Given the choice we'd be tempted to commute into town from one of the coastal villages, but if you're keen to be in the city this is superb. £825,000 via Websters.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
How Oxford University's buildings evolved, and how its 'chiefest wonder' came into being
'Where is the University?' is the most common tourist's question in Oxford. The answer is rather complicated.
The fascinating story behind the world's most beautiful, blissful avenues of trees
Our fascination with avenues of trees is near-universal to mankind and stretches back four hundred years. Mark Griffiths takes a
-
Tim Burton is selling the house he shared with Helena Bonham-Carter, a sublime home on the Thames that comes with three private islandsMill House in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, might just be the perfect English country home.
-
Puffins and shearwaters, skuas and terns, gannets and gulls and guillemots and wings, these are a few of our favourite things (seabirds)From a heroic long-distance swimmer to a producer of spectacularly eerie sound effects, the seabirds seen swooping and diving over British waters have all manner of singular skills.
-
Tim Burton is selling the house he shared with Helena Bonham-Carter, a sublime home on the Thames that comes with three private islands
Mill House in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, might just be the perfect English country home.
-
A spectacular tower for sale that's a blend of Victorian folly, architectural marvel and 21st century family homeHadlow Tower has space, and a back story of love, jealousy and intrigue.
-
A spectacular, light-filled home on the Isle of Wight where you can see the water from practically every windowPenny Churchill takes a look at the grand and impressive Fishbourne Quay House.
-
The former stables — and recording studio for the Pet Shop Boys — transformed with a magical blend of city and country aesthetic, now seeking a new ownerIn the heart of Clerkenwell, what was once a Victorian industrial unit is now a beautiful home.
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countrysideHartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in CornwallThe Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its historyIn the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
-
'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston MartinA new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
