Those who move out of London often focus on the surrounding areas, the so-called Home Counties: Surrey, Sussex and Kent to the south; Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to the west; Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Essex to the north and east. Slightly further out are Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, which also balance of country life with easy access to the metropolis.
Surrey is the county most associated with the ‘stockbroker belt’: it’s very close to London but still leafy and attractive and boasts world-famous estates such as St George’s Hill and Wentworth. Its market towns like Haslemere and Farnham have great amenities and quick rail links back into the capital.
Sussex is perhaps best characterised by the views offered in the beautiful South Downs, but there are also vibrant cities such as Brighton and Chichester which offera real cosmopolitan mix.
Kent, the Garden of England, has been growing in popularity for those moving out of London for some time, and country houses in Kent are remarkably good value compared to those in neighbouring Sussex or Surrey.
Many parts of Hampshire are very pretty and yet still commutable to London – Kingsclere and Winchester are both within an hour of Waterloo, the former a classic English village, the latter with its medieval cobbled streets and fun markets one of the most desirable Cathedral cities in the country.
In Berkshire, towns and villages such as Bucklebury, Bray, and Yattendon are justly famous, while in Buckinghamshire the likes of Long Crendon are both practical and picturesque.
Herfordshire has the charming city of St Albans to recommend it while Harpenden and Hertforshire are also enduringly popular, while Essex has countryside that inspired Constable as well as 350 miles of coastline.
Don’t miss Country Life’s guide to the best places to live near London
93 Southmoor Road provides the perfect combination of city living and country lifestyle, ideal for those wanting to move out of the city but not let go of the excitement just yet.
This glorious 17th century home is full of charm and period details – no wonder the owners tend to stay for a while...
A former pillar of the community lived in this delightful house in Essex, commutable to London despite being a place filled with charm and beauty.
Within a mile of the picturesque town of Marlow lies Quarry End, a house with a spectacular position that's ripe for new owners to put their stamp on it.
Chawton is famous as Jane Austen's former Hampshire home – and one of the finest houses in the village has come to the market.
Tree Cottage comes with a charming, wooden garden studio built for his own use by the talented Gilbert Spencer, younger brother of Sir Stanley Spencer. Penny Churchill reports.
Church House is a beautiful home in rolling countryside not far from Salisbury that has come to the market in superb condition. Penny Churchill reports.
This beautiful home in one of the stockbroker belt's most sought-after locations has every imaginable luxury.
With the Crossrail predicted to open later this year, homes in Berkshire are more attractive to city commuters than ever. This is certainly the case with this 15th century family home, beautifully finished and ready for a new owner.
One of the finest 16th century homes in the beautiful Suffolk market town of Clare has come up for sale, with a vast array of period features and a delightful country garden.
Annunicata Elwes argues the case for nanny flats that are practically perfect in every way, and finds three beautiful homes which show off how things can be.
Sometimes it can become easy to despair of finding a beautiful house with charm and outdoor space at an affordable price, yet still within striking distance of London. These five homes show that it's still possible.
The restoration of a glorious townhouse in Marlborough has required extraordinary attention to detail – something which, thankfully, the owner had in spades.
Britain’s cathedral towns and cities are beautiful to look at, great to live in and well worthy of investment. Eleanor Doughty and Toby Keel pick out some of the best.
The sprawling house of a Georgian poet deep in the Northamptonshire countryside has come up for sale – and it's as enticing now as it was in the 18th century.
The beautiful Old Rectory in this village near Salisbury has come up for sale, a glorious Georgian house full of history that has easy access to London.
Chieveley House is a beautifully-restored country house in an unspoiled Berkshire village within easy reach of London and Oxford.
We take a look at a house in the Hampshire village of Headley, which ticks all manner of boxes for potential buyers – no least as a place with potential to add value.
