It’s the cornerstone of every estate agent’s patter. But when it comes to ‘location, location, location’, what is it about an area that makes it such a desirable and much vaunted place to live? A glut of artisan bakeries? Canal-side walks?
Whatever the reason, while many such favoured locations may already be well known, there are still plenty of pukka postcodes which provide the perfect place to live – and might just give its residents a new sense of status.
Some have more stardust than others – and they are constantly shifting. Here are 12 that are definitely on the up.
S3 8RD: Kelham Island, Sheffield
With its hip apartments, independent shopping arcades, microbreweries and the award winning Cutlery Works food hall, this is an area on the rise.
Snaking along the River Don and once the heart of Sheffield’s revolutionary steel making processes, Kelham Island was previously named as one of the ‘coolest’ neighbourhoods in the world.
A two-bedroom duplex apartment with a roof terrace overlooking the river, £265,000
The flat in Kelham island, which is along the River Don, has two bathrooms
‘Kelham Island is the perfect example of a post-industrial quarter of the city that has had a rebirth as a community with a real buzz,’ explains Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital & Centric. ‘The beauty is that it’s walkable from the city centre, but it’s not dependent on it.’
On the market: A two-bedroom, two-bathroom duplex apartment with a roof terrace overlooking the river, £265,000 (rightmove.co.uk).
M30 9LJ: Monton, Manchester
Although only a 20-minute drive from the centre of Manchester, this thriving Salford suburb has a community feel all of its own.
There are independent shops such as booksellers and jewellers as well as myriad cafes, cocktail bars, tea shops and restaurants. Having been compared to the French Riviera – it’s merrily known by locals as Monton Carlo.
A bay-fronted semi-detached period house, £440,000, in Monton is on the market
The property in the suburb, which is only 20 minutes from the centre of Manchester, has a bright living room and three bedrooms
Not least on a summer’s evening when pavement patios are brimming with people dawdling over a cool beer and the sun plunges beyond the blossom trees facing Monton Road.
The historic Bridgewater Canal trickles past the edge of the village and an old railway line-turned-circular-walk, the Roe Green Loopline Heritage Trail, begins and ends here too.
On the market: A bay-fronted semi-detached period house with three double bedrooms, £440,000 (zoopla.co.uk)
CH48 4DZ: West Kirby, Liverpool
Situated ‘over the water’ from Liverpool, this north-west tip of the Wirral peninsula offers all the benefits of pseudo-island life. Sandy beaches, sweeping views of the Welsh mountains and yet only a half hour train ride into town.
When the tide is out on this part of the Dee estuary you can walk across the sands to see the seals at Hilbre Island. Or perhaps sail on West Kirby’s marine lake or cycle the Wirral Way.
This three-double-bedroom detached bungalow is on the market for £500,000
The property in West Kirby, Liverpool, has two bathrooms and two receptions
Away from the water, the Crescent, a curved street filled with Tudor architecture, is stacked with shopping opportunities and cosy lunch spots such as Hannah’s. A perfect place for active downsizers or growing families to make their home.
On the market: This three-double-bedroom detached bungalow has two bathrooms and two receptions, £500,000 (moveresidential.co.uk)
CF11 9XR: Pontcanna, Cardiff
Enclosed by rolling parkland yet close to Cardiff centre, Pontcanna is often described as a ‘city village’ since this ‘smart set’ suburb offers elements of both. ‘Pontacanna is loved by a number of celebrities and sports people.’ says Welsh property expert Carol Peet.
You’ll find large properties with residents parking, great independent shops, cafes and restaurants. There are tree-lined terraces with Victorian gothic homes and lots of green spaces.
There are two double bedrooms in this semi-detached house, £400,000
The home in Pontcanna, which is close to Cardiff, has modern interiors
While foodies will love Thomas, the restaurant by the former MasterChef: The Professionals quarter-finalist Tom Simmons, as well as the Saturday farmers’ market, for those Welsh cheeses and pure olive oils.
On the market: There are two double bedrooms in this semi-detached modern house, £400,000 (hern-crabtree.co.uk)
GU7 1EE: Godalming, Surrey
A picture-book market town on the banks of the River Wey, Godalming has it all ways. Guildford is on its doorstep while direct trains into London take less than an hour.
But the big draw for buyers are the open spaces and pristine countryside, according to Jason Corbett of Rowallan Buying Agents.
A two-bedroom semi-detached home with two ensuite bathrooms, £400,000
‘A large water meadow area known as the Lammas Lands, sits right in the town centre with cattle grazing and canal boats moored along the banks.
The town is heavy on the charm factor thanks to the abundance of period properties. All this coupled with a selection of outstanding schools brings families flocking.’
On the market: A two bedroom semi-detached home with two ensuite bathrooms, £400,000 (bourneestateagent.com).
BL0 9PJ: Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester
A small mill town on the edge of the West Pennine Moors, Rammy – as it’s known to locals – is as much about its past as its future.
There’s a Sunday TV teatime drama feel to the place since the heritage line of the East Lancashire Railway stops off here (complete with vintage ticket office).
Two-bedroom Victorian terrace with a quirky loft room, £294,000
Listed buildings are everywhere – from private houses to pubs, many studded with blue plaques that explain the history behind some of the town’s most iconic statues and houses.
Meanwhile, overlooking Ramsbottom is Holcombe Hill topped with Peel tower – a memorial to the founder of the police force.
On the market: Two-bedroom Victorian terrace with a quirky loft room reached by a paddle staircase, £294,000 (pearsonferrier.co.uk).
RG10 9RP: Twyford, Berkshire
Just 12 miles from Windsor Castle and a quick carriage ride from the Princess of Wales’s childhood home in Bucklebury, this is a place to enjoy clean air and a low crime rate.
Indeed, Twyford tops Garrington Property Finders’ Best Places to Live 2024 report, which ranks the best 1,400 cities, towns and villages in England and Wales on criteria such as beauty, schools, and connectivity.
A detached three-bedroom, one bathroom bungalow in a secluded setting, £550,000
It’s old world charm is appealing for families, retirees and young professionals who want to commute but also live the quiet life.
Not least thanks to the 34-acre Loddon Nature Reserve, home to nesting wetland birds, which sits on the edge of the village.
On the market: A detached three-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow in a secluded setting, £550,000 (grapevineproperty.co.uk).
EH7 4HU: Canonmills, Edinburgh
Canonmills is the unsung district of Edinburgh with access to the Scottish capital but without the bustle of city living.
There are independent coffee shops, restaurants, and pubs.
This one-bedroom flat has a spacious sitting room with bay windows, £220,000
‘But another attractive quality is the area’s access to green spaces, including Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens, and the edge of the Water of Leith, which runs through some of the city’s most scenic and impressive cultural sites,’ says Andrew Duncan, land director at Kelvin Properties.
On the market: This one-bedroom flat has a spacious sitting room with bay windows and a fireplace, £220,000 (property.lindsays.co.uk).
WA16 6DX: Knutsford, Cheshire
Cheshire is famed for its golden triangle – Alderley Edge, Prestbury, and Wilmslow – which are hugely popular locations particularly with footballers and their WAGs. However, Knutsford is the real hidden gem with its historical buildings and a small high street prickling with chi-chi boutiques and charming places to eat.
‘This thriving market town has a fantastic social scene that effortlessly traverses country casuals and Cheshire glamour,’ explains Douglas Plant, manager of Gascoigne Halman.
A £475,000 three-bedroom semi-detached period cottage with large gardens is on the market
The living room of the home in the charming northern town of Knutsford
You can walk straight from the heart of Knutsford into the 1,000-acre Tatton Park which has a deer park, formal gardens and working farm. It also hosts more than 100 events each year including Knutsford Music Festival and Knutsford Royal May Day.
On the market: Three-bedroom semi-detached period cottage with large gardens, a summer house, pergola and vegetable allotment, £475,000 (savills.co.uk).
LE15 6DT: Oakham, Rutland
The largest town in Rutland – Britain’s tiniest county – Oakham clearly lives up to its motto of ‘multum in parva’ (much in little).
Here you’ll find good schools on the doorstep – including Uppingham – while an abundance of local produce gives Oakham its upmarket, splashed-wellies feel.
A three-bedroom converted stable on the Rutland cycling path is up for sale
The home, including a bright kitchen, has been refurbished and is priced at £425,000
Contributing to this atmosphere are the walking and cycle trails, as well as Rutland Water Nature Reserve, which is home to 393 acres of wild habitat. With traditional local country pubs – it’s as charming as the Cotswolds – just cheaper.
On the market: A refurbished three-bedroom converted stable on the Rutland cycling path, £425,000 (hurfords.co.uk).
SY8 1AS: Ludlow, Shropshire
Tucked away in the heart of Shropshire, just 14 miles from the Welsh border and a two-hour drive from the city of Birmingham, this is a tight-knit community among medieval architecture and listed buildings.
Not least this is seen in the 17th-Century timber facades and ruins of Ludlow Castle, originally built in 1086.
Recently renovated grade II-listed two-bedroom cottage with period features, £350,000
Ludlow is also a foodie haven with independent shops, selling locally sourced meats and cheeses as well as the ‘Local to Ludlow’ farmers’ market.
Every September the town plays host to the Ludlow Food Festival – showcasing more than 180 handpicked, small producers of traditional food and drink.
On the market: Recently renovated grade II listed two bedroom cottage with period features, such as fireplaces, large sash windows and exposed floorboards, £350,000 (struttandparker.com).
SR7 0HP: Seaham, County Durham
A cash injection into this lively harbour town on the Durham Coast has given new life to its 5km promenade, attracting a plethora of craft beer bars, restaurants and cafes.
What’s priceless however are the cliff top views as well as the serene beauty of the sandy North Beach, speckled with rock pools, and comfortingly sheltered by a long sea wall.
There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms in this terraced house, £169,995
‘Seaham’s idyllic location on the County Durham coast has resulted in it long being a hotspot for house hunters seeking a better, quieter life,’ says Helen Wall, director at Bradley Hall. The Seaham Marina – the only one in County Durham – has everything from cafes serving delicious homemade cakes to physiotherapy and fitness classes.
On the market: There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms in this terraced house with a spacious kitchen, £169,995 (bedebrooke.co.uk).
