Bruton in Somerset has been named Britain's most desirable countryside town following a surge in house sales during the pandemic, according to a property firm's research. Sales in the celebrity hotspot rose by 122 per cent in 2020, the highest increase in the nation.
The town, home to around 3,000 people, has attracted famous faces such as former Chancellor George Osborne and fashion designer Stella McCartney, who own properties in the area. This has led to Bruton being dubbed 'the next Chipping Norton', the Oxfordshire town favoured by the likes of David Cameron and Jeremy Clarkson.
The exodus from London saw house prices in Bruton increase by 19 per cent to £365,788, according to Rightmove. More than half of Londoners searched for homes outside the city last year, driven by lockdowns and a desire for more space and countryside living.
Local estate agent Emma Ward noted the impact: 'It’s been an incredibly busy year as people rethink the types of homes they want to buy and where they want to live. Detached homes around £500k-£700k have been flying off the shelves.'
The property firm's list also highlighted Ditchingham in Suffolk and Donington in Lincolnshire as desirable spots. Cornwall was the most searched-for location on Rightmove in 2020, overtaking London.
