Britain’s market towns - with their history, sense ofcommunity and quality homes - have maintained their appeal over decades. Often acclaimed as the happiest places to live in the whole of the UK, theyoffer an idyllic rural lifestyle and beautiful period properties.

And this appeal often transfers into value, with buyerswilling to spend around 5% above the national average to get their dream home.

Thriving from the original markets, local high streets tendto flourish, local produce is rife and the heart of the town is always bustlingwith residents.

Market towns are the perfect blend of small town communityand the variety you’d expect in a big city. They tend to be smaller than citiesbut bigger than villages, offering a charming balance between rural-living andhaving amenities on-hand.

Where to buy?

Here are some of our favourite spots across the UK:

Market Harborough is one of the most-desirable markettowns thanks to the stunning countryside nearby, direct and fast trains toLondon and the fantastic array of highly regarded schools.

The town has a mix of both high street names and individualboutiques, with delightful coffee shops and restaurants. There’s a monthlyfarmers’ market, a theatre where many London shows start their life, and thedraw of living near local celebs like Martin Johnson and Englebert Humperdinck.

Ludlow is a mediaeval market town with roots in theyears following the Norman Conquest.

More recently, it has been famous for its gastronomicreputation with some of Britain’s finest chefs like Will Holland and ClaudeBosi passing through local restaurants in recent years. The thrivingmarket offers excellent local produce, and the collection of eclectic andindependent shops and cafes plus regular festivals add to the wonderful senseof community.

Cirencester lives up to its name as a market townwith its weekly food, flower and mixed markets, along with a thriving craftmarket twice a month. It’s also got great access to the main regional centresof Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Oxford and Swindon.

Moreton in Marsh dates back 1,000 years and still hasa weekly market. Here you’re not far from Daylesford – the place to be forfoodies - and have other close by attractions like the stunning Blenheim Palaceor the chic members’ only Soho Farmhouse.

It has plenty of stunning countryside to explore withoutbeing a million miles away from the likes of larger centres like Cheltenham,Oxford and London.

Framlingham is an historic town in Suffolk. The centreis largely a conservation area of timber-framed or pink-painted plasteredcottages, Georgian, Regency and Victorian buildings, all higgledy-piggledy, withthe straggly streets out of town a mishmash of suburban piles, old cottages and60s semis. It’s also home to Ed Sheeran, who often pops into his local –The Station Hotel - for a pint.