After months of being told to stay at home, many of us have spent more time indoors than ever since the Covid-19 pandemic began – with the little time we have been able to spend out in the fresh air limited largely to our local areas.
All that extra time on our hands has given us time to ponder what we really want out of life, and for many, it’s the push that was needed to start thinking about relocating. The benefits of living closer to nature and the ocean have never been more apparent, and increasingly we are looking to move away from big, busy cities and enjoy a slice of the rural life.
There has been an increasing demand for self storage in the UK in recent years, and as lockdown eases and house hunts begin again, 2021 could be one of its busiest years yet. If you’re looking to sell up and move elsewhere in the UK this year, then you might be feeling a little overwhelmed at the breadth of choice. After all, with so many beautiful cities, towns and counties to choose from, each offering up their own unique dose of the great British countryside or scenic coastlines, there are plenty of places that would tick all the right boxes.
Quality of life is the most important thing, but if you’re eager to purchase a new luxury property to live in then you’ll also want to consider average house prices, look at specific areas of each destination that you might want to live in, and look into proximity to essential amenities such as hospitals and schools.
These UK towns and cities attract an affluent crowd, and offer the kind of relaxed pace of life that many of us now find ourselves craving. And with health and wellbeing now more important to us than ever, there has never been a better time to take the leap. From north to south, we’ve picked out three of the best UK destinations to consider moving to in 2021, and all promise to be the perfect backdrop for creating a life you truly love.
Devizes, Wiltshire
Arguably one of the West Country’s best-kept secrets, the town of Devizes might not be somewhere that instantly springs to mind when considering relocating within the UK – but the more you get to know about it, the more there is to love, and it is fast becoming a popular destination amongst high-net-worth individuals and families who are looking for an escape to the country.
Set on the edge of Salisbury Plain and bordering the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it’s safe to say that there are no shortage of options here when it comes to countryside walks, and with its pretty period buildings, quirky independent shops and historic market square, it’s a quaint and quintessentially British place to base yourself for a more relaxed pace of life.
Just 45 minutes from nearby Bath, it has a remote feel yet is surprisingly accessible, with London just a two-hour journey away by car via the A303 and M4.
House prices here are significantly lower than in surrounding towns, particularly those closer to Bath, with an average price of £270k – and there is no shortage of luxury, higher-end homes to choose from.
Brighton, East Sussex
If you work in London and are reluctant to move too far away from the big smoke, then sunny Brighton is in easy commuting distance – and is a popular choice amongst many Londoners looking to move a little further away from the hustle and bustle. This seafront city is home to a plethora of luxury homes, many of them offering covetable ocean views, and since the city even has its own beach, it’s a great place to be in the summer.
The colourful houses and quaint boutiques of the city centre are what Brighton is known for, and are also where some of the most expensive properties can be found, while Seven Dials and West Hill, with their classic Regency and Victorian charm, are also highly sought-after. Dyke Road is the priciest part of town though, where large, detached town houses are most often priced somewhere between £600,000 to £2 million.
Falmouth, Cornwall
Along with neighbouring Devon, Cornwall has long been a popular destination amongst high-net worth individuals, with many of the most expensive houses here serving as their second or holiday homes. Unlike some locations, Falmouth has escaped the mass exodus that other parts of the Cornish coast has seen thus far, yet with its quaint, olde-world feel and rich history, it’s a beautiful and well located town you should consider if you like to be beside the sea.
Surrounded by beaches, cliffs and headlands, it’s the perfect place to reconnect with nature and prioritise your wellbeing. Although Falmouth isn’t the priciest town in Cornwall (for millionaire’s row, head to Rock, where Gordon Ramsay’s holiday home is based), its excellent infrastructure and high standard of living have driven prices up in recent years. Today, the average house price stands at around £490k for a detached home, but you’ll have no trouble finding a more luxurious property for circa £1 million.
The bottom line
There are no shortage of beautiful towns and cities to consider if you’re looking to relocate in 2021, and if a more relaxed pace of life and a greater amount of time spent in nature are priorities, then these three are all great picks. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it here, and with a great selection of gorgeous luxury properties to choose from in each, you might find yourself wondering why you took so long to take the leap.
