Top Locations To Buy a Period Property in the UK

Channel 5’s sixth and final programme in this series revealed the top 10 places in the UK to buy a perfect period property.

As well as taking into account the usual factors of Quality of Life, School league tables, Crime levels, Transport links and Hours of sunshine, this programme focused on how much history you can get for your money and what sort of range of period homes there are.

When it comes to looking to buy period properties, we are spoilt for choice here in the UK.

At No. 10 was Spitalfields

Spitalfiends is in the east end of London

It’s the jewel in London’s period crown, where 18th Century, elegant Georgian architecture is better preserved than anything else you’ll find in the capital.

They are expensive but do have a lot to offer being so close to the centre of London with high opportunities for income and employment.

At No. 9 was Brighton

Brighton is in Sussex

It's ideal for those people who like their period properties with a sea view. Brighton's Royal Pavilion was remodelled by the famous architect John Nash, who also stamped his mark on the stunning Regency terraces and squares that line the seafront. These days it's rare to find a Regency seafront house which hasn't been divided into apartments, so if you're looking for a family home you'll need to look further back from the seafront for a Victorian or Edwardian property.

With plenty of elegant and grand buildings, good transport links to London and the quality of life you get by the sea, Brighton is a popular choice.

At No. 8 was Chester

Chester is in Cheshire

At first glance you might think of Chester as a Tudor city because of its trademark black and white timber buildings but here the period properties aren’t quite what they seem. It was the Victorians who were responsible for this mock Tudor.

It’s a walled city with one of Britain's most attractive high streets. It has a great range of property to offer, very close to the Welsh border and within commuting distance to both Manchester and Liverpool. Being one of the cheapest locations on this list it’s property prices are relatively affordable.

At No. 7 was Cheltenham (Cheltenham Spa)

Cheltenham is in Gloucestershire

With its healing spa and being an ideal base for touring round the Cotswolds, it's very popular with tourists. It's popular with young families too and has great facilities and a great standard of living.

You will find classical Regency terraces in the centre of the town. Demand for these properties is always high and prices vary greatly.

At No. 6 was York

York is the ancient capital of the north in Yorkshire.

Medieval York is the oldest city on this list and its walls hold 2,000 years of history. It's a tourist hotspot which has retained all its period charm and attracts 4 million visitors each year.

It has a distinctive shopping area called The Shambles and is a wonderful place to wonder round the walls and Medieval streets.

It has lots of available Georgian and Victorian properties which are quite affordable. When you buy a period property here it's generally of a very high architectural standard, probably because it hasn't seen the levels of modern development which some of its neighbours have.

At No. 5 was Ludlow

Ludlow is in South Shropshire on the Welsh borders

It's a market town perched on a cliff over the River Teme and has a castle dating back to 1086. It's period properties range from Medieval through to Georgian and Victorian, some 500 of them are listed buildings.

Town properties here are more expensive than rural ones and you generally have to wait for one. However, it’s well worth the wait, especially if you’re after outdoor space. Because it's not in the commuter belt, house prices here are relatively affordable.

At No. 4 was Godalming

Godalming is in Surrey

It has a charming old world feel and has one of the best collections of Arts & Crafts style homes in Britain. Arts & Crafts homes will command a premium of 10% on other homes from the same period. There are plenty of other styles on offer.

It's very pretty, oldy worldy, has lots of pubs and great places to eat and has a great quality of life. It's in a wealthy stock broker belt of London with the major attraction being you can easily commute to the capital and it has good private schools. Prices here are high, the most expensive on this list.

At No. 3 was Framlingham

Framlingham is in Suffolk

It's a charming, picturesque small town which has evolved through the centuries - has wonderful Medievel architecture, incredible Regency buildings including property right up to the Victorian period. The town is dominated by a 12th Century castle which was used by Mary Tudor as a rallying point for her supporters. It's also been a prison and a poor house and today is a much loved tourist attraction. The market square is lined by Tudor and Regency buildings and the town centre has a preservation order helping it to keep its charm.

It has a sense of vitality, great private and state schools and the lowest crime rate on this list. It also has the 3rd highest average property prices on this list.

At No. 2 was Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the cultural and political capital of Scotland

The city is steeped in history and divided into 2 - North and South of the famous Princes Street Garden. Its Medieval old town is in the south, where you’ll find some of the earliest high rise dwellings in the world. It’s north is particularly well known for its fabulous Georgian, Neo Classical and Regency properties with their gardens and squares.

It has history and heritage all around, yet still in the 21st Century with its museums, theatres, art galleries and of course the famous annual Fringe Festival.

At No. 1 was Bath

Bath is in Somerset

It's a world heritage City which is surrounded by stunning countryside.

It was the Romans who discovered the famous warm spa waters there. They built a magnificent temple and bathing complex that still flows with natural hot water today.

The centre of Bath is very elegant and sophisticated with wall to wall Georgian, 18th Century distinctive honey coloured Bath sand stone properties.

The city looks stunning, has fantastic facilities, superb transport links to Bristol, London and beyond. Its schools are amongst the best in the country and it has something for everyone.