.png "Barometer, Beck Farm House, Norfolk")
Why do so many of us yearn to live in a village? Vanessa Whitburn, writing in the latest issue of Savills Barometer magazine, believes it's because "people want a blend of nostalgia and relaxed modern living, a place where one can belong".
This longing for village life surely explains the success of The Archers, the Radio 4 drama that Vanessa edited for 23 years. Originally billed as an "everyday story of country folk", The Archers has chronicled the goings-on in the fictional village of Ambridge for more than 50 years.
As Vanessa points out, "even London is getting in on the act with suburban areas calling themselves 'villages' and encouraging urban versions of the village pub".
The following properties are the real thing, set in some of the most beautiful parts of the country.
(1).png "The Green Slingsby")
.png "The Green Slingsby - Kitchen")
.png "The Green Slingsby - Living Room")
.png "Rockbourne Fordingbridge")
.png "Rockbourne Fordingbridge - Garden Room")
(1).png "Rockbourne Fordingbridge - Pool")
.png "The Robins Royston")
.png "The Robins Royston - Kitchen")
.png "The Mill House Heasley Mill")
.png "The Mill House Heasley Mill - Kitchen")
.png "The Mill House Heasley Mill - Bathroom")
.png "Croombe House Stroud")
.png "Croombe House Stroud - Kitchen")
(1).png "Flaunden, Herts")
(1).png "Flaunden, Herts")
(1).png "Flaunden, Herts")
(1).png "Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan")
(1).png "Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan")
.png "Farley Hall Farley Green")
.png "Farley Hall Farley Green - Reception Room")
.png "Farley Hall Farley Green - Garden")