Exactly what village characteristics are classed as essential will vary from buyer to buyer, but having a shop, pub and good walking routes nearby tends to be high on the agenda, together with access to education and connectivity.

A sense of community is also important and whether it’s being able to join parenting groups, get involved in parish events or attend pilates in the village hall, all can be a major draw for those keen to meet others in a new neighbourhood. 

When it comes to property, for some it’s a former vicarage fronting the green that makes for their ultimate village home, while for others it’s a perfectly formed chocolate box cottage with roses round the front door. And while traditional décor and period features are enduringly popular, increasingly village house-hunters are just as likely to be able to find modern design and contemporary interiors.

Below is a selection of the best village properties currently on the market, including a beautifully converted church fronting the village green in the quintessential Surrey village of Shalford, a handsome Georgian home in arguably one of Dorset’s prettiest villages, Sydling St Nicholas, and a landmark period house in the centre of picturesque Finchingfield, Essex.