VALUE for money, space and quality of life are among the most commonly cited reasons families leave London, with still more buyers moving out of the capital - 42 per cent last year compared with 33 per cent in 2013.

The hard factors contributing to many moves are clear, and above all we hear our buyers talking about achieving best value through a historically low Bank of England base rate, subsequently low mortgage rates and rising inflation to name but a few.

Some London households are taking advantage of relatively cheap mortgage lending to maximise square footage while they can.

Others are no doubt simply looking to reduce their monthly outgoings in response to higher living costs with inflation reaching a six-year high.

With nearby countryside and a slower pace of life it’s easy to see the attraction of villages, particularly for those seeking larger properties on bigger plots.

In fact, research shows 94,000 households over the previous year moved out of a city or suburb into the countryside.

Prices in villages within commuting distance of London have risen with so many buyers leaving the city but more limited housing stock is also likely to have contributed to some of the price growth in these rural areas.

Proximity to London is still very much a driving force and most areas closer to the Greater London boundary come with higher house prices, but buyers eager to keep their commute to a minimum will be pleasantly surprised to discover price growth nearer the capital was slower last year than further afield.

Average prices of homes with less than a 45-minute commute into zone one rose just four per cent in the last 12 months, whereas prices with a travel time of more than an hour rose seven per cent.

Of course house prices are an important factor when leaving the capital, but buyers planning on commuting to London will still need to factor in the true cost of this move which will typically include travel and substantial train fares.

Furthermore, cancellations and significant delays to services can add hours to a week’s commute.

However, the benefits of moving away still goes to outweigh the negatives for those seeking more choice and a different quality of life outside London, and where better is there a place to live than in the beautiful Cotswolds.

Ian Street MRICS

Senior Manager

Hamptons