House hunters across England in search of the quiet life are eyeing up a move to a particular spot in Northumberland.
Rightmove has drawn up a list of the 10 most searched for market towns in England using their online property website, and the sixth most popular is Alnwick.
Our readers are well aware the delights of the Northumberland market town, including Alnwick Castle, Alnwick Garden and Barter Books, set in some of Britain's most beautiful countryside, and close to the glorious beaches of the North East coast.
And there is quite a northern feel to the list. Whilst Totnes in Devon and Ashbourne in Derbyshire take the top two spots, Keswick in the Lakes comes in at third.
Meanwhile Alnwick is sandwiched between two North Yorkshire towns, Thirsk in fifth and Pickering in seventh, while a third North Yorkshire entry is Richmond at number 10.
Talking about its list, Rightmove said: "Market towns are in the spotlight as buyers look for homes close to the countryside with good schools, a thriving community and high streets that are the heart of the town.
"As lockdown restrictions start to ease further, we’re seeing more home-hunters on Rightmove search for small, rural market towns that are bigger than a village, but offer a quieter life than busy city centres.
"The appeal of a bustling high street, with not just a great pub and a handy corner store, but a string of independent shops and cafés, and a much-loved restaurant serving good, local produce is hard to ignore.
"Throw in an artisan bakery, a good fishmonger and a weekend farmer’s market, and you might just have almost everything you need within a stone’s throw of home."
