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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Susie Beever

The 11 most wanted postcodes in the UK as house hunting Brits seek desirable areas

Bored of the humdrum and looking to move somewhere a bit more lively this year?

Some of the UK's coolest neighbourhoods have been revealed in a list that contains more artisan coffee shops and urban art than you can shake a vinyl disc at.

The Sunday Times has named what it considers some of the country's most desirable post codes, and living in any of them could push your house value up by thousands.

Far from being just a compilation of the hippest inner-city communities, the shortlist has the best place to move to for everybody, whether you're looking for a backdrop of beaches, mountains or high-rise buildings.

S38 - Kelham Island, Sheffield

Fans of Hackney Wick and Spitalfields can expect their money to go much further in this hip area just a stone's throw from Sheffield city centre.

Quite literally a manmade island built in the industrial revolution and now comprising of swish flats and excellent pubs (Kelham Island Tavern was recently named CAMRA'S pub of the year), the area has a thriving nightlife and food scene.

The Steel City's first restaurant to receive a Michelin star, The Cutlery Works, sits here, as does the achingly-cool Yellow Works where you can catch a gig under the same roof where Arctic Monkeys and Jarvis Cocker have recorded tracks.

Kelham Island Tavern, one of the many pubs in the Steel City quarter (PA)

NR25 - Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

When James Blunt sang about three wise men in a semi by the sea, they'd probably moved to this Norfolk coastal hideaway.

The singer spent part of his childhood in Cley-next-the-Sea, and with its unspoilt beaches and cosy pubs it's easy to see its attraction.

Home to an 18th-century windmill, its own smokehouse and posh picnic delis, the pretty, cobbled village is a foodie's paradise.

Enjoy a relaxing walk along the saltmarshes followed by a pint in the George & Dragon pub, and don't forget to explore the nearby village of Stiffkey, which is just as delightful.

The picturesque village of Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk (Getty Images)

E10 - Leyton, London

Tired of London, tired of life, as the saying goes. In fact, Samuel Johnson's famous musing may as well be daubed across the hip, exposed brick walls of every café in Leyton, such is its endless appeal.

Culture in Leyton is so thick, you'll be clambering through it in your wellies. From shops and fairs selling local art to independent record stores, the Zone 3 area is one of the capital's most lively creative pockets.

Whilst being a stone's throw from the London Olympic Park, residents also enjoy the regular art exhibitions and events at Leyton Village Studios.

Delicious food is served up at Marmelo's and All You Read is Love, a charming bookshop-cum-café.

Leyton in east London was the only neighbourhood in the capital to be named on The Times' list (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

EH39 - North Berwick, East Lothian

Imagine the peaceful vibe of a living by the sea whilst also being just a few minutes away from one of Europe's most exciting, culture-rich hotspots.

North Berwick's sandy beach and charming beach huts afford you the best of both worlds, being just a short distance from Edinburgh.

The bay boasts impressive views of Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth, which has become a breeding spot for gannets, while its surrounding sea provides delicious grub in the local restaurants and pubs.

If that's not enough, astronomy lovers may be able to catch a precious glimpse of the northern lights away on nearby dark coastal spots.

East Lothian's seaside town of North Berwick (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

BT48 - Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's second city is brimming with culture, whilst also being one of the cheapest cities in the UK to get on the property ladder.

Derry Girls placed the city firmly on the map, with even a giant mural to commemorate the series on Badgers Bar.

Residents enjoy grub from the likes of Pykes'n'Pommes, a burger bar in a converted shipping container, and live music in Peadar O'Donnell's.

Derry is brimming with culture as well as being one of the cheapest cities to get on the property ladder (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

DL6 - Potto, North Yorkshire

If city living isn't for you, this off-the-grid North Yorkshire village enjoys some of the most beautiful scenery the country has to offer.

Potto is snugly settled between the county's rolling green hills and right on the edge of the stunning North York Moors.

The bucolic gem only has around 120 houses, so you can be sure your neighbours will become firm friends.

While residents here can enjoy the quiet life, there's still plenty to do in nearby towns Stokesley and Northallerton, both charming places in their own right.

Potto sits right on the edge of the North York Moors (pictured) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Also mentioned

Northumberland's coastal town of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea (NE64) gets another honourable mention for house value-boosting postcodes, as does East Sussex's Pett Level (TN35) whose beach is synonymous with David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes music video.

For hipsters, central Glasgow (G1) is billed as having some of the UK's best nightlife while Welsh gem Monmouth (NP25) is described as "a new epicentre" for east London's hipster crowd looking to escape the city.

Cumbrian town Kendal, meanwhile also gets a nod. The LA9 postcode sits right at the gateway of the Lake District national park, providing both the charm of a buzzing small town with the famous lakes and Windermere peaks at your fingertips.

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