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The most sought-after properties are the large Victorian and Edwardian semis near the station and the pretty Victorian terraces on the streets off Parker’s Piece (close to the Grafton shopping centre, although the atmosphere feels a million miles from Primark). Popular with commuters, who have pushed up prices, and families keen to get into the catchment area for Parkside Community College, one of the better state secondary schools, it’s also home to several cosy old pubs.

Average area price £424,525 ▲ 7.4%; zoopla.co.uk/market/cambridgeshire/ cambridge/petersfield
Why we love it Small but perfectly formed.

12 Canterbury

Seat of archbishops since the Dark Ages, Canterbury is dominated by its magnificent cathedral, from which radiates a maze of well-preserved medieval streets. Until recently offering disappointing dining out, and overshadowed by its salty little sister, Whitstable, the city has seen rapid advances in its gourmet credentials. One of the best new restaurants is Deeson’s: serving hearty English cuisine made with produce from its five-acre smallholding, it is continuing the “local ingredients” trend begun a decade ago by the illustrious Goods Shed farmers’ market.

The upturn here is partly down to the high-speed rail link (56 minutes to London St Pancras), but excellent state and private schools — Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys has sent 36 pupils to Oxbridge in the past two years — are attracting aspirational families, too.

Average price £289,107 ▲ 3.6%; zoopla.co.uk/market/canterbury
Why we love it The historic tranquillity and refinement will lift your spirits.

13 Cardiff, Llandaff

With the cathedral as its backcloth, Llandaff has a distinctly “villagey” atmosphere. That, together with easy links to the M4 and a rail line to Cardiff Central, makes it a favourite with busy business types — and the city’s new Pinewood Studios should draw a creative crowd, too. It certainly provides networking opportunities through its cricket, rugby and rowing clubs, not forgetting the pubs: former Welsh rugby internationals regularly meet at the Butchers Arms. Llandaff has some of the best schools in Wales (Howell’s School, two church primaries and Ysgol Pencae, a Welsh primary) and a lively shopping centre.

Grade II listed properties in Cathedral Green are collector’s items; some of the most expensive detached villas are on Fairwater Road and The Avenue, typically selling for £1.5m. BBC Wales is planning to relocate its studios from Llantrisant Road, and Taylor Wimpey will start building 400 homes on the site in 2018.

Average area price £268,667 ▲ 5.42%; zoopla.co.uk/market/llandaff
Why we love it Tidy village life, yet handy for Cardiff’s bright city lights.

14 Cheltenham

“Regency Cheltenham” has always been on the wish list of lovely places to live, and it’s getting ever livelier and brighter. You can celebrity-spot while strolling the wide Promenade (the “Prom” to locals), lined with trees and smart shops.

The literary festival attracts A-list authors every autumn, and the city plays host to other shindigs: jazz, science and music. Then there’s the big racing fest, when money floods into the town and residents bet on profitable B&B to make up for the temporary traffic jams. No wonder the restaurants, bars and shops are looking flush. The schools are winners, too.

Average price £304,493 ▲ 8.76%; zoopla.co.uk/market/cheltenham
Why we love it It makes your heart race.

15 Chester

Small enough to get to know well, but large enough to meet most demands, Chester attracts compliments — and relocators. This Roman city is growing ever more cosmopolitan, thanks to the multinationals based nearby. The centre is dominated by the city walls, the cathedral and the two-tiered medieval galleries and shops of the Rows.

A 10-minute walk away, across the River Dee, lies popular Handbridge, with a main street of independent shops. These include Ernest W Edge & Son, a family butcher established in 1937, which sells locally sourced high-quality meats and specialities including usugiri — wafer-thin slices of beef — to a growing number of Japanese customers. The racecourse attracts Premier League footballers and TV stars to its meetings, which double as a showcase for designer dressing.

Average price £231,533 ▲ 6.8%; zoopla.co.uk/market/cheshire/chester
Why we love it Gotta love the Romans.

16 Dundee, Broughty Ferry

Nestling beneath a 15th-century castle, away from the smog and noise of central Dundee, Broughty Ferry is a picture-perfect former fishing village that’s netting ever more interest. It was favoured by the city’s wealthy jute barons, who have left behind a rich collection of handsome villas with splendid views over to Fife. In the Ferry, as it’s known by locals, fisherman’s cottages overlook the promenade and sandy beach; there’s also an M&S and a station.

The nautical heritage is reflected in the characterful Fisherman’s Tavern and Ship Inn, all wood-panelled snugs, fish and chips and Scottish ales. You have easy access to Dundee’s shops, cinemas and nightlife, while the city’s compact airport offers (almost) international connections.

Average area price £198,426 ▲ 5.43%; zoopla.co.uk/market/broughty-ferry
Why we love it Lorraine Kelly wouldn’t live anywhere else.

17 Durham

This tiny jewel of a city sits on a lazy loop of the River Wear, overlooked by the cathedral, the castle and the university. It packs an astonishing quantity of pubs and cafes into its cobbled streets and alleyways, catering for the 17,000 students who also support the thriving live-music scene. Expect to see barely clad, beautiful youth, impervious to the wild northern winds, clotting the narrow lanes in all seasons.

The university is a significant employer (8,000 academics and support staff). And there’s really nowhere better to live, except outer space: the PhD student Hannah Earnshaw has made it onto the shortlist to populate the first human settlement on Mars.

Average price £152,806 ▲ 2.29%; zoopla.co.uk/market/durham
Why we love it As the university’s former chancellor Bill Bryson said, it is “intimate and infinite at once”.

18 Edinburgh, The Grange

The most famous former resident of this august suburb is none other than JK Rowling — and not even a Cruciatus spell could prevent people from wanting to move here. The Grange remains one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in Scotland: a conservation area with vast Victorian villas and sizeable gardens, just over a mile from the city centre. It’s also a short stroll from the bohemian buzz of Morningside and Bruntsfield, which teems with privately owned cafes, galleries, boutiques, butchers, fishmongers and eateries. There’s a Waitrose, too.

Residents have the peerless Dominion cinema on the doorstep. This family-run art deco gem allows film buffs to sip champagne and snuggle up on sofas for two as they watch the latest releases. The respected Sciennes Primary School, James Gillespie’s High School and George Watson’s College are all nearby. Those with a seven-figure budget can take their pick of stylish new-builds or sprawling Victorian mansions.

Average area price £392,413 ▲ 7.74%; zoopla.co.uk/market/eh9
Why we love it Historic grandeur with a touch of magic.

BEAT FOR FAMILIES
19 Edinburgh, Stockbridge

Bohemian yet stately, sophisticated and sedate, historic but vibrant: Stockbridge, in the heart of Scotland’s ancient capital, is the ultimate urban village. Its charming mews lanes and curving Georgian streets are just 10 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Princes Street, but feel a world away. The semi-rural atmosphere is boosted by a glorious tree-shaded walkway along the Water of Leith, leading to the equally appealing Dean Village and the affluent suburb of Inverleith. The city’s Royal Botanic Garden is also right on your doorstep.

Stockbridge is rightly famed for its eclectic range of antiques shops, independent galleries, cafes and delis, along with cosy basement bars such as the Antiquary, the Bailie and the Last Word Saloon. Sports lovers will be thrilled by the beautifully preserved Victorian swimming baths at Glenogle and by Raeburn Place, the cradle of Scottish rugby, where Scotland and England contested the first-ever international match in 1871. The neighbourhood is also home to the Scran & Scallie, an acclaimed gastropub founded by the Michelin-starred chefs Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack.

Average area price £202,408 ▲ 8.23%; zoopla.co.uk/market/edinburgh/ stockbridge
Why we love it A slice of village life in the heart of a capital city.

20 Exeter, St Leonard’s

In this fast-growing city, St Leonard’s remains the place to live if you prefer urban convenience to being near the coast or the countryside. In its grid of tree-lined streets, you’ll find large Victorian and Georgian villas, dotted with converted hotels and occasional Grand Designs-style self-builds — many of which fetch seven-figure sums, even though parking is a bugbear. Locals are typically business owners, academics and consultants from the nearby Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

The location is a big draw for families — you’re a few minutes’ walk from St Leonard’s Primary, Exeter School and the Maynard. Within 10 minutes, you can be at Waitrose or in the city centre, and it’s 15 minutes to Exeter Central, for London trains. But why leave the suburb at all when it’s foodie central? Squeezed between the polenta-cake cafes on Magdalen Road are Pipers Farm, a butcher (“finest local artisan rubs”) and the puntastic Gibson’s Plaice fishmonger.

Average area price £305,010 ▲ 3.48%; zoopla.co.uk/market/ devon/st-leonards
Why we love it Classic homes, classy facilities.