Written by Lisa Proffitt | 17th January 2024
With their lively communities, picture-perfect properties, and cheery farmer’s markets, there’s no surprise that market towns are often described as the happiest places to live. For families moving from the town to the country, market towns tick every box, offering country life with the added benefits of shops, café culture and good transport links on the doorstep.
Here’s our guide to some of the most sought-after market towns in Michael Graham’s region:
Olney
Situated between Milton Keynes and Bedford, this Georgian market town was named in the Sunday Times list of the best locations to live in the South East. From jobs, schools and broadband speed. to culture, community spirit and shops, this pretty market town was seen to have it all. Honey-coloured stone houses are a feature of Olney and its surrounding villages, and the county is a walker’s paradise - much of Buckinghamshire is included in the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Ampthill
In 1219 King Henry III granted a charter for Ampthill to hold a weekly Thursday market, and these markets have remained a weekly event for more than 800 years. With great transport links and amenities including pubs, restaurants, shops, estate agents, hairdressers and a bookshop all in the town, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Ampthill is one of the more expensive places to buy a house in Bedfordshire.
Dunstable is another market town in the county that increased in popularity after the government invested £6,000000 in revitalising the town’s high street.
Huntingdon
Twenty miles from Cambridge, this bustling historic market town has excellent road and rail links to London. There are many listed buildings dotted around the town centre, several of which have links with Oliver Cromwell who was born and brought up in Huntingdon. The town has a good variety of shops and plenty of green spaces including a small park with a maze and traditional bandstand. The poet William Cowper lived in Huntingdon - he also lived in Olney – and his prose was doubtlessly inspired by the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Hitchin
Repeatedly named one of the happiest places to live in the UK, this medieval market town holds the largest traditional open air market in the home counties. The buzzing town centre also has a wealth of independent cafes, restaurants and boutiques. Transport links are excellent -Hitchin railway station is on the Great Northern Line and journeys to London and Cambridge both take around 30 minutes. If air travel is important to you, Hitchin is about 9 miles from Luton Airport with a direct bus service linking the two. Hitchin hosts an annual Arts and Music Festival in July and keeps old English traditions alive with an annual Duck Race during Hitchin Festival.
One of 359 market towns in the country, Market Harborough regularly ranks as one of the top ten locations to live in the Midlands. The historic market town is surrounded by beautiful countryside and is just an hour by train away from London, making it a popular choice with commuters. The town has a vibrant and attractive centre with a butcher, a baker and a fishmonger, a thriving indoor market and plenty of individual boutiques. The high street also has a White Stuff, a Joules (the town was the birthplace of the clothing company) and a Waitrose.
Oundle
A market town located on the River Nene, Oundle is famous for its Georgian streets and impressive limestone buildings. The historic town has many other plus points too: a wide selection of independent and mainstream shops and restaurants, and state and private schooling so good that many families move here for that reason alone. It’s also fair to say that Oundle is second to none where markets are concerned. Since 972AD the town has held a weekly market, and the monthly farmer’s market offers all manner of local produce from Wobbly Bottom Farm goat’s cheese to specialty sausages.
Burford, Chipping Norton, Thame and Watlington
If you’ve ever watched the ITV detective series Midsomer Murders you may well recognise the names of these quaint market towns. Well-served with shops and everyday amenities, all these market towns have three major pluses: a fast commute into the city; fantastic schools; and surrounded by beautiful open countryside and breathtaking views of rolling hills.
Southam
Set on the River Stowe, Southam is a thriving market town and designated conservation area, full of Tudor and 17th century buildings. Located seven miles from Leamington Spa and ten miles from Rugby, the town has a lively community with plenty of shops, cafes, pubs and regular markets, as well as good transport links to lots of major city centres. Beyond the town lies the beautiful Warwickshire countryside with its picture-perfect villages and canal waterways.
Whether you're searching for that market town life, or even if you're just looking for a fun day out in England, any one of these towns would be the perfect destination.
If you're looking for your next home and interested in any of these areas, get in touch with your local Michael Graham office to see the properties they have available in your criterea.
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