Country Properties: House buyers’ Top 10 Requirements For a Rural UK House Search

1 Tranquillity

High up on all country house buyers' hit list and a commodity increasingly hard to find. Property search agents specialising in the prime country properties say that places with true tranquillity command a premium.

2 Education

Top schools, as ranked by leading UK newspapers surveys could tip the balance in favour certain counties and influence property prices accordingly

3 Heritage

Prime country property buyers want to be surrounded by prime country houses — so will look for evidence of historic buildings and landscapes.

4 Landscape

Buyers want a country property with views. This can be rolling countryside, a heritage coast, a national park of an area designated to be of outstanding natural beauty

5 Pubs

Increasing high up on country house buyers' wish list is a selection of pubs which champion good food and beer — preferably locally-sourced.

6 Sport

Part of the motivation to move to the country can be to instigate lifestyle changes and so access to activities like shooting and fishing can influence the decision to choose one property over another

7 Culture

"We may live in the country, but we still want to go out" is a call that suggests that properties near to theatres, museums and other arts centres will get the nod from many rural property buyers

8 Low crime figures

Increasingly country house buyers will look at crime statistics, particularly burglary ones — why move to the country to find yourself in a crime hotspot?

9 Housing sprawl

Buyers of prime country property will also look at evidence that new house building could encroach on the quality of life in their new area, say property estate agents

10 Transport links

Buyers want to find a property that is in a tranquil spot, but provides good access to train stations and/other major routes.