But for those wanting the cosmopolitan buzz of urban living on a smaller scale, there is plenty of choice away from the capital.
Popular with young professionals, families and empty nesters alike, smaller cities have all the advantages of larger centres – benefitting from a heady mix of bars, cafes and restaurants along with a variety of retail and leisure facilities, exquisite architecture, a rich history, outside space and good transport links.
The smaller footprint also often gives these cities a strong sense of community, while many are easy to get around on foot or by bike.
Stretching from Cambridge, Norwich and Chelmsford in the east to Bristol and Exeter in the west, and from Chester in the north and Lincoln and Nottingham in the Midlands to Oxford, Salisbury, and Winchester further south — we’ve handpicked a selection of properties currently on the market in some of our favourite small cities.