Your pick of the pukka postcodes
There’s a status to those letters and numbers — so which areas are up and coming?
THE cornerstone of every estate agent’s patter is ‘location, location, location’. But what is it about an area that makes it so desirable? Whatever the reason, while many such favoured locations may already be well known, there are plenty of pukka postcodes which provide the perfect place to live.
S3 8RD: KELHAM ISLAND, SHEFFIELD
WITH its hip apartments, independent shopping arcades, microbreweries and the award-winning Cutlery Works food hall, this area of the South Yorkshire city is definitely on the up. Snaking along the River Don, Kelham island was previously named as one of the world’s ‘coolest’ neighbourhoods. ON THE MARKET: A two-bedroom duplex apartment with a roof terrace overlooking the river, £265,000 ( rightmove.co.uk).
M30 9LJ: MONTON, MANCHESTER
ALTHOUGH only a 20-minute drive from the centre of vibrant Manchester, this thriving Salford suburb has a community feel all of its own. there are booksellers and jewellers, as well as cafes, cocktail bars, tea shops and popular restaurants. it’s known by locals as Monton Carlo. the Roe green loopline Heritage trail — a 7km circular walking and cycle route begins here.
ON THE MARKET: A three- bedroom semi is £440,000 ( zoopla.co.uk).
CH48 4DZ: WEST KIRBY, LIVERPOOL
THIS north-west tip of the Wirral peninsula offers all the benefits of pseudoisland life. Sandy beaches, sweeping views of the Welsh mountains and, away from the water, the Crescent is stacked with shops and cosy lunch spots.
ON THE MARKET: three-double-bedroom detached bungalow costs £ 500,000 ( moveresidential.co.uk).
CF11 9XR: PONTCANNA, CARDIFF
ENCLOSED by rolling parkland, yet close to Cardiff centre, Pontcanna is often described as a ‘city village’, since it offers elements of both. You’ll find large properties with parking, independent shops, cafes and restaurants.
ON THE MARKET: two-bed semidetached house, £ 400,000 ( zoopla.co.uk).
GU7 1EE: GODALMING, SURREY
A PICTURE- BooK market town on the banks of the River Wey, godalming has it all ways. guildford is on the doorstep, while direct trains into london take less than an hour.
But the big draw for buyers is the open spaces and pristine countryside. ON THE MARKET: two- bedroom semi-detached home, £400,000 ( bourne estateagents.com).
BL0 9PJ: RAMSBOTTOM, GREATER MANCHESTER
A SMALL mill town on the edge of the West Pennine Moors, Rammy — as it’s known — is as much about its past as its future. the heritage line of the East lancashire Railway stops here. listed buildings are everywhere — from private houses to pubs, studded with blue plaques that explain their history.
ON THE MARKET: A two-bedroom terrace for £294,000 ( pearsonferrier.co.uk).
RG10 9RP: TWYFORD, BERKSHIRE
JUST 12 miles from Windsor Castle, this is a place to enjoy clean air and a low crime rate. twyford tops garrington Property Finders’ Best Places to live 2024 report. its old- world charm is appealing for those who want to commute to the capital yet enjoy the nearby 34-acre loddon nature Reserve. ON THE MARKET: three-bedroom bungalow, £550,000 ( grapevineproperty.co.uk).
EH7 4HU: CANONMILLS, EDINBURGH
A ONE-BEDROOM flat in Canonmills can cost £220,000 ( property.lindsays.co.uk). the district has independent coffee shops, restaurants, and pubs. the scenic Water of leith runs close by.
ON THE MARKET: A one-bedroom flat is £220,000 ( property.lindsays.co.uk).
WA16 6DX: KNUTSFORD, CHESHIRE
CHESHIRE is famed for its golden triangle — Alderley Edge, Prestbury, and Wilmslow — popular with footballers. But Knutsford is the real gem, with historic buildings, chi chi boutiques and charming places to eat. Close by is the 1,000acre tatton Park.
ON THE MARKET: three- bedroom semi- detached period cottage, £475,000 ( savills.co.uk)
LE15 6DT: OAKHAM, RUTLAND
THE largest town in Rutland, Britain’s tiniest county, oakham lives up to its motto of multum in parvo (much in little). Here you’ll find good schools, walking and cycle trails, as well as Rutland Water nature Reserve. it’s as charming as the Cotswolds but cheaper.
ON THE MARKET: threebedroom converted stables, £425,000 ( zoopla.co.uk).
SY8 1AS: LUDLOW, SHROPSHIRE
JUST 14 miles from the Welsh border and a two hours from Birmingham, this tightknit community has medieval architecture and beautiful listed buildings. ludlow is also a foodie haven with independent shops, selling local meats and cheeses and a weekly farmers’ market. ON THE MARKET: A two- bedroom grade-ii listed cottage (pictured inset), £350,000 ( zoopla.co.uk).
SR7 0HP: SEAHAM, COUNTY DURHAM
A CASH injection into this lively harbour town on the Durham Coast has attracted craft beer bars, restaurants and cafes to its promenade. What’s priceless, however, are the clifftop views as well as the serene beauty of the sandy north Beach.
ON THE MARKET: A three-bedroom terrace home is £169,995 ( bedebrooke.co.uk).
SOME retirement villages really go the egg-xtra mile for their residents in the run up to Easter. The Rangeford Villages will be dishing out chocolate eggs on Easter Sunday with Zak Hudson, village services assistant at Wadswick Green in Corsham, Wiltshire, hopping around as the generous Easter Bunny.
At Mickle Hill retirement village in Pickering, North Yorkshire, there will be competitions all through March, with residents trying their hands at Easter-themed pictures, crafts, bonnets and decorated eggs. On March 27, there is a concert by the inhouse choir; followed by a coffee morning and on Good Friday, a star-prize bingo session.
Eileen Smith, 79, who has lived at Mickle Hill with her husband, Ray, since 2016, is an active participant. ‘There are so many things to do at Mickle Hill at Easter,’ she says. ‘Over the years we’ve tried all sorts like weaving, basket making and bingo.’
This year, a new friend of Eileen’s has been showing her some new crafts for Easter. She adds: ‘I just think how lonely I would’ve been if we hadn’t moved here and, to be honest, I haven’t been lonely since we came.’
One and two- bedroom apartments and two-bedroom bungalows are available from £159,950 to £329,950 at Mickle Hill while one bedroom apartments cost from £255,000 to £ 480,500 at Wadswick Green ( rangefordvillages.co.uk). Some of McCarthy Stone’s retirement developments are going all out to make Easter fun with managers organising Easter egg hunts and open days between March 22-30. These include Lowe House in Knebworth, Hertfordshire, where there will be an arts and crafts event on March 22.
The winner of the Easter Bonnet competition will take away a large Easter egg. One-bedroom apartments start at £ 344,000 and twobedroom apartments from £438,000.
At Goldfinch House in Chipstead, Surrey, there will be an Easter egg hunt on March 23.
And there will be an extra prize for whoever finds the most eggs — and homemade hot- cross buns for all. One-bedroom apartments cost from £387,000 and two-bedroom apartments from £476,000 ( mccarthyandstone.co.uk). Most of the 16 Retirement Villages’ developments, from Cornwall to Cheshire, will be offering residents a special Easter lunch on Sunday. Properties for sale range from a one-bedroom apartment for £210,000 to a three-bedroom chalet bungalow for £ 750,000 ( retirementvillages.co.uk). Inspired Villages’ Great Alne Park retirement village, near Alcester in Warwickshire, will be holding crafting sessions with residents to make Easter garlands. A coffee morning social follows the Easter service on March 29. And at Gifford Lea village in Chester, there will be an Easter bonnet competition and treats delivered to residents’ doorsteps on Easter Sunday.
One and two-bedroom apartments and threebedroom cottages are for sale at Great Alne Park from £370,500 to £611,500 and at Gifford Lea from £ 200,250 to £ 724,000 (