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The top ten list of areas that drew the biggest increase in buyer searches in April compared to a year ago reveals a desire to find a more remote and scenic location to live, according to Rightmove.

Topping the list is Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, where searches are up 167 per cent, followed by the Shetland Isles, up 131 per cent.

For those seriously thinking of moving, the average asking price of a property in Inverness is £201,654, making it an affordable alternative to a number of cities around the UK.

Number three on the list is one of the most luxurious places to live in the UK, Sandbanks in Poole. A six-bedroom waterfront house is currently on Rightmove for almost £7m, likely to be high up on a lottery win wish list.

People browsing Rightmove continue to dual-screen, with searches of homes in Belgravia up 42 per cent compared to last April, thanks to the new ITV historical drama of the same name.

Those browsing the mansions will find it is one of the most expensive areas of the UK. The lowest price for a three-bed property currently on Rightmove is over £1m in Belgravia, compared to just over £100,000 in Inverness. Mayfair also makes it to the top ten list.

Captain Tom Moore, who has captured the nation’s hearts while fundraising millions for the NHS, has ignited interest in his home town of Marston Moretaine in Bedford. Searches for there were up 46 per cent in April, compared to the same month last year.

Rightmove housing market analyst Miles Shipside says: “People often use Rightmove to daydream so it’s not surprising to see some of the search areas on the up being the most expensive.

“The popularity of the far north is due to people dreaming of living somewhere more remote and those seriously thinking about changing their lifestyle.”