Changing work habits brought about by the pandemic and rising house prices have seen households turn their back on cities for nearby countryside locations.

New analysis from Experian has revealed this growing change in where homeowners are looking to base their lives. The average house price in the UK now stands at £275,000, and £521,146 in London. This cost, coupled with many employees now working for home at least for part of the working week, has inspired people to relocate to find a healthier work life balance.

The rural district of Harborough in the Midlands has seen an influx of movers from Leicester, while the market town of Selby in North Yorkshire has seen arrivals from nearby cities Leeds, Bradford, and York.

The picturesque town of Tewkesbury in the Cotswolds has become a desired location for those looking to leave Cheltenham and the trend is also happening north of the border, with East and Midlothian now home for those leaving the capital, Edinburgh.

London saw the largest proportion of movers leave their region, with 12% leaving for locations in the south-east and 8% heading further afield into the East region, according to Experian, which added that this trend is likely to accelerate changes already seen in British high streets over the last decade, with new retailers and services opening to cater to the needs of the new arrivals.