A market town dubbed a “diamond in the rough” by estate agents is becoming increasingly popular among Londoners leaving the city. As prices continue to surge in London and the South East, homebuyers are increasingly looking elsewhere in order to get on the housing ladder.
The introduction of hybrid working has aided this, as longer commutes to London from other parts of England feel more tenable for workers travelling to the office once or twice a week. Gainsborough – which has a host of family homes selling for £130k – has experienced a surge in interest from Londoners.
The pretty market town is situated in the East Midlands just north of Lincoln. This might feel a stretch too far for people working in London, but with a commute time of one hour and 37 minutes by train it does become more feasible.
Gainsborough is completely steeped in history, with the Old Hall being described as one of the best preserved medieval manor houses in the country by Historic England.
Market Place in the town centre is another key example. The pedestrianised area is packed full of independent shops nestled along narrow streets.
While it’s commutable to London, Gainsborough also has good connections to both Lincoln and Sheffield. It also boasts areas of splendid countryside just a stone’s throw away, which is a key pull factor for Londoners searching for a more peaceful place to live. The stunning Lincolnshire Wolds are also just a 30 minute drive away which offers a range of walking routes.
Alex Walshaw, sales manager and valuer at independent estate agent Martin & Co, told the Daily Mail it presents “really good value for money”.
He said: “With the good transport links to London and house prices being low, it’s attracting lots of people from the capital. There are lots of rural areas around it, the lovely Lincolnshire countryside, lots of local farms and villages and woodland. It’s lovely.”
Mr Walshaw added Morton and Gainsborough North are particularly nice areas where you can buy a five-bedroom detached homes for less than £500k. Four-bedroom detached family homes go for around £200k o £240k and three-bed semis are £130k.
The commute from Gainsborough requires a short train to nearby Retford before journeying on to Kings Cross in one hour and 25 minutes. Average house prices for semi-detached homes in Gainsborough are currently £141k according to Rightmove.
This article was published by MyLondon, read the original here.
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