England house prices: the 15 most expensive towns outside of London

Featuring red-brick buildings and lavish green spaces, Virginia Water retains the top spot on Zoopla’s highest value towns rich list with an average property price of £1,680,781.

This charming commuter town in Surrey, which has a population of less than 6,000 people, packs a mighty historical punch. Its leafy Wentworth Estate and adjacent golf course hosted the first ever Ryder Cup tournament and is a prime piece of Crown Estate in south east England.

The town’s most expensive street is Portnall Rise with an average property price of £7,346,970, followed by Wentworth Drive (£6,760,879), North Drive (£6,501,287) and Pinewood Road (£6,462,714). 

The average sold price for a property in Virginia Water in the last 12 months is £1,629,731, Zoopla said. Different property types in Virginia Water have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £2,419,954
• Semi-detached: £685,118
• Terraced: £937,500
• Flats: £549,086

The picturesque town of Beaconsfield sits on the edge of the Chiltern Hills area of outstanding natural beauty. Aside from its appealing blend of Georgian and Tudor architecture, Beaconsfield has enviable transport links, with direct train services to Birmingham Snow Hill and London Marylebone (journey time: 25 minutes).

The average sold price for a property in Beaconsfield in the last 12 months is £1,185,737, Zoopla said. Different property types in Beaconsfield have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,603,719
• Semi-detached: £714,959
• Terraced: £513,833
• Flats: £601,178

Cobham is perched on the banks of the River Mole, ten miles outside of Guildford. This quaint town is arranged around its red-brick water mill, constructed in the late 18th century, and the 12th-century St Andrew’s Church.

The average sold price for a property in Cobham in the last 12 months is £1,237,866, Zoopla said. Different property types in Cobham have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,751,734
• Semi-detached: £672,525
• Terraced: £508,500
• Flats: £571,022

Chalfont St Giles might seem familiar even to first-time visitors. For more than 40 years, it has played the role of numerous fictional towns of the small screen, appearing in Dad’s Army, The Canterbury Tales and Peep Show. Transport links are somewhat lacking, but Chalfont St Giles’s relative remoteness is part of the appeal. It has also inspired great works of art: Milton’s Cottage – where John Milton completed his epic poem Paradise Lost – still stands and is open to the public.

The average sold price for a property in Chalfont St. Giles in the last 12 months is £979,386, Zoopla said. Different property types in Chalfont St. Giles have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,224,602
• Semi-detached: £639,038
• Terraced: £586,667
• Flats: £319,857

At the south-east edge of London’s leafy suburbs, Esher is delightfully peaceful considering its proximity to the capital. With the National Trust’s Claremont Landscape Garden (formerly the residence of King Leopold I of Belgium) at one end of town and the rugged Esher Commons woodland at the other, Esher is perfect for anyone seeking a mix of urban comfort and rural tranquillity.

The average sold price for a property in Esher in the last 12 months is £1,076,904, Zoopla said. Different property types in Esher have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,542,308
• Semi-detached: £829,650
• Terraced: £579,217
• Flats: £416,977

Set in the Chiltern Hills, Gerrards Cross is one of the most sought-after postcodes in Britain. The town has a beautiful rural setting and efficient transport links. Those wishing to keep fit can take advantage of facilities for hockey, golf, squash, tennis, football, rugby and cricket.

The average sold price for a property in Gerrards Cross in the last 12 months is £1,010,473, Zoopla said. Different property types in Gerrards Cross have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,267,173
• Semi-detached: £699,197
• Terraced: £558,712
• Flats: £507,200

This ancient village – dating back to well before 5,000 BC – became a beacon of affluence in the Roman era, where it was a manufacturing centre for pottery. Many Roman clay pits are still intact at the southern end of the village. Today Radlett boasts excellent transport links into the centre of London. The village is also famous for being the home of numerous celebrities past and present, including Simon Cowell and the late George Michael.

The average sold price for a property in Radlett in the last 12 months is £990,300, Zoopla said. Different property types in Radlett have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,399,656
• Semi-detached: £776,192
• Terraced: £569,581
• Flats: £470,953

The parish of Hartfield, situated in the Weald of Sussex, has been designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. And it shows: the parish sits alongside the beautiful, dense Ashdown Forest, a former royal hunting park centuries ago.

As a result, the forest remains full of wonderful and easy-to-spot creatures, including boars and foxes. Hartfield is home to Cotchford Farm, a country retreat bought by author AA Milne in 1924. It is here that the stories of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin came to life, with places such as Hundred Acre Wood, Poohsticks Bridge and Pooh Corner based on local sites, said House Beautiful magazine.

The average sold price for a property in Hartfield in the last 12 months is £510,750, Zoopla said. Different property types in Hartfield have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £704,000
• Semi-detached: N/A
• Terraced: £382,500
• Flats: £274,166
  

Located within the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, Brockenhurst has a population of fewer than 4,000 and often tops the list of the most beautiful villages in England. Ponies and donkeys roam its old-world setting, yet it is just 15 miles from Southampton and boasts excellent road and rail links to London, making it a prime destination for commuters willing to travel that little bit further for the quiet life.

The average sold price for a property in Brockenhurst in the last 12 months is £809,139, Zoopla said. Different property types in Brockenhurst have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,059,205
• Semi-detached: £664,000
• Terraced: £436,000
• Flats: £161,750
  

With more than 15,000 people, Weybridge is a bustling town with an extensive high street that cuts through leafy suburbs of manors and mansions. The location of the town gives its residents prime access to the wild Weybridge Heath, where numerous rare insects and birds have been recorded, and to some of the best private schools in the country, including St George’s College.

The average sold price for a property in Weybridge in the last 12 months is £954,779, Zoopla said. Different property types in Weybridge have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,549,814
• Semi-detached: £720,397
• Terraced: £629,982
• Flats: £490,293

Despite its role as a commuter town, Harpenden has retained a charmingly bucolic feel, with small village greens and thatched-roof pubs stocked with local cask ale. The area boasts a broad range of property types, with well-maintained Victorian, Edwardian and inter-war family homes sitting alongside contemporary new-builds.

The average sold price for a property in Harpenden in the last 12 months is £889,105, Zoopla said. Different property types in Harpenden have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,385,824
• Semi-detached: £843,463
• Terraced: £582,946
• Flats: £381,722

A mere 11 miles from the centre of London, East Molesey is the ideal commuter town for those looking for a quick way into the capital. A small community, it has its own high street and a cycle/pedestrian-only ferry service to Hampton Court Palace on the opposite bank of the Thames.

The average sold price for a property in East Molesey in the last 12 months is £878,650, Zoopla said. Different property types in East Molesey have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,277,310
• Semi-detached: £1,040,717
• Terraced: £718,029
• Flats: £467,074

The Henley Regatta has made Henley-on-Thames a household name across the world. It is also a deceptively busy little town with plenty of museums, markets and one of the oldest theatres in the country, all within a short walk of the riverfront.

The average sold price for a property in Henley-on-Thames in the last 12 months is £872,511, Zoopla said. Different property types in Henley-on-Thames have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,191,438
• Semi-detached: £759,417
• Terraced: £669,072
• Flats: £431,733

Boasting history ranging from prestigious horse races to the world’s oldest continuously inhabited castle, Ascot, Windsor and Maidenhead form a tri-settlement belt of high quality homes in the countryside west of London. Whether you prefer the Queen Anne Enclosure at Royal Ascot or the rich history of Windsor Castle, the towns have plenty to keep you busy - while still remaining peaceful during off season.

The average sold price for a property in Ascot in the last 12 months is £894,986, Zoopla said. Different property types in Ascot have different average sold prices over the last 12 months:

• Detached: £1,482,938
• Semi-detached: £548,195
• Terraced: £492,040
• Flats: £470,122

The upmarket Hertfordshire village of Welwyn is a “rural hotspot offering a slice of history, plenty of greenery and peaceful respite from the city”, says The Herts Advertiser. Only a 25-minute commute from London King’s Cross, it’s a “prosperous enclave with many high end homes”.

The average sold price for a property in Welwyn in the last 12 months is £820,661, Zoopla said. Different property types in Welwyn have different average sold prices over the last 12 months: 

• Detached: £990,378
• Semi-detached: £601,438
• Terraced: £517,227
• Flats: £328,500