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KEMPSFORD, GLOUCS

Head for Gloucestershire and the lovely village of Kempsford, which dates back to Saxon times. There you will find charming Rose Cottage, on the market for £125,000. The beamed sitting room has an open fire and there's a fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room and a bathroom on the ground floor. Upstairs has a generous double bedroom overlooking a walled courtyard garden. Picturesque walks abound nearby. Swindon is just six miles away and has trains to London that take 55 minutes. Through Jackson-Stops and Staff (01285 653334).

NORWICH, NORFOLK

If your budget will stretch to £139,950, this recently restored creeper-clad cottage in Norwich might be a wise move. Exposed beams, a wood-burning stove and strippedwood floors feature in the living and dining rooms. The kitchen has an old-style walk-in pantry; there is a downstairs cloakroom and a conservatory out to the garden. Upstairs are three bedrooms, each with fitted wardrobes, and a family-sized bathroom. London can be reached by train in less than two hours. Through Abbotts Countrywide (01603 630083).