The idea of living in a picturesque British village is proving to be very alluring to buyers, according to estate agents.

Research published earlier this month by Hamptons International found that many Londoners and a growing number of overseas buyers are willing to splash out on a home in the country, with villages close to rail stations that offer regular services to the capital the most popular areas for buyers keen to live outside of the city.

Rob Bruce, research manager at Hamptons, told the Times: "Village life appeals for the mix of semi-rural living and good local facilities."

He said that living in small communities as opposed to in isolated rural areas appeals to those "who like the idea of country living, but would be terrified of being on their own in the middle of open countryside".

However, buyers have a definitive idea of what they want out of village-life, with the head of Strutt & Parker''s country division, Henry Holland Hibbert, telling the newspaper: "People look at whether a place represents what they consider the quintessential English country village."