When the pandemic struck, many house buyers fled the cities for the countryside in search of more space, fresh air and the sweet sound of birdsong. However, as lockdown lifted and many of us were called back to the office, some of the focus shifted away from the wilds of rural life and towards something closer to our city centres. Some of us are now house hunting in suburbia instead. But, what do you think when you hear the word ‘suburb’?
Suburbia can evoke images of uninspiring streets, and a ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ culture embedded in sleepy streets of semi-detached houses, stuck somewhere between the city and the countryside. But these traditional ‘commuter belt’ areas had a new focus when the commute was put on hold, resulting in a reignited craze for them that’s proved there isn’t anything outdated about them at all. For many, a move out of the buzzing metropolis to the ‘burbs is now the next step up with these neighbourhoods offering a real sense of community and a lot more space.
The term suburbs comes from the Latin Sub urbis meaning under the city and that’s perhaps the most attractive and longstanding draw. They are very close to our city centres. As public transport improves, in some cases, the commute from outside the city is quicker than if you lived within it. You can get more for your money too with larger lawns, more bedrooms and a bigger kitchen. They also give you glimpses of village life, but offer more amenities than a farm shop. Those who live in the best ones will rave about bakeries that sell fresh sourdough, trendy coffee shops, and a top-spec butchers, as well as proximity to some of the country’s best schools.
With that in mind, we’ve picked five really great homes nestled in suburbia…
Glenseaton Lodge, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen
This wonderful country home is situated in the suburb of Bridge of Don, just three miles from Aberdeen’s city centre. Bridge of Don provides supermarkets, schools, newsagents, banks and other shops, medical centre, churches, restaurants and public houses, as well as great transport links.
Grosvenor Gardens, Upminster, Essex
A beautiful family home within the popular Upminster garden suburb, which has proved popular with families looking for a leafy location within excellent links to the city. There are excellent transport links to London from the property with typical journey times from Upminster station being just over 20 minutes.
2 Clydesdale Road, Clydesdale, Exeter
This modern, energy efficient home is situated in the popular area of Duryard, one of the most sought-after areas of Exeter. Exeter city centre is easily accessible, with its excellent amenities, yet also within easy reach of beautiful rolling countryside.
A beautiful Grade II Listed five bedroom detached family home, situated in Chester’s sought-after suburb of Hoole. It offers a range of boutique shopping, bars and award-winning restaurants, as well as being within walking distance of the city.
Rosemary Cottage, Middle Way, Oxford
Rosemary Cottage is a wonderful house on a desirable road in Summertown. Frequent bus services from both Banbury Road and Woodstock Road offer excellent access to Oxford city centre
