From flexible family homes to affordable first-time buyer properties and countryside idylls, these are the best properties outside the capital of the year

The market is tougher than ever, yet in parts of London first-time buyers are becoming the most important players

After months of anticipation, take a closer look at the champions setting the standard for house-building excellence in the capital, who were honoured at the Evening Standard’s annual awards

Renting a house in Dorset only costs £50 more a month than the rent for their one-bedroom flat in North Kensington

When their landlord put their Battersea rent up to £2,100 a month this couple decided to pack up and leave London behind for a life of travel

Zsofia Horvath’s move from London to Cambridge felt like a big step into the unknown, but she loves the cosmopolitan vibe of the smaller city

Hybrid working and high-speed broadband mean village life is an option for those with jobs in the capital, and there are plenty of areas with handy city links to choose from

From riverside hubs surrounded by greenery to buzzing locales full of independent shops and eateries, there’s a town centre for all

As the city’s hotspots get increasingly costly, here are some nearby neighbourhoods that have just as much to offer — but more appealing price tags

Their combined experience in building and interiors means first-time buyers Julia Starzyk and Wojciech Okon weren’t afraid of taking on a fixer-upper

Former hospital matron Cayli has found more space, a creative community and a new career in Ramsgate

Getting on the property ladder is harder than ever, but hope is not lost thanks to affordable buying schemes and enticing incentives, as these excited new homeowners discovered

With its choice of picturesque market towns, lower profile coastal resorts and villages, East Sussex has more than the beaches and bars of Brighton

The Garden of England has never been more chic — no wonder that people are moving there in their droves, says Ruth Bloomfield

Renting outside of London almost halved this family’s costs. Within two years of moving, they’d bought their own three-bedroom home

Access to green space, a community vibe and amenities on the doorstep have become vital for buyers, and these high-density sites tick all the boxes

This couple found a much-needed lifestyle change, a charming cottage and new careers in the historic town of Staplehurst in Kent

New rural homes within reach of the city are increasingly popular, with a record number of first-time buyers going beyond the M25

New homes across London and Sussex in repurposed landmarks and cutting-edge builds with architectural merit

With London’s outer boroughs soon to be connected by a circular suburban bus network, we discover the neighbourhoods ready to shine