Westbury

WESTBURY was once a charming small town, with Georgian houses grouped around the market place and church, and a wonderful Victorian swimming pool, but it has been swamped by new housing. There are a few shops – a butcher, greengrocer, bank and supermarket with post office. Two-bedroom starter homes can be bought for £117,000, and small three-bedroom semis for £140,000. High above Westbury stands the oldest white horse in Wiltshire, believed to have commemorated King Alfred’s victory over the Danes in the ninth century.

Bratton, a couple of miles to the east, offers sleepy lanes where a small stream runs past some of the old cottages tucked into the hedgerows. The village has a store and a school. A beautiful four-bedroom Georgian estate cottage would sell for around £695,000; a three-bedroom end-of-terrace for £270,000. Edington is similar, though more remote with a nice pub called The Lamb. This area is rather far from any large town so prices tend to be lower and commuting is rigorous. A thatched cottage might cost £249,000 upwards.