A new study has revealed that Hampshire is the best place to buy a holiday home in the UK.
New analysis ranked each county on its suitability for a second house purchase based on several factors, including the average temperature, tourism, transport links, and broadband speeds.
Hampshire took the top spot due to its convenient location, mild climate, and reasonable property prices.
The county receives the most hours of sunshine (1,634) and highest average temperatures (11.5°C) in the UK.
Plus, with 61 railway stations in total, it’s easily accessible from all over the country.
There are currently more than 9,000 properties for sale with an average asking price of £346,000, comparatively lower than other UK holiday hotspots.
Kent ranks second, according to the analysis, which was conducted by bespoke aluminium windows and doors specialist Origin, which analysed several data points from Zoopla, the Met Office, Office for National Statistics (ONS), Ofcom, and Visit Britain in its study.
The county benefits from similar sunshine hours and average temperatures to Hampshire, easy access to London, and stunning coastal towns.
However, average house prices in Kent are higher (£347,000).
Taking third spot is the West Midlands.
The home of William Shakespeare offers many tourist spots to explore, fast average broadband speeds, and a strong public transport network, but experiences worse weather, with average temperatures of 10.5°C.
Interestingly, some historic hotspots for holiday homes rank low on the list.
This is due to poor internet connections that prevent remote working, challenging public transport routes, and high average house prices.
Devon, for example, ranks 19th while Cornwall comes in 31st.
Origin COO Victoria Brocklesby said: “While locations like Cornwall and Devon have long been popular choices and offer some stunning luxury property options, our analysis shows they are no longer the practical option for many buyers.
“Instead, Hampshire offers a compelling combination of sunshine, easy access, reasonable prices, and strong tourist appeal, making properties in the county a much more well-rounded investment for those looking for a second home.”
