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Swap city life for these beautiful rural spots

Seeking the tranquil pleasures of life in the countryside? The top 10 best rural places to relocate to in the UK have been revealed, with Maldon in Essex scooping first place.

In order to uncover the most popular rural settings, new research conducted by Money.co.uk analysed over 100 rural towns and cities on factors including average house price, median annual pay, Internet download speed, community spirit and nearby restaurants.

Overlooking the Blackwater estuary, Maldon was awarded a relocation score of 7.33 thanks to its excellent air quality, average pay and dry climates (it has just 658mm of annual rainfall). Despite having no train station, the relatively under-the-radar town is especially famous for the Hythe Quay — home to many of the remaining Thames Barges.

The market town of Sleaford, situated in North Kesteven, came in second place. With relatively low average house prices (£239,733) and brilliant air quality (4.7 tonnes of CO2 emissions per capita annually), it's one of the best places for people dreaming of country living. Meanwhile, Cambourne in South Cambridgeshire took the third spot with an average property price of £221,028.

Elsewhere in the study, researchers also analysed the cheapest rural areas to help people make the most of their money.

"Of all the areas in the country that are primarily rural, County Durham is the cheapest to move to," the team say. "Here the average property price is just £122,818. Located in the North East, County Durham is an area of great historical significance. Home to the city of Durham which is known for its cathedral, as well as a castle which houses one of the country’s oldest universities."

Take a look at the full findings below...

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