The pretty little UK market town with 'loads of tea rooms but not too many tourists'
Petersfield in Hampshire is a blissful spot with hardly any tourists.
When choosing where to live many of us are influenced by practical matters such as where our jobs are based and where family and friends live. Far less thought is given to the aesthetic of a town or what the surrounding area is like.
But there are places that can tick all the boxes. The market town of Petersfield in Hampshire seems to offer a bit of everything.
The Guardian once likened it to the “urban equivalent of a foot rub and a G&T”. It was also praised for being easily accessible to and from London, characterful and surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Another apparent highlight is its wealth of tea rooms giving it the feel of a quaint holiday village but without all the tourists.
But what else makes this a stand-out place to both live and visit?
The Guardian piece, from 2013, described Petersfield as a “nirvana for commuters”.
It said: “What better spot to come home to after a hard day managing the stationery cupboard than this undemanding market town, all tile-hung gables and tea shops, and pressed into a slight dip in the South Downs?
“It's the urban equivalent of a foot rub and a G&T. At the same time. With a shoulder massage.
“It's pretty, but not too pretty: you'll never have to battle through tourist hordes to get your coffee and flapjack.”
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This is certainly true, with a healthy selection of tea rooms and coffee shops in the town.
Popular spots such as Meg’s Kitchen, The Plump Duck and The Tea Barn are all on hand to provide a tasty cup of tea and slice of cake.
By train London is around an hour and 20 minutes away, and it is also just half an hour from beaches along the south coast.
In the more immediate area though is the South Downs, a beautiful national park in which the town sits with stunning woodlands and rolling hills, making it the perfect spot for nature lovers.
Visit Petersfield actually describes the town as the “gateway” to the South Downs.
“Welcome to the ancient market town of Petersfield, set in glorious countryside and described as the gateway to the South Downs National Park,” it says.
“Formerly an important coaching centre on the London to Portsmouth road, Petersfield is a great place to live, work and have fun. In the centre of town, enjoy the lively town square with its regular weekly markets and regular festivals.
“Visit the recently re-imagined Petersfield Museum, the Physic Garden and the Norman church of St Peter’s.
“There is plenty of theatre, music, art and sport, and the town and its satellite villages are blessed with great pubs, cafes and restaurants.”
It adds: “Petersfield is the perfect base for a walking or cycling weekend or holiday being surrounded by a pretty network of lanes and superb public footpaths giving visitors access to beautiful and varied unspoilt countryside in every direction.”
According to Rightmove, properties in Petersfield had an overall average price of £563,755 over the last year.
However, the majority of sales in Petersfield during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £944,119.