The environment we live in contributes enormously to our quality of life. While it might seem obvious, it’s better to be surrounded by beauty than it is to be surrounded by ugliness.

This truism might explain the findings of a recent survey, commissioned by fitted furniture specialist Hammonds. 2,000 UK adults took part in a poll, with more than half (57%) reporting that the beauty of the surrounding area was an important factor when choosing a home.

Are you Looking to Move House?

If you’re looking to make a move, then you might wonder what effect beauty has on the list price. If you can snap up a home in the right setting for a bargain, then it might be a good idea to adjust your priorities accordingly.

Where to Look for a Picturesque Location

According to the study, Cornwall is the most beautiful place in the country, thanks to harbour villages like Fowey and Falmouth. The visual appeal of this part of the UK is also reflected by its popularity on social media. St. Michael’s Mount was recently named the most ‘Instagrammable’ location in the country. Other Cornish locations weren’t far behind, with Frenchman’s Creek and Pendennis Headland also ranking highly.

Just behind Cornwall in the Hammonds survey was the Lake District. Further down the list, we find Yorkshire, the Cotswolds, and the Isle of Skye. Put simply, if you’re within reach of a major national park, then you can expect beautiful surroundings.

Are you on a Budget?

Beauty doesn’t need to come at a hefty price, however. The Isle of Bute offers tremendous value, with house prices falling to just £115,000, less than half of the national average. Boddam, in Aberdeenshire, and the Isle of Lewis also feature in the list of affordable beauty spots. As such, if you’re looking for value, Scotland is the place to live.

The rise of remote and hybrid working has helped to make locations like these more appealing to the average UK worker. If you’re freelancing as a video editor, for example, you might set up shop on a remote island and enjoy the benefits of beautiful surroundings. The only thing to consider is the quality of your internet access, which can be very patchy in some parts of the country. Check before you put in a bid for that dream remote property!

At the other end of the spectrum, we have London, which unsurprisingly is the most expensive place to live of those surveyed – though just 3% of respondents considered it the most beautiful place in the country.

There does seem to be a correlation between beauty and house prices, however. Oxford, Bath, and Cambridge are all considered extremely beautiful, thanks to a combination of local architecture, green spaces, and strict planning laws. They sit respectively at 4^th, 5^th and 6^th on the final table, with average house prices sitting at more than twice the national average.