20 easiest places in UK to buy a property revealed

London is nowhere to be seen

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Owning a home in today's volatile economic climate might seem like a distant dream for most, but it’s practically unheard of for those based in London, where property prices are amongst the highest in the UK.

Thankfully, there are other options, as a new list compiled by Compare the Market reveals, illustrating the easiest places in the UK to buy property now.

The list of 20 locations is based on data acquired by the home insurance experts, taking far more into account than just average house prices.

With each location, the list has taken into consideration the number of properties available per 100,000 people, the number of estate agents per capita, the average period of time a property spends on the market and the average length of time current owners spend in their properties.

Topping the list is Canterbury, with an average house price of £311,152 - less than half London’s £639,629 - boasting 219 estate agencies, 262 properties per 100,000 people and properties spending an average of just 28 days on the market.

The Kent city is known for its historic cathedral and mediaeval architecture and is conveniently-located for those commuting to London at just a 56-minute train journey away.

This was followed by Bristol, where the average house price is marginally lower at £311,103 and properties spend an average of two and a half years on the market - trains take an hour and a half to and from the capital.

York, which was recently named the “best place to live in the UK” in The Sunday Times’ annual list, ranks sixth, with an average house price of £274,153, falling just under the national average of £292,893.

For the full list of the “easiest locations to buy outside of London”, see below:

1. Canterbury (average house price: £311,154)

2. Bristol (average house price: £311,103)

3. Southampton (average house price: £280,128)

4. Manchester (average house price: £185,583)

5. Nottingham (average house price: £194,099)

6. York (average house price: £274,153)

7. Glasgow (average house price: £170,811)

8. Newcastle (average house price: £200,907)

9. Bradford (average house price: £131,036)

10. Portsmouth (average house price: £223,910)

11. Sheffield (average house price: £223,910)

12. Liverpool (average house price: £223,910)

13. Peterborough (average house price: £223,910)

14. Derby (average house price: £223,910)

15. Sunderland (average house price: £223,910)

16. Coventry (average house price: £223,910)

17. Leicester (average house price: £223,910)

18. Edinburgh (average house price: £223,910)

19. Birmingham (average house price: £223,910)

20. Leeds (average house price: £223,910)