Chippenham combines market town character with genuine connectivity. The high street has the usual names alongside independent shops and cafés, the Friday and Saturday markets draw a good crowd, and the railway station gets you to London Paddington in just over an hour. For families and professionals who want space, good schools, and realistic property prices without sacrificing transport links, it makes sense.

The town centre's had investment in recent years, and it shows. John Coles Park runs alongside the River Avon through the middle of town, popular with dog walkers and runners. There's a good range of local facilities, strong primary and secondary schools, and the kind of community mix you get in market towns that work – young families, professionals working remotely or commuting, and people who've downsized but want to stay connected.

The transport connections are one of Chippenham's real strengths. Direct trains to Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and London. The M4's minutes away. Bristol Airport's under an hour. It's why the town attracts such a broad range of residents.

Location seals it for most people. You're 13 miles from Bath, surrounded by Wiltshire countryside, and on the doorstep of the Cotswolds. Castle Combe's ten minutes away, Lacock (the village from Pride and Prejudice and Harry Potter) is five, and Corsham with its Georgian character is even closer. You get town convenience with some of England's most attractive villages practically on the doorstep.

Unlike Bath or the deeper Cotswold towns, you can still find good-value property here, which is what tips the decision for many families.