As the southern gateway to the picturesque Lake District, this is one beautiful place to live
WHY MOVE THERE? Set between two national parks, some of this countrymost stunning landscape is on Kendaldoorstep. The town itself is beautiful, too, and therea lively cultural scene, with an arts centre, theatre and many music venues.
HOUSING Stone terraced houses in town sell for around ?150,000 to ?300,000, with two-bedroom flats from around ?130,000. On the townoutskirts, three-bedroom semi-detached estate houses cost from ?250,000, with four-bedroom houses for ?375,000.
TRANSPORT Trains from Oxenholme, two miles from Kendal, reach London Euston in around three hours, Manchester in 90 minutes and Birmingham in just over two hours.
SCHOOLS There are plenty of good primaries. Ofsted rates secondaries The Queen Katherine as Outstanding and Kirkbie Kendal School as Good.
SHOPPING There are lots of gift shops, but therealso the Indoor Market Hall, plus the K Village shopping centre. COUNCIL TAX Band A is ?1,044 a year; Band D, ?1,566; and Band H, ?3,132.
Properties in Kendal
From ?180,000
New riverside luxury apartments
Riverside Place, Carter Jonas (01539 722592; carterjonas.co.uk)
?255,000
Three-bedroom period terrace
Cumbrian Properties (01539 733373; cumbrian-properties.co.uk)
Make energy improvements to your home before you sell it, as buyers now see green technology as adding value to a property
