Greatest Escapes to the Country: Jules Hudson and Nicki Chapman's top tips for Londoners thinking of buying a rural home

Most of us may be remote working for the forseeable with little prospect of going to the theatre, eating in a top restaurant or taking the Tube.

And if you're starting to suspect that even once these things are available again you might not be too bothered, then it might be your time to make the move to the countryside.

With impeccable timing, Greatest Escapes to the Country has hit our screens with a 15-part series offering a gentle overview of the properties and lifestyles that could be available to London leavers.

Here two of the show's stalwart presenters offer their advice on the important questions to ask yourself so that this enormous life change can run as smoothly as possible.

Don’t assume that everywhere in the country will be a lot cheaper than London

“Do your homework to see if your budget is realistic for where you want to live.

"Some very beautiful parts of the country are very expensive, even considering London house prices.

"Hopefully, you should still get a discount and there tends to be less competition so you might be able to negotiate a better deal,” says Chapman.

Be realistic about how much time and energy you will have

If you’re still working full time, even from home, you probably won’t be able to undertake a huge project of a home. You might just want to add a new kitchen, bathroom or home office, suggests Hudson.

The same applies for running a new business such as a holiday let. “Look very carefully at that market in the area you’re looking to live, see what commands the best prices and the standards you’ll need to aim for.”

Ditto if you’re buying a property with land. “If you’ve never experienced what five or six acres looks like, go and find out. You’ve got to manage that sort of land, it’s not ‘riding-on-lawnmower’ territory.

"Land is expensive, it’s going to take a fair chunk out of your budget and so may mean you need to compromise on the standard of property. A couple of acres might be more than enough.”

Will you still need to commute?

“Zoom’s all very well but it’s probably important to get into your office at least once a week, so consider how long you think your commute could be.

"If you’ve got to be in the office and back within a day, then you’ll need to be closer in and it will likely be more expensive. If you could go to London for two days a week, then that changes your arc of search and you might be able to move further west or north and potentially get more for your money,” says Hudson.

Hudson has also written the Escape to the Country Handbook with further advice on how to choose an area to move to.

How far are you prepared to travel for a pint of milk?

“If you’re used to living in the city, you’re used to the convenience of having everything on your doorstep. But if you are living in the country, a lot of things might take a bit longer.

"It might take you 35 minutes to get to your nearest shop and it’ll probably take some time to go and get your hair cut. It’s a readjustment, be flexible,” says Chapman.

Be prepared for all seasons

The countryside’s one thing in a summer heatwave but what will your “dream house” be like when it’s dark at 4pm in December and there aren’t any streetlights or pavements?

This may not matter to you — but it probably will if your children will be walking to school, for example.

Try renting

“It might not be possible for families because schooling’s so important but if you can, perhaps rent for a few months and really consider if it’s right for you.

"But I’d say if you’ve found somewhere that you really love and cherish, don’t delay — go for it,” says Chapman.

How will you make friends?

Do you need to be near a ready-made community in a small town or larger village?

“People in the countryside are hopefully going to be very welcoming and they need to do that for their communities to thrive. But you’ve got to put yourself out there, they’re not waiting for you.

"You’ve got to expect for the first year you’re going to go down to the village hall for Zumba or support the local pub because otherwise you’re not going to meet people,” says Chapman.

Greatest Escapes to the Country airs weekdays at 6:30pm on BBC Two. Apply here to appear in the next series of Escape to the Country.