What can £300,000 buy across Britain?

The housing market continues to be busier than ever, which has pushed the national asking price for a home to a record high of £338,462. But you can still buy some great houses for a lot less than this.

And if you’re a first-time buyer in England or Northern Ireland, you won’t pay any stamp duty on homes priced at £300,000 or less.

In Scotland and Wales, there is an equivalent tax for first-time buyers to pay, which works out at less than £5,000 for properties priced within this budget.

So, want to know what sort of houses you can buy across Britain for £300,000 or less? We’ve uncovered everything from character cottages in idyllic villages, to big, detached houses and waterside retreats. Take a look below.

Kewstoke, North Somerset

If you’re after a dreamy little two-bedroom cottage not too far from the sea, then Bay Tree Cottage could be the one for you.

The carefully-tended gardens are lush, and are teeming with brightly-coloured flowering plants, shrubs and kitchen herbs. The current owners have also carried out painstaking renovations to add a contemporary update to the home’s character features, from the charming sitting room, with its exposed stone inglenook fireplace and wood-burning stove, to the country-style duck-egg blue kitchen.

Whitchurch, Cardiff

This pretty pink cottage close to Whitchurch Village stands out for all the right reasons. Priced at £290,000, this three-bedroom period gem is packed with character features, including exposed timber beams throughout. There’s also a private paved garden and seating area outside.

Pentney, Norfolk

This Wesleyan Chapel located between King’s Lynn and Swaffham has been converted into two separate three-bedroom homes which still have many of the church’s original features, including the stained glass windows. There’s a spacious open-plan kitchen and living area, three bedrooms upstairs and a courtyard garden to the rear.

Upper Rissington, Gloucestershire

This three-bedroom, semi-detached house is in a great central location within the popular Cotswolds village of Upper Rissington. The home is set over two floors, with a good-sized fitted kitchen at the front of the house and a rear garden with two paved terraces.

Gedling, Nottingham

Swinton, Greater Manchester

This three-bedroom mews cottage is set within a quiet cul-de-sac in South Swinton. On the ground floor you’ll find a cosy living room, handy space by the stairs (which is currently used as a playroom) and a dine-in kitchen. Upstairs are three bedrooms, on en-suite, and a family bathroom.

Enfield, north London

There’s a room on every floor of this skinny London home set across four levels. The kitchen is on the lower-ground floor, while the reception room is at street level. Upstairs, you’ll find the bedroom and the bathroom is up in the eaves. Enfield Town Station is just over a mile away.

READ MORE: How to become a ‘power-buyer’ in a busy housing market