Clapham, Bedfordshire

Clapham, Bedfordshire still calls itself a village, which is generous, because Bedford's northern edge rolled over it years ago and left it the church and the sign. It shares a name with the London Clapham and almost none of the price, and nobody here gets mistaken for a Clapham Junction commuter with a brunch habit, which suits everyone involved. What you get is post-war semis, a Bedford postcode and the Great Ouse within a stroll, which is lovely in June and worth a frank chat with an insurer before you sign anything.