Homes near historic Christmas markets

Marlborough, Wiltshire £580,000

This 16th century cottage overlooks the green in the heart of this ancient market town. From there, residents can see the Christmas lights strung up and down the high street to the town hall, the site of the festive fair. The four-bedroom, four-storey black and white timberframed house has a dining room and snug with an open fireplace for hanging stockings. The kitchen is at the rear, as is the sitting room, which has a wood-burning stove set in an inglenook; there is room to store kindling in the cellar. Hamptons, 01672 620 175

Guildford, Surrey £550,000

This is a town that likes to get into the festive spirit early. On a hill, at the comparatively modern cathedral (consecrated in 1961), 50 stalls sold food, drink and trinkets in mid-November. Down in the city centre, just off the high street on a cobbled hill – on the other side of the River Wey to the cathedral – is a ground-floor, three-bedroom apartment in a white terraced building. It has two bathrooms and covers 105 sq metres (1,139 sq ft). Guildford railway station is a few minutes’ walk to the north, with the green space of Shalford Park in the opposite direction. Foxtons, 01483 400 000

Rochester, Kent £1.4m

The Rochester Dickensian Christmas festival takes place in the Medway town this weekend. Victorian song, dance and readings will be delivered during a candlelit parade by the author’s famous characters and there’s not a “bah humbug” to be heard. The Limes is a grand seven-bedroom townhouse in the centre of town, just one road back from the river, with a large formal dining room for Christmas lunch. The Grade II*-listed property also has a Victorian summerhouse, a drawing room with an ornate plasterwork ceiling, and a network of cellars. Fine & Country, 01732 222 272

▲ East Rudham, Norfolk £799,000

This Georgian cottage, built in about 1800, sits on the edge of the village green where the Christmas market is held in November. The Grade II-listed property has been stylishly renovated with five bedrooms. Festivities are in full swing, with tours at Holkham Hall by candlelight, Sandringham estate winter light trail and the Christmas Day fancy dress swim at Hunstanton. Inigo, 0203 687 3071

▼ Oundle, Northamptonshire £650,000

Within walking distance of the centre of Oundle is Ducks Nest, a stone cottage thought to be one of the oldest properties in the town. A date on the gable end reads 1637 but some parts are older. There are three bedrooms, a farmhousestyle kitchen and a snug with low timber beams. The annual Christmas market is this weekend. Fine & Country, 01832 808 008