Devon, a country located in the south-west of England, is almost universally regarded as one of the best places to buy an investment property in the UK.
It’s easy to see why. The main reason is that it’s one of Britain’s best-loved tourist destinations, drawing millions of holidaymakers each year.
 
What makes Devon an attractive tourist destination?
This perennially popular country is home to the thriving, historic cities of Plymouth and Exeter - where you can enjoy live entertainment and cultural events and venues, cutting edge night clubs, bars and restaurants, boutiques and high street stores – bustling market towns, an active nightlife, picture postcard coastlines, mile upon mile of award-winning beaches, many unspoilt areas of outstanding natural beauty and national parks such as Exmoor and Dartmoor, and the English Riviera…plus almost everything else in between!
Also, crucially, it has some of the best weather in the UK.
 
Higher education
There are two major universities in Devon and a host of highly acclaimed higher educational institutions.  The University of Exeter has around 22,000 students, whilst the University of Plymouth has around 21,000, so good news for property investors who are keen to benefit from the student accommodation market.
 
Connections
The main city, Exeter, is just two hours away from London by train and it even has it own small airport with connections to other towns and cities across the UK and Europe. By road, it takes about three and a half hours to get to the British capital.
 
Popularity
Since the start of the pandemic, more and more people deciding to move away from major UK cities have begun looking to move away to somewhere where they can get more property bang for their buck, as well as living in an idyllic setting. 
This trend has prompted property prices in the north of the country to rise around 22% in a year.
The average cost of rent in the south-west of England rose by 2.6% in the year leading to August, more than double the 1.2% increase for the UK as a whole.
These are trends that most industry experts believe is set to continue as a growing number of investors evaluate the delights of Devon.
Whilst the fast-growing population and rising property values mean that it is unaffordable to some potential locally-based buyers, the positive for buy to let investors, however, is that this keeps the rental market profitable.
 
Sidmouth
One of the most enduringly popular destinations in Devon is Sidmouth,
a stunning coastal town with a regency feel located along the dramatic Jurassic Coast.
It’s home to “beautiful beaches, stylish eating places and great shopping, with everything from unusual gifts, designer clothing and lifestyle goods available,” says the official South Devon tourist website.