THE IDYLLIC village of Avebury has made it into the Telegraph’s round-up of the 54 'most desirable' British villages.

Praised for its ‘magic, myth and paganism’, the village was the only one to be recognised in Wiltshire.

It ticks all the boxes, according to Savills estate agents. who created the list.

Analyst Frances Clacy said: “People want villages that have a bit of everything, from schools to stunning countryside, with accessibility to cities and transport infrastructure."

People in Wiltshire will no doubt be able to vouch for the village’s picture-perfect countryside, and it has lots of high-performing schools nearby.

Much of Avebury’s appeal comes from its rich, historical background. With a portion of the village encircled by Avebury henge. The famous stone circle is known as being one of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain.

Dating back to the Neolithic period (between 2850 BC and 2200 BC), the circle is the largest of its kind in Britain, and is protected as a World Heritage Site alongside Stonehenge; making the village a valuable asset to Britain.

Avebury stone circles and henge are also a unique selling point as there is no entry fee, meaning visitors and residents can get to know the site multiple times without breaking the bank.

The list of desirable villages was based on a number of factors including a combination of house prices, lifestyle amenities, connectivity and 'chocolate-box appeal'.

Passing the check for chocolate-box charm, Avebury is home to some beautiful, thatched cottages which gives the unique village a sense of traditionalism.

And its residents are never short of things to do, with plenty of places they can venture out to, such as The Alexander Keillor Museum. The restored barn is now home to an exhibit of rural life, with agricultural equipment and objects from daily life.

The village also comprises a couple of bed and breakfasts, a National Trust manor and an all-important 19th-century Greene King pub.

The village is no stranger to national recognition. In August 2021, it was named the very ‘best’ village to visit in the whole of the UK by a Which? survey, where it was described as a place where visitors can “order a pint of bitter in the middle of a Neolithic henge.”

Avebury scored five stars for scenery in the survey, making it the perfect place to put your walking boots on for a National Trust-recommended walk.

If you want to really get a feel for the village and see what it has to offer, a stroll around Silbury Hill could be the one for you.

According to The National Trust: “This walk takes you around one of the most important sites in the World Heritage Site.

“Silbury Hill is the largest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe and was built between 4,400 and 4,300 years ago.”