THE value of good neighbours cannot be underestimated. We rely on them in an emergency and ask them to take in parcels or keep an eye on our homes when we’re away. And new research from giffgaff has revealed Nottingham to be the UK’s best place to live if you want to borrow a cup of sugar or jug of milk from next door, as 98 per cent of residents claim to know their neighbours well and look out for them.

Nottingham is closely followed by Cardiff, Newcastle and Liverpool. Those who claim it’s friendlier up north may have a point — only three cities in the south made it into the top ten.

Although 57 per cent of the 2,000 adults polled enjoy chatting over the garden fence, technology enables them to keep in touch in other ways — 36 per cent admitted to liking their neighbours’ posts on Facebook, while nearly a quarter are in a WhatsApp or email group, and one in six have helped people out in online forums.

We’ve pinpointed the places where you have the highest chance of bonding with your neighbours and have found a home for sale in each with communal facilities or where a sense of community is actively encouraged. So dismiss all preconceptions of cities being lonely places to live, as you may well discover a ready made social life right on your doorstep…

1. Nottingham

Hitting top spot is this Midlands city, which was once the world’s lacemaking centre and also gave us Robin Hood, the original community champion. Today it is known for its pubs, clubs and live music. The average property price is around £205,000.

You could try this massive three-bed period apartment in the prestigious Park Estate, within walking distance of the city centre.

There’ll be plenty of opportunities to meet the neighbours as this private Victorian estate boasts open spaces, tennis and squash clubs and a very active residents’ association which hosts regular talks, holds a monthly farmers’ market and events throughout the year. £379,000, fhpliving.co.uk

2. Cardiff

There’s nothing like a Saturday night out the in the Welsh capital, when thousands flood into the bars and clubs in the city centre and Mermaid Quay. The average property price is £255,000

There’s no excuses for not keeping fit when you move to this two-bed, two-bath second-floor flat as it’s in Prospect Place, a development in Cardiff Bay with two gyms, a swimming pool, sauna and spa. Afterwards, relax with a cold drink and admire the views across the water with other residents on the balcony. £210,000, allenandharris.co.uk

3. Newcastle

PARTYING and eating out are high on the agenda in the Toon, which has more restaurants per square mile than anywhere else in northern England. The average property price is almost £210,000.

This extended four-bed, semi-detached house has a large garden with a brick-built summerhouse and wood burner, and is perfect for inviting people round for a barbecue. It’s located in Gosforth Garden Village, a hidden gem with a tennis court, bowling green, allotments and a village hall where exercise classes, yoga, play and parent/toddler groups and Women’s Institute meetings take place. £310,000, rookmatthewssayer.co.uk

4. Liverpool

SCOUSE warmth is legendary and the city is packed with atmospheric pubs and intimate venues. The average property price is just over £175,000.

Gateacre Village, an affluent suburb noted for its Tudor-revival architecture, is the setting of this late Victorian cottage, arranged around a shared courtyard garden, so you don’t need to crane over a fence to catch up with the people next door, and a private yard at the back for when you want some time alone. It has mullion windows, original tiled floors, two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, and a freestanding bath. £240,00, purplebricks.co.uk

5. Leicester

A MULTI-CULTURAL city that hosts the country’s second largest Caribbean carnival — topped only by Notting Hill’s — and some of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside India. The average property price is around £237,000.

Forming part of New Lubbesthorpe, a community that will consist of around 4,250 new homes, this three-bed semi includes an open-plan kitchen/dining/family room, a separate living room and parking for two cars. A residents’ hub opened recently, with the opportunity to drop in and meet neighbours or get involved with local groups and events. £242,995, barratthomes.co.uk

6. Oxford

NOT just a hotbed of academic excellence, this sociable city holds around 300 festivals, fairs and other community events every year. Get up early to enjoy tomorrow’s May Morning celebrations, from 6am. Average property price is £499,500.

This three-bed, semi-detached house has a bay-windowed sitting room, a dining room, kitchen, modern bathroom and secluded garden, and the shared driveway leads to a spacious tandem garage, so you can be smug with the neighbours that you both live in such a coveted location. £350,000, chamberlain-evans.com

7. Glasgow

THE slogan ‘People make Glasgow’ says it all, so it’ll come as no surprise to learn that it’s been voted as the country’s friendliest in several polls. Average property price is £186,700.

Bustling Byres Road — the beating heart of Glasgow’s West End — is a short walk from this period conversion on the raised ground floor of a traditional sandstone townhouse. It has a living room, dining area, kitchen, double bedroom and bathroom, and a shared garden accessed by stairs to the back door. Offers over £199,950, rettie.co.uk

8. Leeds

CHILDREN and young people are at the heart of this northern city, which runs a wide variety of activities aimed at making it Britain’s best place to grow up. Average property price is £219,500.

A communal roof terrace is the crowning glory of this spacious two-bed apartment, on the second floor of Watermans Place in Granary Wharf, an established mixed-use scheme in the canal basin with a hotel, restaurants, bars and shops. It features two bathrooms, two balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows, and is close to the city centre. £280,00, cityliving.co.uk

9. Plymouth

AN initiative to improve the standards of bars, pubs and clubs has earned this city the award for the UK’s top Best Bar None scheme. Cheers! Average property price is £212,000.

Snap up this luxury fourth floor duplex on Plymouth Hoe and you can chat to your neighbours whilst enjoying panoramic sea views from the gorgeous residents’ gardens. The two-bed, two-bath property has an open-plan kitchen/reception room with sliding doors that lead to a full-width balcony, and there’s allocated parking. £385,00, langtownandcountry.com

10. Brighton

LONG regarded as Britain’s gay capital, Brighton has a full calendar of LGBT+ events, from comedy nights to the UK’s biggest Pride festival. The average property price is £396,000.

Perfect for a sun worshipper, we found a one-bed, lower-ground floor flat in one of Kemp Town’s most sought-after squares and a pebble’s throw from the seafront. It has six acres of shared private gardens, which have a tunnel leading straight to the beach. It doesn’t get better than that. £325,000, mishonmackay.com

And bringing up the rear…

AND here are the cities where you are least likely to know your neighbours… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Britain’s three largest cities — London, Birmingham and Manchester — all make the list, suggesting that busy metropolitan lifestyles give little time for chatting to those living next door.

1. Sheffield

2. Bristol

3. Edinburgh

4. Norwich

5. Manchester

6. London

7. Birmingham

8. Cambridge

9. Cheltenham

10. Southampton