GETTING onto the property ladder in north Hampshire is an expensive business.

According to property website Rightmove, the average property in Basingstoke will set you back £250,000. That’s almost £70,000 more than the national average and £10,000 more than the average for Hampshire as a whole.

Many people are willing to pay high prices to live in a town with excellent transport links, a good range of shops and, of course, a fantastic local newspaper, but what could that sort of money buy in other parts of the country?

The answer is quite a lot.

We’ve had a look around to see how far £250,000 goes in other parts of the country. You might be surprised by what you could afford.

BASINGSTOKE

Let’s start close to home. What does the average price of £250,000 buy you in north Hampshire?

Well, you could get this three-bedroom semi-detached pad on the Riverdene Estate.

It's close to the town centre and pretty spacious inside, but as it's a leasehold, you would need to fork out £410 a year in service charges and ground rent.

Alternatively, £250,000 could get you a two-bedroom house in Chineham or a one-bedroom flat in the town centre.

SCOTLAND

If you have £250,000 to spend and are looking to relocate north of Hadrian's Wall, your money would go much further.

If you fancy getting away from it all and escaping to the highlands, this five-bedroom detached property in Fort William is on the market for £250,000.

Divided over three levels, it has five double bedrooms, two sitting rooms, a good-sized garden and boasts views across Loch Linnhe and the Ardgour hills.

If the highlands seem a bit remote and you would prefer to live near a big city, what about this four-bedroom detached house on the outskits of Glasgow?

It has four large bedrooms upstairs, with a lounge, dining room, family/games room, kitchen, study and utility room on the ground floor.

There is plenty of space for parking at the front of the house, with a very nice garden to the rear. What's not to like?

DEVON

If you'd rather stay in England, there are plenty of places where £250,000 will buy you a very nice place to live.

Take this Grade II listed building in Dawlish, on the English Riviera.

You would have to share a communal front door, but it's right on the seafront, offering views of the harbour, beach and ocean beyond.

On top of all that, you get four bedrooms, a parking space and a courtyard garden at the back.

THE NORTH EAST

Houses are notoriously cheap in the north east of England, mainly because there isn't a great deal of work around.

However, if you are lucky enough to have a job to go into, moving to the area could see you jump several steps on the property ladder.

This four-bedroom detached is situated a few miles outside Newcastle, but close to a station on the city's Metro system.

It has been remodeled by the current owners, boasts four big bedrooms and has a really spacious rear garden.

If this doesn't float your boat, you could have a five-bedroom maisonette in the city centre or a four-bedroom townhouse in the commuter town of Ponteland.

YORKSHIRE

Move a bit further south and your options are still good, with plenty of very nice properties available for £250,000.

Situated in Morley, on the south-western fringes of Leeds, is this five-bedroom semi-detached family home.

Admittedly, it looks a bit strange from the outside, and some of the interior design may not be to everyone's taste, but it's got five bedrooms, a seperate lounge, dining room and kitchen, a garage and a neat garden.

If you don't fancy that, £250,000 will get you a host of four-bedroom houses across Leeds.

If you would prefer to live in Sheffield, what about this delightful four-bedroom character pad in Ecclesfield, on the northern edge of the city?

THE NORTH WEST

The north west of England is becoming a more and more desireable place to live, with Manchester especially enjoying a boom.

However, £250,000 would still get you plenty of house.

Situated a few miles outside Manchester, but well within commuting range, is this four-bedroom detached home.

As you can see, it's set in plenty of space, something that's increasingly hard to find as builders cram more and more houses into less and less space.

It's spacious inside and has a garage, with good transport links and local amenities.

LONDON

Having looked at all these beautiful homes available for the price of a two-bed semi in Chineham, it's easy to think that we are getting a bum deal.

Of course, things could be worse, as anyone who has ever tried to buy property in the capital will be quick to tell you.

It is possible to get onto the London housing ladder with £250,000 in your pocket, but whether you would want to is another matter.

For the most part, you'll be limited to flats, and not always in a great location, like this one-bed above a shop in Brixton.

I got quite excited when I saw £250,000 could buy you a property in Knightsbridge.

However, my joy was short-lived.

Apparently, all the average price of a house in Basingstoke will buy you in that upmarket neighbourhood is a parking space in an exclusive apartment block - where you will already need to own a multi-million pound flat.

Still, we can dream.