Top ten Northern cities to live in Five years ago the towns and cities of northern England and Scotland symbolised the UK's bullet-proof housing market. Prices were going up almost as quickly as new flats were being built. That has all changed now, of course. The days of endless price increases are over. It's not necessarily a bad thing, however. These areas contain some of the most spacious properties in the country. Large gardens are the norm not the exception, and a decent family house is the price of a Mayfair garage. After the Government this week confirmed plans for a new high-speed railway line linking London and Birmingham, the distance between north and south is set to shrink even further. Here are our top 10 cities to buy in northern England and Scotland. They have been chosen for affordability, value for money and facilities. London and the Home Counties do not have a monopoly on stylish urban living. It's no surprise that more and more people are being drawn to the magnetic north. Edinburgh There is nothing mean about Scotland's capital. Buyers are paying more than ever for the best homes. If Scots achieve greater independence in their 2014 vote, they could expand Edinburgh's lucrative financial services sector and push up house prices. Even now the city has a swagger. Lloyds TSB says prices rose by 3.1 per cent in the three months to last October. The city has 13 of the 20 most expensive streets in Scotland. Dick Place in the Grange area is most expensive, with an average house price of £1.5 million, according to a survey by the Bank of Scotland. Other areas are more affordable. The website Mouseprice.com says a four-bedroom detached house is typically £475,000 and a two-bedroom flat is £187,500. Canny tip Buy-to-let landlords might think this is the time to buy in the Leith area of the city, where prices of flats have fallen 15 per cent since early 2010. But be careful to check that there is renting potential. For sale A four-bedroom flat consisting of the ground floor and part of the first floor of a Murrayfield house. There are front and rear gardens, a garage and off-street parking too. £495,000 from CKD Galbraith (0131 240 6960; ckdgalbraith.co.uk).