ABOUT two thirds of people in Kent and the South East would prefer to live in their own region than move elsewhere in the UK, a survey has revealed.

According to the study by npower, the homes services provider of gas, electricity, insurance and telecoms, 64 per cent would stay put if offered the chance to own a dream home in any part of the country.

Overall, the study confirms that Britons are a nation of home lovers, with only a third of us prepared to pick up sticks given the opportunity. And it is women more than men who most want to nest in their own region rather than move to a luxury home out of town.

Incredibly, given the chance to buy a second home in a European country almost a fifth of Brits would still opt for the UK, with around a third of us putting Spain at the top of our wish list. No one admits wanting to live in Belgium, but, surprisingly, Germany would be the number one destination for at least one per cent of us if buying a second home.

Of those who would move to another region in the UK, 10 per cent chose the South West while less than one per cent wanted to live in Northern Ireland.

“These figures prove that for the British, home really is where the heart is,” said npower’s Geraldine Dunne. “Even when offered the chance to move to a luxury home elsewhere, we would still rather buy up in our own region than move to a new area.”

In London, nearly half said they would prefer to move out if they had the chance to own a luxury home elsewhere.

The npower study also looked at the types of property available for £200,000 around the UK and in Europe. Research revealed dramatic variations in the size of properties at that price - a studio flat in central London would buy the equivalent of a six bedroom semi-detached home in North Wales, with panoramic views of the coast.

A comparison of European prices also reveals huge property variations. For around £200,000 you can a Spanish “country estate” in two acres of land 30 minutes from Malaga.

Next door, in Portugal, £200,000 can pick up a four-bedroom villa on the Algarve while in Ireland it will buy a 32-acre farm in Bantry.