The south of France has always been attractive to the celebrity set around the world, and joining the many British second homeowners in France are Posh and Becks, who have just bought a mansion in Provence.

Other celebrity homeowners in France include Elton John, who owns a magnificent coastal mansion along the Cote d’Azur, near Cannes, and Joan Collins has a home in Saint Tropez. Mick Jagger owns a home in south west France along with many British buyers who make this a very popular region for a second home.

But the sunny climate of the south of France is not just for the rich and famous.

Demand from the UK has fuelled a 42% increase in the number of UK purchasers of homes in France using Abbey National France’s mortgage service in the last year, as more of us work, holiday or retire there.

Surprisingly, the average purchase price for a home in France for UK buyers has changed very little over the past year and is €227,643 (£151,762), proving France represents good value for money considering the rise in UK property prices throughout 2002.

In Italy, a touch of Hollywood glamour has just arrived in the form of George Clooney, who recently bought a new holiday home on the banks of Lake Como in the heart of the Italian Lake District. Clooney joins the growing number of celebrities buying in Italy, such as Sting, who bought his very own vineyard in December last year.

Abbey National has found that Britons opt for homes in Tuscany and Umbria the most, a region where many celebrities escape to for the rich landscapes and to enjoy its rustic scenery and relaxed living.

Portugal is also a popular country for a holiday retreat with celebrities. Madonna owns a home on the Algarve and Cliff Richard owns a home in Guia, Portugal where he can play tennis and enjoy his ‘summer holiday’.

Other high profile stars have chosen sunny Spain for a holiday hideaway like the Douglases, who have a hilltop mansion in the Mallorcan artists’ town of Deia, where they were first photographed as a couple.

Antonio Banderas and actress wife Melanie Griffiths own a villa in Marbella, near to where Sean Connery has spent much of his time offset; and Noel Gallagher owns a home nearby - on the Costa Del Sol.

However, with mortgage rates starting at 3.90%, it isn’t just the rich and famous snapping up homes in Spain, Portugal, Italy and France – Abbey National lends in all four countries and has found record demand from UK buyers for a home abroad, and expects this to grow further:

David Wells, Managing Director, Abbey National France says:

“As one of the leading lenders for people purchasing a home abroad, Abbey National has never experienced such a busy time for British buyers acquiring property in the sun. The south of France in particular is deemed more fashionable than ever at the moment, which is driving many buyers to its publicised hotspots.”

"Average purchase prices in France have been fairly steady over the last year, with an average increase of 6%. France has not experienced the same high house price inflation as the UK, which means French property can offer excellent value for money as well as the advantages of the French lifestyle. Abbey National France has a specialist team of English-speaking staff to help UK buyers of French property through every step of the home buying process.”