One of the main reasons people chose to invest in French property is the country's exceptionally efficient transport systems.

Today, many major French towns and cities are within easy reach of the UK thanks to the high speed French railway, cheap airline deals and fast motorways.

This bodes well for investors who would like to purchase a property in France but still wish to maintain a house or business back in Blighty.

Travel to south of France from London

Meanwhile, a new route from London City Airport to sunny Nice looks set to make life even easier for those looking to buy a holiday home in the south of France.

CityJet, part of Air France, will offer the benefit of a ten minute check in time at London City Airport, making it ideal for those who want to head to France for a quick break.

Geoffrey O'Byrne White, CityJet CEO, said: "CityJet for Air France is an important milestone.

"We are pleased to underline our commitment to London City where we have had a presence for many years while simultaneously pursuing our development with our revamped fleet."

Travel to and from France 'a doddle' It seems then that whether you are looking into buying a chateau, a French farm or even considering retirement villages in France, it will never be a struggle to get back to the UK to see family and friends.

Jean Luc Brouillet, an economist and managing director of one of France's leading banks, told news agency Functionpix: "Better transport systems [in France], less cars on the road, lower taxes and higher quality education is tempting for many cash strapped British families."