Now, don’t get me wrong, I love village life. I like the fact that my local pub is full of characters (well, that’s one way to describe them) and is only 100 yards stagger away from my house.

I like the fact that every one tips you a wink and gives you a cheery hello – whether they mean it or not.

I particularly like the fact, being a DIY idiot, that there is always someone in the village who knows how to fix things for you and won’t charge you the earth to do it.

But, every now and then, I yearn for city life. Just to be near enough to the bars and restaurants and shops and not to have to pay a king’s ransom to a taciturn taxi driver to get yourself home after one over the eight… How nice it must be just to be able to step out of your front door and drop straight into city life.

Which is something you could do with these city centre apartments… Like a super furnished New York loft style studio apartment in The Old Mill, Lady Peckitts Yard (off Fossgate). Sitting high and handsome on the third floor of a converted mill in the heart of the city, it boasts a quality stainless steel fronted kitchen with appliances, an open plan living/sleeping area with laminate flooring and bathroom with shower. If you're looking for something a bit special, this stylish city centre apartment could be just the thing, say the agents Letters Ltd, who are looking for a rent of £625 pcm.

If that is not to your taste then Letters also have a recently decorated and carpeted, good-sized one bedroomed ground floor apartment situated just outside the Bar Walls in Monkgate Cloisters, Monkgate. This property is available either furnished or unfurnished and has a spacious lounge diner with electric fire, a kitchen with electric oven and hob, fridge, freezer and washing machine. There’s a double bedroom and bathroom with shower. Outside there is a small patio/yard and a parking space. The rent on this one is £625 pcm.

Ashtons, meanwhile are offering an immaculate two bedroom penthouse apartment in Gibson House, an exclusive development within a few minutes walking distance of the city centre. Offered to let unfurnished, the accommodation briefly comprises an entrance hall, large open plan lounge/kitchen including integrated dishwasher, washer/dryer, fridge/freezer and Smeg oven and hob, two double bedrooms and luxury bathroom with shower over bath. It has the decided advantage of secure allocated parking. The rent here is £650 pcm.

Another two bedroom apartment comes from the books of Hunters. This one is in Talbot Court, Low Petergate and is a beautifully-presented, very spacious, two double bedroom apartment. The large lounge has attractive period-style high ceilings, there’s a kitchen with dining area and integrated washer/dryer, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and halogen hob with electric oven and grill and there are granite work surfaces. The bathroom is a three-piece suite with shower over the bath and heated towel rail. Both bedrooms are large doubles – and the master has an en-suite double shower room and dressing area. Allocated parking. The rent here is £1,050 pcm.

Meanwhile, Letters of Distinction have a smart two bed apartment in the popular Centurion Square in Skeldergate. This one is a fully furnished third floor flat with a large sitting room area that incorporates an open plan fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, two spacious double bedrooms (with en-suite to the master), and a contemporary bathroom. Additionally there are secure entry gate systems and communal garden areas to the exterior. The rent is £750pcm.

If it is exclusivity you are after then you might want to check out a very smart two bed fully furnished apartment in the prestigious Westgate apartments at the city end of Leeman Road. With spectacular views over the River Ouse and York city centre this apartment has an entrance hallway, an open-plan lounge kitchen diner, with electric hob and oven, fridge, freezer, washer/dryer, and dishwasher. There are two double bedrooms, the master with en suite shower room, a house bathroom and, naturally, allocated parking. And, what’s more, this one has the added benefit of not only being within a few minutes’ walk of the city centre but also just a short stroll to the railway station. Best of all worlds? We should says so! The rent is £850pcm. Apply to Linley and Simpson.