I enjoyed Angela Thirkell's books about her Barsetshire characters. Also E.F. Benson's "Mapp and Lucia" books. Both writers have long since passed, but their humour and wit is alive in their many novels. You can get a list of their books by googling them.
Of modern writers, I would also echo insomniac's recommendation of Alexander McCall Smith's novels. Not just the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, but also those set in Scotland and England. Wonderful, quirky characters.