Surrey — £13.95 million

A newly-built home on the storied Wentworth Estate, built in classical style and nicely finished inside yet with great scope for new owners to make their mark.

As well as six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, there's also a leisure complex that would shame some five star hotels, and a 'wine experience room'.

For sale at £13.95 million — see more details.

Buckinghamshire — £3,200,000

This historic country lodge was built for the Rothschilds 300 years ago.

It's a beautiful five-bedroom home with parkland, paddocks and wonderful outside entertaining areas.

For sale with Michael Graham — see more details and pictures.

Hampshire — £6.25 million

Some 107 acres of the South Downs are yours at this estate in the hills outside Winchester.

This Victorian/Edwardian house is a handsome place — but buyers should know that it's unlisted, and therefore is a home offering great scope to be whatever you'd wish it to be.

For sale via Savills at £6.25m — see more details and pictures.

North Yorkshire — £5 million

The Thorney Hall Estate sits in 60 acres near Richmond, with miles and miles of views of the Yorkshire Dales.

The house itself is just wonderfully done inside, and the gardens have huge charm. There's also river frontage and fishing on the River Ure.

For sale via Strutt & Parker at £5 million — see more details and pictures.

West Sussex — £2.65 million

In a village a few miles from Petworth, and overlooking beautiful countryside, this Grade II-listed farmhouse is utterly charming and welcoming.

As well as the main house — which has, just as you'd hope, a kitchen with an Aga — there's also a guest cottage that makes this an ideal home for multi-generational living.

For sale via Knight Frank — see more details and pictures.

Although Old House Farm, just north of the village of Wisborough Green in West Sussex, doesn’t sit within the boundaries of the South Downs National Park, it’s only a few miles outside and still firmly ticks the rural-location box.

Standing in 23 acres, it is a five-minute drive from the village, which has a post office, pub, a cricket pitch and a primary school, and there is direct access from Old House Farm through woodland to a large network of walks, running trails and bridleways. Alongside three stables, paddocks and a well-kept ménage, the gardens feature a covered sitting area, a large area of immaculate lawn, a heated outdoor swimming pool with its own sun terrace and a hard tennis court. The Guildford office of Strutt & Parker is asking £2.75m.

The house, which is set down a long driveway, has at its heart a 37ft kitchen/breakfast room with white and natural-wood cabinetry, an Aga and French doors opening to the garden. Leading off is a series of useful service rooms, including a pantry, utility, boot or dog room and a cellar.

Upstairs, there are five well-presented double bedrooms, including the principal, which has his-and-hers dressing rooms and a large bathroom. There is a separate one-bedroom cottage in the garden that could be used as a space for guests, a nanny or discrete family accommodation.

In addition to the shops and services in Wisborough Green, nearby Loxwood has a village butcher, surgery and school; West Wittering’s sandy beach is less than an hour’s drive away. For those who need to travel to London, there are direct services to Victoria from Billingshurst, which take about an hour and 10 minutes.

Anyone wishing to drive into the capital has the choice between two main roads, the A23 and the M3, and Gatwick Airport is a 35-minute journey from the house.

Old House Farm is for sale with Strutt & Parker for £2.75 million. For more information and pictures, click here.

Berkshire — £3,250,000

A glorious riverside home — with fishing rights — where the boundaries between inside and outside are blurred, thanks to the huge bifold doors leading to the terrace and gardens which you can see above.

The oldest part of the property is a Grade II-listed house, but the incredible contemporary wing, detached garage and home office make it a very 21st century home.

For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.

West Sussex — £3,250,000

In the heart of a charming harbourside village, this 5,000sq ft, seven bedroom home is full of charm.

The house is beautiful inside and out, and there are fine views across to the Isle of Wight.

For sale with Strutt & Parker. See more pictures and details for this property.

Wiltshire — £3,600,000

Some 46 acres — which include extensive equestrian facilities, a tennis court, pasture and gardens — at this six-bedroom country home in Wiltshire.

For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.

Oxfordshire — £1,895,000

Dreamy seclusion within two acres of wraparound gardens, and far-reaching countryside views at this lovely home on the edge of Bledlow Ridge.

The original early 1900s house has been extended and rearranged to make the most of this fine setting, while there's also a gym, games room and garaging.

For sale with Michael Graham. See more pictures and details for this property.

East Sussex — £8,750,000

A house on this ancient site since The Domesday Book; the current incarnation is 200 years old, and we doubt the place has ever looked better.

As well as the main seven-bedroom house, there is also a lodge, guest cottage, and 2 staff flats, plus stables and a party barn, all within a wonderful South Downs location.

For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.

Buckinghamshire — £2.75 million

'The finest house in Wendover' say the agents of this charming, 17th century home that was once owned by John Barker Church, brother in law of US founding father Alexander Hamilton.

There are six bedrooms, six bathrooms and five reception rooms, plus delightful gardens and a pool.

For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.

Exhausted super cars can check into the spa at The Car Hotel in the north Cotswolds where they'll find five-star storage, a concierge service and a 750m purpose-built tarmac tracks for vehicle exercising. After it opened in 2019, it sparked a race to build more facilities.

This was the first of five car hotels in a 20-mile radius, with the latest opening near Bibury in Gloucestershire, dedicated to classic cars. Nearby, in Oxfordshire's Hook Norton, car dealer Tom Hartley Junior is now designing the ultimate showroom for performance cars and vintage cars. When completed, it will be 42,500sq ft of sales and exhibition space. 

It seems Knightsbridge is no longer the go-to location for super car spotters – Porsches, Aston Martins, Bentleys, Ferraris, Maseratis, Lamborghinis and many a Rolls Royce can be spied cruising the country lanes in bucolic locations such as the Cotswolds, Warwickshire and Essex.

‘These exclusive parts of rural England often feel like an episode of Top Gear – the cars rolling around the countryside in areas such as the Cotswolds can often be worth hundreds of thousands if not millions of pounds,’ says Harry Gladwin of The Buying Solution. 

He cites the car park at Estelle Manor – a rural, members-only retreat just north of Oxford – as being akin to a car museum, with Bugattis and McLarens on show in the summer months. 

In fact, the rural location with the most registered super cars in the UK is the local authority district of Stratford-upon-Avon, which stretches down to the Georgian market town of Shipston-on-Stour and the village of Whichford. 

According to new research from Savills, there are 66 registrations of super cars per 1,000 home sales in this corner of Shakespeare's county. This makes sense. Stratford is near Silverstone and the car manufacturing hub of the West Midlands with specialist engineering firms on hand. ‘It's a natural magnet for car enthusiasts,’ says David Henderson of Savills based in Stow-on-the-Wolds. ‘Villages to the south of Stratford are so close to the Cotswolds and car-orientated events like the Broadway Car Show that takes place in August,’ he adds. 

The data, exclusive to Country Life, reveals the top 20 rural districts for super car registrations. Sevenoaks (Kent), Uttlesford (Essex), the Cotswolds (Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire) and Waverley (Surrey) complete the top five.

Top 20 Rural Boroughs by Proportion of Super-luxe Car Ownership

Source: Savills

Of course, super car registrations go hand-in-hand with expensive properties. The area on the ranking with the highest average property value is Waverley at £647,935. This is Jeremy Hunt land and the local authority area that includes Surrey's county town of Guildford and designer villages such as Chiddingfold, Hambledon and Bramley. Off the leafy lanes in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on the edge of the South Downs are a network of hidden private tracks leading to vast country piles shrouded in mature woodland with multiple garages for super cars. At the weekend the Mulberry Inn in Chiddingfold (once owned by Chris Evans) turns into a pit stop for super and classic cars. 

The second most expensive area identified as having the highest number of super car registrations is Winchester where the average house price is £592,790, followed by Sevenoaks (£576,664). The most northerly spot in the ranking and number 20 is South Lakeland (£313,224), the southern half of the Lake District National Park, home to holiday home hotspots such as Bowness-on-Windermere and the Lakeland Motor Museum. 

There is a Gothic-style pile for sale near Kendal in nine acres for £2,750,000 through Ashdown Jones. Down a sweeping drive, with plenty of parking, it also has a five-car garage.

This isn't enough, however, for most super car owners. If they aren't checking into a car hotel then they need to buy a home with the right premises – or buy and then build.

‘For super car owners moving to the countryside, practicality has to keep up with their passion. These cars are treated like family members – kept cosy, spotless and in perfect condition. A chilly old barn just won't do it,’ says Jamie Freeman of Harringtons. ‘Garaging isn't just important, it's non-negotiable. One of our clients, a serious car enthusiast, bought a place without a garage, but wasted no time getting planning permission for a top spec build with heated floors and soft surfaces,’ he says. 

The ‘environment’ should be temperature-controlled with a dehumidifier, maximum security, rising bollards, CCTV and infrared cameras. Other amenities include heated driveways, turntables, hydraulic car lifts, inspection pits, spray booths and fully-equipped mechanic workshops. These premises are more art gallery than garage.

‘Having an on-site car museum isn't just about safeguarding investments: it's about elevating their standing within their circle of fellow enthusiasts. There is undeniably an element of competition,’ says Lindsay Cuthill of the high-end country estate agent Blue Book. ‘No collector wants to be the one inviting guests over to a dimly lit, uninspired storage unit when their peers are unveiling sleek, architect-designed showrooms with bars and even cinema screens,’ he adds.

Anna White is an award-winning property and lifestyle writer for the Guardian, Evening Standard and the Telegraph

Devon — £4,950,000

Set in 114 acres of rolling parkland, lush woodland, pristine gardens and serene water features, Coombe Trenchard is an oasis in nature.

An Arts-and-Crafts masterpiece by Walter Sarel, the property boasts eight bedrooms, a self-contained apartment, outbuildings and five reception rooms.

For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.

Hertfordshire — £2,000,000

Norton Mill House is a, erm, former mill that has been remodelled and extended into a six bedroom home with more than 4,500sq ft of space.

The interiors have been extensively refurbished, combining the period parts of the property with the finest modern luxuries you could desire. There's also a nice pond.

For sale with Michael Graham. See more pictures and details for this property.

Devon — £3,500,000

Built in 1682, Larkbeare House was originally the home of merchant John Charles Bowring. You will struggle to find a larger or more lovely house in central Exeter.

With 14 bedrooms and five acres of grounds, the property also borders the River Exe.

For sale with Strutt and Parker. See more pictures and details for this property.

Cheshire — £15,000,000

Always important to include at least one house worth £15 million or more. So here we have Edgewood, a magnificent and highly sophisticated five-bedroom home in Alderley Edge.

Set over three floors, the gardens were designed by Barnes Walker and the property sits in about 1.2 acres. A contemporary build, it is ruthlessly energy efficient.

For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.

North Yorkshire — £2,000,000

An 18th century house with far barn, stabling and land, enjoying an elevated position offering far-reaching views on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

For sale with Blenkin & Co. See more pictures and details for this property.

Somerset — £1,100,000

An elegant four-bedroom Grade II listed Georgian home with one-bedroom annexe, mature gardens and swimming pool, located in Wedmore village.

For sale with Cooper and Tanner. See more pictures and details for this property.

Surrey — £1,800,000

Beautiful Art Deco property with historical charm and breathtaking views over Caterham Valley, located just 30 minutes from London.

For sale with EXP UK. See more pictures and details for this property.

Gloucestershire — £2,500,000

A Grade II listed manor house with grand rooms, stunning features, wonderful countryside views and south and west facing gardens.

For sale with Hayman Joyce. See more pictures and details for this property.

Kent — £1,150,000

Magnificent detached property that’s recently been refurbished to an exceptional standard with established gardens and sensational sweeping driveway.

For sale with Hobbs Parker. See more pictures and details for this property.

Somerset — £1,250,000

An impressive Georgian four-bedroom family home with stunning interior decoration and period features, set within an acre of garden.

For sale with Sandersons. See more pictures and details for this property.

Hampshire — £1,150,000

A charming Grade II listed home dating back to 1653 with many original features and uninterrupted views, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For sale with Spencers. See more pictures and details for this property.

Devon — £1,475,000

An exceptional not listed Victorian farmhouse with amazing views to the sea and courtyard of barns, set in 6 acres of pasture and woodland.

For sale with Stags. See more pictures and details for this property.

Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale

A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.

Cumbria — £2,250,000

On the edge of the Lake District yet also close to the coast, this is a hugely impressive home history, character and 11 acres.

There are 17 bedrooms, so if you're keen then put in an offer now before they snap it up for the next series of The Traitors.

For sale with Strutt & Parker. See more pictures and details for this property.

Hampshire — £1,850,000

An immaculately presented four bedroom family home with an excellent range of outbuildings and attractive grounds of approximately 1.96 acres.

Keepers Cottage sits in a peaceful location surrounded by beautiful, rolling countryside on the edge of the popular village of Bighton near Alresford.

For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.

Bedfordshire — £2,000,000

An 18th century home with five bedrooms and two acres, plus gym and home office.

If that little collection of attributes doesn't tick every box, it's also surrounded by beautiful open countryside and has a pair of self-contained annexes.

For sale with Michael Graham. See more pictures and details for this property.

Berkshire — £3,000,000

Just outside Ascot, this lovely house has idyllic and very private gardens.

Inside there is a fresh, bright feel to the place which makes it feel ideal as a family home in this hugely popular area.

For sale with Strutt & Parker. See more pictures and details for this property.

Gloucestershire — £3,500,000

Situated on the edge of a popular Cotswold village, Longmoor House offers exceptional living space, annexe and studio cottage surrounded by in all about 9.17 acres of rolling countryside.

Longmoor House is located in a private position at the end of a long drive of the outskirts of Ebrington surrounded by beautiful countryside.

For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.

North Yorkshire — £5,750,000

A magnificent renovate house with huge grounds of almost 40 acres, a pair of cottages and a gorgeous lake-side setting.

For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.

Bristol — £2,900,000

A beautifully presented split level lodge with a contemporary annexe, situated in a stunning setting offering spectacular views over Chew Valley lake and to the countryside beyond.

In recent years the present owner has redesigned and extended the property to take full advantage of its views and setting.

For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.

Abbey Road is quiet in late November, the world’s most famous zebra crossing almost lost in the grey drizzle of the autumn morning, from which only red-brick buildings emerge unscathed. It makes it a little easier to ima-gine what St John’s Wood was like when it was still a rural backwater, before the elegant houses with their pretty gardens, before cricket and before The Beatles.

Unlike other parts of London, whose monikers are often misnomers, St John’s Wood did start life as a wood belonging to the Knights of St John. It was still rural and secluded in the Elizabethan era when, according to Alexander Wood’s Ecclesiastical Antiquities of London and its Suburbs, five Babington Plot conspirators, including Anthony Babington, fled here to avoid arrest (they were eventually captured on their way to Harrow and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered).

By then, St John’s Wood was Crown property, but Oliver Cromwell sold it in 1649 and, after a succession of owners, it came into the hands of the Eyre family, who would develop it into London’s first garden suburb in the early 19th century.

At about the time building began in earnest, the Eyres also leased some land to cricketer Thomas Lord, who had been looking for a new home for his Marylebone Cricket Club. After a brief spell at an unpopular site, ‘the Eyre estate gave him a new location right in the heart of St John’s Wood,’ says Neil Robinson of the MCC. ‘It was very successful and we have been there for 207 years.’

The first match was played in St John’s Wood Road on June 22, 1814. Since then, Lord’s has seen many great moments, including the opening of the great Thomas Verity pavilion in 1890, the day in which Florence Darnley, wife of England captain Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl Darnley, presented to the MCC the urn symbolising the ‘Ashes’, and, more recently, the great matches that changed the sport’s history: the first men’s World Cup final in 1975, won by the West Indies; the 1983 final, won by India, which ignited the passion for limited overs in the country; and the 2017 women’s World Cup final, in which England beat India (the feat is celebrated in an exhibition on women’s cricket currently held at the Lord’s Museum).

‘That final was probably one of the greatest games of one-day cricket that has ever taken place at Lord’s,’ notes Mr Robinson. The men joined the women with victory in the 2019 World Cup at the iconic ground.

All this, however, was very nearly scuppered twice in the 19th century — first in 1823, when Lord considered developing housing on the cricket ground until MCC member, MP and Bank of England director William Ward bought the lease from him; then, in 1866, when the club bought the ground’s freehold from a speculator, after another member, William Nicholson, lent it the money at a preferential rate.

Their generosity secured the future of Lord’s, which is now looking forward to opening a gate in honour of the late England captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint later this year and hosting an Ashes Test in 2023.

Cricket, however, was not the only draw that brought gentlemen to St John’s Wood. Conveniently close to London, but far away and leafy enough to be private, this was the ideal place to keep a mistress. One such was Harriet Howard, who turned from daughter of a humble bootmaker into an emperor’s paramour.

She met the then Louis Napoleon at a party in 1846, went on to share with him a house in Circus Road and helped fund his campaign to rule France. Although, once emperor, Napoleon III cast her aside to marry Eugénie de Montijo, he didn’t forget the debt he owed her and made her Countess of Beauregard.

Perhaps it’s because of these ‘heroines of passions and victims of propriety’, as Alan Montgomery Eyre calls them in his 1913 book, Saint John’s Wood, that the area evolved into an open-minded community that also proved very attractive to artists and writers. Between 1825 and 1873, Sir Edwin Landseer created most of his masterpieces, including the designs for the Nelson statue lions, at a house in St John’s Wood Road.

Later in the century, a group of painters that included Philip Hermogenes Calderon, Frederick Goodall, George Adolphus Storey, Henry Stacy Marks and William Yeames formed the St John’s Wood clique and breathed fresh life into historical genre paintings, as portraitist James Jacques Tissot scandalised polite society (for his relationship with a divorced woman, Kathleen Newton) and French critics (for his lavish lifestyle, complete with Champagne on ice permanently in stock in his waiting room) from his villa in Grove End Road.

On both accounts, St John’s Wood proved the perfect retreat for him, as it was for George Eliot, who shared her house at 21, North Bank with George Henry Lewes, to whom she was not married.

In their footsteps followed many other art and literary greats, including Katherine Mansfield, Barbara Hepworth and Stephen Spender. However, it was music that eventually became most closely associated with the area.

In 1929, the Gramophone Company bought 3, Abbey Road ‘for the well-sized house, large gardens and ideal location, close enough to the performance spaces of the time, but away from the noise and vibrations of the traffic and trains,’ says the Abbey Road Studios managing director, Isabel Garvey. ‘Abbey Road was the first purpose-built recording studio in the world.’

Since then, anyone who was and is anyone in music has crossed its threshold: ‘From Pink Floyd, Shirley Bassey and Fela Kuti to Oasis, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Kanye West, Ed Sheeran and Frank Ocean, the indescribable magic of Abbey Road is that there is music created within its walls that resonates with and inspires each generation of music maker.’

And, of course, The Beatles recorded 190 of their 210 career tracks there. It was fitting that what turned out to be their last album together would carry the name of the place that had been their spiritual home. The cover image of the group crossing Abbey Road in August 1969 has become one of the most widely imitated in the world and at the time even sparked a zany theory that Paul McCartney had died, because, among other things, he was pictured walking barefoot (more prosaically, it seems he had removed his shoes because the weather was hot).

The Beatles gave the Studios its ultimate name (it had previously been called EMI Studios), turned the humble zebra crossing into a Grade II-listed landmark with its own webcam — and etched St John’s Wood in the collective imagination.

Property for sale in St John's Wood

Hamilton Terrace, £9.95 million

Set close to the tube station and the American School of London, this 5,070sq ft house is an ideal family home. The elegant interior, arranged across four floors, includes six bedrooms and four reception rooms, some with striking feature fireplaces. But the real winner is the 139ft rear garden, with its established plants, terrace for alfresco dining and a sculpture by artist Mariele Neudecker.

For sale through Sotheby's International Realty — see more pictures and details

Park Road, £2.995 million

Situated on the fourth floor of an apartment block close to Regent’s Park, this elegant, 1,948sq ft property is well suited for entertaining: it has a large reception room with an imposing fireplace and a separate formal dining room, plus a kitchen that’s big enough to dine in. There also are three bedrooms, including an especially spacious master suite with built-in cupboards.

For sale through Dexters — see more pictures and details

Hamilton Terrace, £17.5 million

Originally built in about 1850, this vast house has been entirely renovated to fit the most exacting of buyers. Its 12,453sq ft interior, which is arranged over five floors, has everything, from four bedrooms (the master suite takes up the entire first floor and has its own terrace) to a home cinema, swimming pool, bar, gym, games room, spa pool and sauna, plus two kitchens and magnificent landscaped grounds.

For sale through Savills and Beauchamp estates — see more pictures and details

The places you need to know in St John's Wood

Panzer's Famous for its smoked salmon, bagels and challah, this deli is a local institution (13–19, Circus Road) www.panzers.co.uk

Cecilia Colman Gallery Stock up on glass and ceramics artwork, decorative metal and wood pieces and exquisite jewellery at this art gallery (67, St John’s Wood High Street) www.ceciliacolmangallery.com

The Duke of York A favourite with Edward Burchett of Dexters, this pub ‘serves a fantastic Sunday lunch’ (2, St Ann’s Terrace) thedukeofyork.com

FaceGym Work-outs and skincare products to create a toned, glowing face (41, St John’s Wood High Street) www.facegym.com

Soutine Lee Koffman of Sotheby’s International Realty recommends this Parisian-style eatery serving classic French cafe dishes (60, St John’s Wood High Street) www.soutine.co.uk

How Maida Vale turned from boudoir village to one of London's most vibrant neighbourhoods

Maida Vale took its name from a small Italian town and an even smaller pub, so it’s the perfect place

Set in the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is Ossicles — an eco home that beautifully fuses natural light, ingenious design and a playful blend of contemporary materials into its surrounding wild landscape.

It is the type of property that demands applause (if, you know, we were to go around applauding houses).

Even if you are the most die-hard traditional property-lover, it's hard not to be charmed by this unique house that is currently on the market via Knight Frank at a guide price of £2.75 million.

If you're looking for something thatched and quirky — this is certainly not it. What it is, instead, is a feat of architectural design that manages to create a modern new build that A) doesn't look like a complete eye-sore in its environment and B) has an energy efficient rating that doesn't make you want to cry.

From the outside, the house looks as though it is almost flowing — caught mid motion and composed of sloping tin roofs that are juxtaposed against wood panelled walls and an impressive glass balcony that runs the length of the house.

Glass is a common component throughout the property as inside large panes of glass replace where walls would typically go – not so great if you want to hang pictures and artwork, but absolutely incredible if you're looking to flood the space with light and create a unique living environment.

Floor to ceiling windows frame every room and in the vaulted living space, 'L' shaped windows assume position where part of the ceiling would be and cascade down the full double-height of the room.

The most impressive feature (okay, there are quite a lot — but this one is certainly worth mentioning) is the glass walkway that leads across part of the vaulted lobby to a suspended study.

It's a beautiful design that elevates the internal accommodation space even further (just beware of small-humans smearing their grubby hands along it).

Four of the five bedrooms are located on the lower ground floor, all with a sliding glass wall that provides access out to the garden.

The principal suite is located on the first floor and complete with its bespoke wardrobes, vaulted ceiling and private balcony with views over the garden, really does assume the best position in the house.

The house is not in the least bit soulless or cold, as some modern homes can feel. Instead, it is undoubtedly stylish, cool and convenient — and might just sway even the most traditional amongst us.

Ossicles is currently on the market via Knight Frank at a guide price of £2.75 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details. 

Henley-on-Thames: What you need to know

Location: Henley-on-Thames is a town in Oxfordshire set on the River Thames. It is approximately 9 miles from Reading and approximately 35 miles from Central London. The M4 and M40 are within easy reach and there is a railway station within the town which provides services to London Paddington.

Atmosphere: Henley is most famous for its annual Royal Regatta which brings in visitors from the beginning of the summer season. Thanks to its close proximity to the capital and its pretty countryside and bustling community, Henley is a highly sought-after area to live.

Things to do: Aside from the regatta, The Henley Festival also runs over the summer which celebrates music and art. Sporting facilities are plentiful, with the Henley Rowing Club proving popular with both children and adults, a rugby club, cricket club and Hambleden Horse trails taking place every spring.

Schools: Rupert House, Shiplake College and The Oratory are all notable independent schools in the area, with Radley College, Abingdon School and Headington School in Oxford are all highly-reputable.

See more property for sale in the area.

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

Completely hidden to the rest of the world, with no neighbours in sight, and breathtaking panoramic views across the Dart Valley and Sharp Tor is Tumbly — a house whose name is in every way befitting of such a unique and enticing property, which is currently on the market via Knight Frank for offers over £850,000. 

The house was built as part of a competition 'The £1,000 house' — as documented in a book by Randal Philips, in which 50 houses were built after World War One for £1,000 or less. A remarkable and unfathomable feat in today's eyes — which saw Tumbly finishing in fourth place.

This luscious pocket of the Dartmoor National Park is incredibly serene, and incredibly private — perfect for those wishing to enjoy the unspoilt beauty of Devon without the crowds. Although remote, the property is not isolated, with the A38 less than four miles away and the quaint market town of Totnes just 11 miles away.

Tumbly was designed by a pupil of the famed architect Edwin Lutyens, who is described by English Heritage as 'one of the greatest architects the country has ever produced.' It's clear to see how his prominent style has influenced the design of this unique this three bed home — from it's almost Tolkin-esque thatched roof, to the long driveway that meanders down to the property.

Set in just under two acres of mature gardens and grounds which harmonise with the surrounding landscape, there is a large balcony and several terraces from which to enjoy the vista.

It was known that RC Sherriff spent some time at the house whilst writing 'A Journey's End', and the property to this day lends itself as an environment from which you can switch off and completely immerse yourself in the rural paradise.

The Grade II listed home is composed of three bedrooms — all of which benefit from the fantastic views, three reception rooms and a cosy kitchen/breakfast room which leads out into the garden.

There is also a library and a separate utility space — perfect for peeling off muddy boots and wet layers after exploring the moors. Also within the grounds is a double garage and former stable block.

With buckets of charm, character, enough seclusion and views that would make even the most head-strong city lover weak at the knees, Tumbly really is a pocket of paradise in rural Devon.

Tumbly is currently on the market via Knight Frank for offers over £850,000 — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details. 

Holne: What you need to know

Location: Holne is a small village on the south eastern slopes of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon. Ashburton is just 3 miles away, and the market town of Totnes, which has rail links to London, is 11 miles.

Atmosphere: This pretty, rural village benefits from a strong local community and is steeped in history, with a church which dates back to the 14th century. There is a community run village shop and tea room, and pub — The Church House Inn. Further amenities can be found in nearby Ashburton, Totnes, and the cathedral city of Exeter.

Things to do: With the Dartmoor National Park on your doorstep, there's no excuse not to get out and explore the expansive landscape, either on foot or bike. The market town of Totnes has a bustling high street and weekly food and goods market, as well as a number of independent restaurants and cafes (the town residents famously petitioned against the opening of a well-known coffee chain — and won). Sharpham is well worth a visit too, for their delicious wines and cheeses, which are all made on site.

Schools: St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast is a good local primary option, with a number of secondary options to choose from, including Stover School, Mount Kelly College, Plymouth College, Exeter School and the Maynard in Exeter.

See more property for sale in the area.

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

From the latest Halifax index to the RICS index and research by Knight Frank, every indicator shows that the property market is enjoying a post-lockdown boom.

According to Halifax, property prices across the country have increased by an average of 8.2% since April 2020, the highest annual growth in five years, adding a theoretical £20,000 in value to the average property.

Their data is borne out by the latest RICS survey of estate agents across the country, which shows that price growth accelerated in April as demand increasingly outstrips supply.

"The number of new prospective buyers registering was the largest for the month of April in 14 years"

‘During the first two months of the year, rising uncertainty over new Covid-19 variants, the logistical constraints of home-schooling and an expectation that the original March stamp-duty deadline would be missed all contributed to a slowdown in supply,’ says Tom Bills of Knight Frank.

‘This created an imbalance in the housing market that has increased upwards pressure on prices. The shortage deterred some owners from listing their property because they were unable to find anywhere to buy themselves, exacerbating the problem.’

One of the drivers for demand has undoubtedly been the stamp-duty holiday, which is continuing ‘to add impetus to an extremely active market, magnifying the current shortage of available homes as buyers aim to take advantage of the Government scheme,’ according to the Halifax’s managing director, Russell Galley.

The relief is set to taper off from the end of June, but, notes Mr Galley, this is unlikely to reverse the market’s trend. ‘Low stock levels, low interest rates and continued demand are likely to continue to underpin prices.’

The country-house end of the market looks equally rosy: at Knight Frank, ‘the number of new prospective buyers registering was the largest for the month of April in 14 years,’ says senior research analyst Chris Druce.

Interest is especially strong in three regions: the South West, the Midlands and Cotswolds and, above all, the South East, where prospective buyers were up 103% over the five-year average for April (excluding 2020).

‘Haslemere, Tunbridge Wells and Basingstoke were the busiest locations in the South East,’ explains Mr Druce, with Stratford, Oxford and Cirencester leading the market in the Midlands and Cotswolds, and Exeter, Sherborne and Hungerford doing the same in the South West.

Looking ahead, Mr Druce agrees with Mr Galley that the tapering off of the stamp-duty holiday is unlikely to change matters, particularly at the upper end of the pricing scale, where its impact was always relatively more modest anyway.

‘When we asked more than 500 Knight Frank clients back in February what they would do if the stamp duty holiday was not extended in the Budget in March, 88% said they’d either continue with their purchase or look to renegotiate the price. Just 12% said they’d abandon their purchase outright’

However, he continues, ‘the phasing-out of the [relief] is likely to see a return to a more seasonal sales pattern in the country market. Compared against the very high levels of demand we’re currently experiencing, the situation may moderate towards the end of the year, although the adoption of hybrid-working is likely to ensure interest in rural living continues beyond the pandemic.’

Mr Bill adds that, with more properties likely to come onto the market in the coming months, we will see a greater balance between supply and demand, reducing price pressure.

‘We forecast 5% growth for UK property prices in 2021, with current activity levels normalising as the post-pandemic landscape materialises towards the end of the year.’

Properties in the most sought-after rural locations

Haslemere

This pretty, five-bedroom house, which dates from the 1930s and has been in the same family for more than 50 years, enjoys fine views towards National Trust land.

For sale at £1.75 million via Strutt & Parker — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details

Tunbridge Wells

This striking Victorian townhouse, which has four bedrooms, combines a magnificent staircase, fine fireplaces and elegant cornicing with a new, Quaker-style kitchen.

For sale at £745,000 via Sumner Pridham — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details

Basingstoke

This Grade II-listed house in Old Basing, which originally dates from the 17th century, has been enlarged and improve while remaining true to its period features, and now makes for an excellent family home with four bedrooms.

For sale at £1.1 million via Knight Frank — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details

Stratford-on-Avon

The former lodge to Avenue House, this three-bedroom property has many period features that have been combined by the current owners with rustic interiors.

For sale at £645,000 via Vaughan Reynolds — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details

Oxford

Designed by HW Moore and built in 1897, this grand house has been modernised to create a 4,625sq ft home that’s ideal for entertaining.

For sale at £3.5 million via Knight Frank — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details

Cirencester

With more than 4,000sq ft of accommodation, this delightful semi-detached house has the space and feel of a smaller country house, complete with established gardens.

For sale at £925,000 via Moore Allen & Innocent — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details

Exeter

This Grade II-listed Queen Anne house has three bedrooms, a home office and a 25ft drawing room.

For sale at £500,000 via Wilkinson Grant & Co — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details

Sherborne

This elegant Victorian house stands out for its high ceilings (10ft), large sash windows and delightful west-facing garden.

For sale at £519,000 via Rolf East — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details

Hungerford

Pretty, four-bedroom Croft Cottage overlooks Croft Green, in the heart of Hungerford, and combines period features with modern comforts.

For sale at £695,000 via Russell Marshall — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

Credit: Jackson-Stops

Ten of the best country houses for sale in Surrey, from £450,000 to £18 million

A Georgian house at under £500k is one of the wonders — but for those able to add a zero or

In days gone by, the village rectory was a bastion of traditional values, whose owners, although not necessarily men of the cloth, would have been closely involved with local affairs of church and village.

Just such a ‘gentleman of the old school’ was Julian Stanford, the late owner of The Old Rectory at Tendring, Essex, who, during his 35-year tenure of the classic Regency house, combined the duties of village church warden with a successful business career in the City. Following his death in December 2017, his much-loved family home was launched on the market last year through the Ipswich office of Jackson-Stops and Savills in Chelmsford at a guide price of £1.5m – a figure recently reduced to £1.25m.

The elegant former rectory, built of painted-brick elevations under a slate roof, stands in 11 acres of formal and kitchen gardens, meadows and woodland in the centre of the village, screened from the street by a splendid holly hedge and a part-rendered brick wall with trees and a hedge behind.

The house offers 4,723sq ft of living space, with a reception hall, three main reception rooms, a kitchen with an adjoining breakfast room, six bedrooms and three bathrooms.

It also comes with a former gardener’s cottage, currently fitted out as a library – ‘all perfectly liveable, although in need of updating,’ says Tim Dansie of Jackson-Stops.

An ornate rose garden lies to the east of the house, with lawn to the south and west and a brick-faced ha-ha and meadowland beyond – the whole surrounded by mature specimen trees.

The lawn slopes down to a pond and, beyond that, to an ornamental lily garden, vegetable garden and on to the stables, paddock and meadowland. To the east of the rear driveway are allotments, rented to villagers under a longstanding arrangement, and a further field for grazing.

Tendring itself is roughly half-way between Colchester and Harwich, a few miles inland from Clacton-on-Sea, and close to the Dedham Valley AONB.

The Old Rectory at Tendring is for sale via Jackson-Stops and Savills at £1.25 million – see more pictures and details.

Notting Hill was a rural hamlet in the county of Middlesex until the westward expansion of London reached Bayswater in the early 19th century. At that time, the Ladbroke family was Notting Hill’s main landowner and, from the 1820s to the 1840s, James Weller Ladbroke, working with the architect and surveyor Thomas Allason, began to lay out streets and houses, with a view to turning the area into a fashionable London suburb.

Allason’s masterplan envisaged the creation of large private communal gardens, originally known as ‘pleasure grounds’ or ‘paddocks’, enclosed by terraces or crescents of houses. Instead of houses being set around a garden square, his houses would have direct rear access to a secluded communal garden, which people on the street couldn’t access and, generally, couldn’t see.

Today, these communal gardens are a major element of Notting Hill’s attraction for some of London’s wealthiest homeowners.

In 1837, the Kensington Hippodrome racecourse was laid out around the hill from which the area takes its name, but the venture proved to be short-lived and development resumed after the last race in 1842, with arc-shaped roads such as Blenheim, Elgin, Stanley and Lansdowne Crescents built on the circular racecourse tracks.

Although the Notting Hill houses were large, they didn’t immediately appeal to the very richest Londoners, who preferred to live closer to the heart of the capital, in Mayfair or Belgravia. Instead, they were favoured by the upper-middle classes, who found they could live there in style at much lower prices.

In the early to mid 20th century, the market for large houses in Notting Hill more or less disappeared, as middle-class households ceased to employ servants. Parts of the area were badly damaged during the Blitz and, by the 1950s and 1960s, many fine houses had been split up and degraded into cheap, rundown lodgings, in which immigrant tenants were routinely exploited by unscrupulous landlords.

Eventually, the worst of the slums were cleared away during the redevelopment of the 1960s and 1970s, which saw the building of the Westway flyover, and, by the 1980s, the gentrification of west London saw the return to favour of Notting Hill’s large houses, stylish architecture and open spaces among families who could afford to buy, repair and maintain them.

That gentle upwards curve of prices turned nearly-vertical in the wake of the 1999 film Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, which painted the area as a place at once cool and warm, homely and sophisticated. An analysis by Savills shows that prices in the area went up by 66% in the five years from 2000 – double the growth rate elsewhere in London. Such is the effect of a Welshman in a pair of grey underpants.

Part of the issue is one of supply – not the scarcity of housing (this is, after all, a suburb at heart), but the scarcity of residents wishing to move on. Anyone lucky enough to own a home in Notting Hill rarely wants to leave, says Miles Meacock of Strutt & Parker, who maintains that ‘families who buy in the best roads in Notting Hill are likely to stay for anything from 20 to 40 years, compared with more transient buyers in Belgravia and Mayfair, who probably move, on average, every three to seven years’.

And that brings us up to where we are now: mix great houses, gardens, location and community with a scarcity of stock, then sit back and watch the prices soar. A couple of generations ago, mothers of middle-class children were horrified to hear that their offspring were moving to Notting Hill; today, it’s firmly in London’s ‘super prime’ bracket.

The real-life Peter Pan home – where Wendy and the boys lived – is up for sale

Credit: Knight Frank

An eight-bedroom mansion with 28 acres plus fishing rights, at the price of a small London flat

Whether it's sold in its entirety or in four lots, the Glen Lonan estate is as stunning as the Highlands

Credit: Grosvenor Square (Pic: Alamy)

Dream homes in London's garden squares: The capital city's miniature rural idylls

Make a turn off some of the capital’s busiest streets and, if you’re lucky, you may happen upon a garden square, an idyll in central London. They’re a protected species, accessible only with a key and only a few are handed out. Should you find yourself locked in one, it can be difficult to escape – even though Julia Roberts pulls it off in Notting Hill, climbing the railings is a far from ladylike option.

One of London’s defining features, the garden square was built for living in, despite its exclusivity. As developments in the city make our green spaces ever smaller, living on a square is a smart decision. So important are they that, in 1931, the London Squares Preservation Act was introduced to protect more than 400 from being built over.

Luckily, some of the city’s most famous squares are now public. Grosvenor Square, founded in about 1721, is currently home to the American Embassy; the media flock to Soho Square for after-work drinks; and on Berkeley Square you can watch Lamborghinis idly promenade.

In a few weeks’ time, even more of these idylls will be accessible: June 17–18 is Open Garden Squares Weekend, during which more than 230 private and little-known examples will be open for public viewing.

The properties that surround these desirable squares can command eye-watering prices – but should your budget stretch this far, life on a garden square offers several bonuses.

The first is location: they are, for the most part, in London’s most desirable areas. And Thomas van Straubenzee, managing director of prime property agency VanHan, believes that there’s also a good sense of community. ‘They’re quite social – people can enjoy barbecues in the summer, some allow dogs, some have tennis courts. It’s an added bonus to have a key to a garden square – they’re bigger than your private garden and more private than a public park.’

For parents, there’s also a comfort in knowing you can allow your children out to play, all within safe view of the kitchen window.

Modern developments are now springing up which feature garden squares, suggesting that their popularity will only grow. Roarie Scarisbrick, a buying agent with Property Vision, agrees: ‘There are few better ways of living in London than being on a garden square. How amazing to live right in the middle of a huge city, yet look out onto the manicured gardens and leafy plane trees.’

Mr van Straubenzee names South Edwardes Square in W8 as his favourite, while Mr Scarisbrick opts for Ladbroke Square in Notting Hill, W11. ‘However, beware the rules,’ he cautions. ‘Some are pretty archaic, almost unchanged from Victorian days. One communal garden in Notting Hill still has a notice preventing the use of tricycles and catapults.’

Connaught Square

This lovely square in Bayswater W2 currently has a four-bedroom Grade II-listed town house is on the market for £6.5 million with Carter Jonas.

For something a little larger, Savills have this extraordinary five-bedroom house on the market for £7.5 million.

Eaton Square

On Eaton Square in Belgravia SW1, Strutt & Parker are asking £16.95 million for a two-bedroom first-floor ‘trophy flat’.

It's a beautifully-appointed place, but if you need a bit more space then the same agent has this five-bedroom place for sale at £29.5 million, while this four-bedroom flat with Savills is on the market at £25 million.

South Edwardes Square

This square in Kensington W8 has a 'large lateral property' for sale for £23 million via Van Han – it's an 'off market', so you'll have to contact the agent for details.

Lillie Square

There's a more modern take on the square in Earl’s Court SW6: Lillie Square, with a garden by Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal-winning Andy Sturgeon, has recently welcomed its first residents.

 Hempel Gardens

In Bayswater, W2, the building that once housed the Hempel Hotel has been replaced by Hempel Gardens, a collection of 18 luxury apartments off Craven Hill Gardens. Prices range from just under £900,000 to just under £7 million.

Kensington Garden Square

Last summer, around the corner on Kensington Garden Square, Garden House was launched, a collection of 58 apartments in a stucco-fronted Victorian mansion building with a two-acre garden. Prices start at just under £1 million.

The enchanting Hampshire home that hosted Henry V before he marched to Agincourt

During the Middle Ages, The Palace House was one of the finest residences of the Bishops of Winchester.

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Glenkerran is an idyllic property with 22 acres on the Kintyre peninsula on the west coast of Scotland. The house has been substantially renovated recently and provides family accommodation over two floors. Accommodation includes the inner hall, gun room/rod room, sitting room, kitchen with Aga, hall, living room with open fireplace, sun room and five bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor.

Adjoining the house is a traditional outbuilding of stone under a slate roof, some of which has been converted into living accommodation, and if the necessary consents were granted would make very good additional accommodation.

The house comes with five cottages and a range of traditional outbuildings which could also be converted to residential accommodation.

The land slopes down to the Kerran water, which provides the opportunity to catch the odd migratory fish. Two grazing paddocks lie north of the farm track, and are sheltered by a neighbouring woodland plantation. All sporting rights, such as there are, are part of the property title.

Glenkerran is located on the Kintyre peninsula on the south-west coast of Scotland. The property is close to the coast near Southend, which boasts a village shop, tea room, hotel, church, primary school and a doctor's surgery. Campbeltown is seven miles.

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The guide price is £360,000. For further information please contact CKD Galbraith on 01786 434 600 or visit www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk.

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St Edmund Hall is a fabulous red sandstone house which was built as a manse in around 1844. The property has recently been comprehensively refurbished and now provides excellent, well balanced accommodation over three floors.

The rooms are beautifully proportioned and there are some wonderful features including marble fireplaces, ceiling roses, deep cornicing and picture rails.

The accommodation is approached through a porch and the principal reception rooms - drawing room, dining room and morning room (which also has double doors out to the garden) - face south and enjoy wonderful views over open countryside and the Scar Water to the hills; the breakfast room enjoys great views out to the mature gardens. Upstairs are four excellent first floor bedrooms, all en suite, and the second floor has two further bedrooms.

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The property also comes with a studio apartment which has independent access from the central courtyard to the rear of the house and offers a double bedroom and a wet room as well as an open plan sitting room/kitchen.

The principal garden is situated to the west of the property and offers some magnificent views whilst the rest of the gardens benefit from fruit trees and further mature planting.

The Hall occupies a wonderful elevated position above the Scaur Water on the eastern periphery of Penpont in Dumfriesshire and the countryside combines rolling grass farmland, spectacular coastline and magnificent forests. There aren't any major conurbations nearby but Thornhill (two miles) has a range of shops, secondary school, cottage hospital and some hotels; the M74 is just 16 miles and Edinburgh is 65 miles.

The guide price is £750,000. For further information please telephone 0131 247 3717 or visit www.savills.co.uk.

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Nearly 700,000 people are now stuck on waiting lists for an affordable home in rural England and communities are under threat as a result, the National Housing Federation and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have warned.

Their report says that on average 14,494 people have been added to housing waiting lists in rural areas every month over the past four years, as house prices rose and it became more and more difficult to build affordable housing where residents were against further development. As a result the younger generation have been priced out of where they live and rural communities are under threat, as second home owners come to dominate the market, which puts local shops, schools and churches under threat.

As a result the Federation and the CPRE have launched a charter ‘Save Rural England, Build Affordable Homes’ which has ideas about how to raise the number of affordable homes in rural communities.

The charter is designed to provide ways in which houses can be built for local people in rural communities, and includes

* Ensuring that a fair share of future government spending on social housing is committed to delivering affordable rural homes * Restricting the right to buy in rural areas of acute housing pressure * Ensuring all rural planning authorities set ambitious but achievable affordable housing targets

Federation Chief Executive David Orr said: ‘The rural housing crisis is intensifying rapidly, with more and more people being priced out of the market and having to live in cramped and unsuitable conditions. Ministers need urgently to implement the key recommendations in the [Matthew] Taylor Review and the Federation and CPRE joint action plan if they are to help those in need of an affordable rural home. ‘Without urgent action by ministers many of our villages are in danger of becoming the preserve of the rich and weekend playgrounds for second home owners, with schools, pubs and post offices at risk of closing because of a lack of customers. Others are at risk of becoming very poor – as economic activity and young people of a working age are simply squeezed out.’

Country dwellers are losing out when it comes to looking for affordable housing, with the average level of house prices in rural areas at £235,324, 15% higher than the average urban price of £204,290.

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According to a new study by Halifax Estate Agents, the priciest rural local authority in Britain is Chiltern, Buckinghamshire where the average house costs £448,635. All 10 of the most expensive country local authorities are in the south of England. In addition, the three dearest rural local authorities – Chiltern, Waverley and Tandridge – also have the best quality of life among rural areas. Pendle in the north west is the cheapest rural local authority, with the average house at £129,887, followed by the Western Isles (£137,319) and Copeland (£138,111). The average property price in rural communities is 7.3 times average annual earnings, compared to a six to one ratio in urban settlements. Seven of the 10 least affordable rural local authorities are in the south west, with North Devon the least affordable with the average price at £252,792, 9.1 times local annual earnings (£27,853). First time buyers make up only 21% of all rural buyers, contrasting with 37% in urban areas. ‘Housing in rural areas is less affordable than in urban areas due to a combination of higher average prices and lower average earnings. The difficulties for home buyers in rural locations are particularly acute among first time buyers and are exacerbated by relatively low levels of social housing provision,’ says Suren Thiru, a Halifax economist. * Country properties for sale

England and Wales's new rural buildings are to be entered in a contest to find the country's finest conversions and developments. The CLA Rural Buildings Awards aims to showcase high quality design and workmanship. Traditional farm buildings, sporting facilities, tourism projects and holiday accommodation can all be entered for the awards.

The awards have been devised by the County Land and Business Association (CLA) and Knight Frank. 'We should be proud of the way in which the new built heritage of our countryside is evolving, stimulated by diversification,' said CLA President David Fursdon. 'Quite often they are at the cutting edge of design but balance that with an understanding of the importance of their environment.'

As well as good design the judges will also be looking at the energy efficiency and community benefits of projects. Awards will be made regionally across two categories ? new and converted buildings. A further award will be made by the CLA President, selected from among the regional category award winners.

Sandy Douglas, Head of Knight Frank Rural Consultancy, said: 'There has been a beneficial shift in the use of rural buildings, providing diversified revenue for the landowner, new uses for old and often these important buildings contribute to the community.'

Winners will be announced in November 2007 and will receive a commemorative plaque and certificates at an award ceremony in London in December 2007. Deadline for entries is April 30 2007.

For more information on the scheme and details of how to enter visit, http://www.cla.org.uk/ruralbuildingsawards email ruralbuildings@cla.org.uk or call 01539 567597