Ten stunning character properties for sale at under £400,000
From thatched cottages near the beaches of Devon and Cornwall to a barn conversion in Kent and a wonderful getaway in Snowdonia, here's our pick of the best character cottages and character homes for sale.

Cornwall — £375,000
A picture-perfect chocolate box cottage in Cornwall that has just had a top-to-bottom renovation which the agents describe as a 'labour of love'.
It's immaculate inside and out, and there are some real touches of flair in the sympathetic work that's been done — not least with the installation of a shiny copper bath in one of the three bedrooms.
For sale with Lillicrap Chilcott. See more pictures of this property.
Snowdonia — £325,000
For those who don't mind spending months simply learning how to spell their new address (it's 'Tyn Y Ffridd, Llanymawddwy, Machynlleth') this double-fronted, three-bedroom house in a truly gorgeous location in the mountains is utterly beguiling.
Inside, it's certainly cosy — by which we mean 'small and cosy' — but it's a beautiful, traditional Welsh home full of character and original features.
For sale with Walter Lloyd Jones & Co. See more pictures of this property.
Kent — £399,000
Don't get too excited by the main image here: it's a CGI mock-up of what this as-yet-unconverted rural barn near Staplehurst could look like once it's all done. (Also ignore the fact that the agent has cheekily added a vintage Aston Martin on to the imaginary driveway.)
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What you can definitely get excited about is the fact that this is a magnificently pretty setting, full permission is already in place for the conversion, and the house — once done — will even be in the Cranbrook School catchment area.
The planned house has almost 2,400sq ft of space and 1.15 acres of land, to include a paddock. All this, and a railway station just a mile away.
For sale with BTF Partnership. See more pictures of this property.
Devon — £399,000
A three-bedroom cottage with a separate garage that's bigger than it appears at first glance.
Perhaps best of all is the location: it's on the edge of the village of Braunton, very close to the surfing beach at Croyde and the wide open sands of Saunton.
For sale with Webbers. See more pictures of this property.
West Sussex — £380,000
Tucked away in a South Downs hamlet between Arundel and Pulborough is this gorgeous thatched home.
It's a 400-year-old, Grade II-listed place that has been beautifully done throughout.
It's walking distance to a country pub, has a delightful garden and a real holiday vibe.
For sale with Keller Williams Advantage. See more pictures of this property.
Northumberland — £250,000
A wonderful location looking across the River Tyne, just downstream from Kielder Water.
The house itself is a simple two-up, two down that needs updating, but the potential is obvious.
For sale with Andrew Coulson. See more pictures of this property.
Cornwall — £385,000
Picture-perfect thatched cottage on the Roseland Peninsula, within a few minutes of the sea.
Just two bedrooms, but a lovely country kitchen, open plan living area and large garden make it feel bigger.
Really, what more could you want?
For sale with H Tiddy. See more pictures of this property.
Isle of Barra, Scotland — £275,000
A six-bedroom home just under 2,000sq ft, for just £275,000? The Old Schoolhouse on the Isle of Barra is really something else, both in size and setting
As the pictures show, it's in a perfectly liveable state, albeit full of the sort of quirky design and decor you see on one of those Netflix shows with a faux-1980s vibe.
The value here is simply astonishing, though, from the basement gym to the giant chessboard in the garden. And if you're wondering if WFH is a possibility, wonder no more: the agents report that there is high-speed 78MBPs broadband.
For sale with Murphy & Forrester. See more pictures of this property.
Belford, Northumberland — £375,000
No, don't get too excited: the purchase price doesn't get you the whole place, but it does still stretch to a very decent, 1,600 sq ft chunk of this Georgian country house not far from Belford.
There are two bedrooms in this beautifully-decorated first floor apartment, which also has use of some wonderful communal areas — and 27 acres of grounds and parkland.
If you're worried about buying a flat that's one among many Air BNBs, fret not: use of these apartments as commercial lets is prohibited by the terms of the lease. This is strictly either a full-time residence or a second home.
For sale with Finest Properties. See more pictures of this property.
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire — £425,000
Buyers from pricey metropolitan areas will be stunned at what is on offer here: a Georgian beauty with six bedrooms, 3,770sq ft and location in the centre of Gainsborough at the price of a two-bed flat in Croydon.
The rooms are every bit as beautiful as you'd hope to see from the outside, with an abundance of period features.
For sale with Fine & Country. See more pictures of this property.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
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Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
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