It’s tough to know where to start with The Old Rectory, near Beeston in north Norfolk, which is currently on sale via Bedfords for £1.1 million.
Is it the charming moat that surrounds three-quarters of the property? The romantic Willow tree that frames the water? Perhaps it’s the wooden Monet-style bridge that crosses said moat?
Or could it be the Grade II-listed Georgian house itself, with its six bedrooms and light-filled, eccentric reception rooms?
Featuring a characterful master bedroom complete with a dressing room and ensuite and set in 1.23 acres of secluded, utopian English countryside, The Old Rectory blends comfortable, luxurious living into its outdoor surroundings.
It’s difficult with a property as complete as this one, which also boasts a detached one-bedroom cottage (perfect for visitors or staycationers alike) and a separate office and studio above the garage for all your home-working needs. Where often the self-contained smaller properties can be treated as an afterthought, this is happily not the case here, and the cottage is finished to a high standard.
When off the clock, the secluded private grounds are a great place to relax and you can enjoy the mature woodland, well-stocked borders and lawns.
With a terrace that leads from the kitchen to the Monet-style bridge, and an outdoor kitchen complete with a pizza oven and barbecue, this property is surely the place that lockdown, spring-heatwave dreams are made of.
The Old Rectory is currently on the market via Bedfords at £1.1 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for more details.
Beeston: What you need to know
Location: Beeston is a village located in north Norfolk, 16 miles from Norwich.
Atmosphere: Beeston is a small village with strong community ties. In 2019, the community raised funds to buy The Beeston Ploughshare and it is now run as a community pub, shop, restaurant and cafe.
Things to do: With a frequent bus service and a rail station located at King's Lynn with access to London Liverpool Street, there is also the historic market town of Fakenham that has a range of restaurants, shops and a golf course.
Schools: The local primary school is Beeston Primary, with Litcham School as the closest secondary.
See more properties for sale in the area.
Credit: Knight Frank
The best country houses for sale this week
Catch up on the best houses that have come up for sale via Country Life in the last few weeks.
-
Robert Redford's Oscar and this week's unique royal funeral: Country Life Quiz of the Day, September 17, 2025One of Hollywood's greats is remembered in Wednesday's quiz.
-
The Gallivant review: The Camber Sands retreat with show-stopping seafood and a penchant for happinessThe coastal hotel in Rye, East Sussex, is utterly unique and almost faultless, but is seamlessly eclipsed by the real showstopper, its Anglo-French restaurant, Harry’s.
-
A perfect country house in 'the most beautiful and unspoilt town in the Cotswolds'Penny Churchill takes a look at the wonderful Kingcombe, on the outskirts of the charming town of Chipping Campden.
-
The dream home that never was for one of Britain's greatest film stars, back on the market for the first time in half a centuryAnna White takes a look at the beautiful Wallers Mead, in the Buckinghamshire village full of links to Hollywood movies from James Bond to Star Wars.
-
A 500-year-old cottage in West Sussex that's as beautiful as you could ever hope to see, with a pool ringed by flowers, stables and a croquet lawnJames Fisher was in need of some balm for the soul when he came across Woodshill House.
-
A Clarkson's Farm of one's own: Five properties with just enough farmland for you and your family, from under £1 millionMoving to the country is one thing; moving to the country and being able to grow and rear all your own food is another level entirely, and all these properties offer exactly that.
-
Six superb homes, from chocolate box cottages to grand Tudor mansions, as seen in Country LifeOur regular round-up includes charming home counties houses and superb grand country house in Ireland.
-
A billionaire's thatched cottage is for sale in Surrey, once owned by the oil magnate J. Paul GettyChestnut Cottage is a joyous little home — albeit one with the most unusual bedrooms to acreage to price balances we've ever seen. Toby Keel takes a look inside.
-
Medieval Italian? 19th century French? 16th century German? You're spoilt for choice if you're looking to buy a gorgeous continental castleFrom hills of Italy to a Bavarian palace, Toby Keel takes a look at three of the finest castles for sale across Europe today.
-
How to buy a house at auctionBuying at auction can mean you secure your dream property for a bargain price, but preparation is the key
