Tis the season to be jolly — and if by that you mean tucking in to tins of festive chocolates and treats with cute cottages adorning the lids, this is a property which should tick your box.
Unusually, though, it'll tick several other boxes too — namely space and liveability. While we've yet to see a thatched cottage that wasn't full of delightful charm, they quite often have a few serious drawbacks — especially for anyone over 5'6" tall, since many pre-industrial cottages were designed, built and lived-in by people of very different stature to the modern inhabitants of Britain. A friend of mine once lived in an ancient stone building going back seven or eight centuries, and it was all but impossible for a 6ft human to move from room to room without constantly smashing their head on a doorway. And don't get started on floorspace: cottages are all too often as tiny as they are delightful.
Coming across a wondrous thatched home in a beautiful part of the country that offers the old world charm as well as 21st century liveability is quite rare, in other words — so it's great to see a home like this five-bedroom detached place in the village of Minstead, for sale at £1.75 million via Austin & Wyatt.
As the pictures show, this is an old house that's been extended and improved to get it to the state it's in today — 'meticulously extended and modernised', as the agents describe it.
As well as the aforementioned bedrooms (one of which is on the ground floor, and another on the second floor) there are four reception rooms, three bathrooms and a conservatory looking out across some of the 2.5 acres of land that come as part of the deal, and which include stables and a paddock.
There's also a workshop, storage sheds and a detached double garage, with a studio above — ideal as guest accommodation. Or a place to banish a snorer.
Minstead itself is a lovely little spot with a village shop, pub and church with an active church hall — all are within walking distance — while the absolutely adorable Furzey Gardens are right there too. The larger hub of Lyndhurst is only three miles away.
It's even a straightforward commute, with the M27 just a couple of miles away.
For sale at £1.75 million via Austin & Wyatt — see more pictures and details.
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of themBrithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallistPenny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heartFor sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews housesFrom birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agentsSavills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
