Absolutely beautiful character properties for sale at under £400,000

Quaint cottages, handsome conversions and beautiful country houses often come with seven-figure price tags – but truly lovely character properties are out there that are well within reach for most buyers. Here's out pick of the latest to come to the market.

Falkland, Fife — £325,000

Set in the historic centre of Falkland, this delightful little cottage is cute as they come and full of character.

Sitting room and kitchen diner are downstairs, with two bedrooms above.

The wow-factor room, however, is the second floor bathroom with the sort of spa bath you’d expect in a Mayfair townhouse.

For sale with Savills. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

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Carbis Bay, Cornwall — £400,000

This property isn’t much more than a beach hut, in all honesty — but WHAT a beach hut it is.

£400,000 buys you a one-bedroom, wooden structure with quite the most astonishing location we’ve seen in a long time, perched above the glorious and unspoilt beach of Carbis Bay.

There are probably more sensible things to do with your money: cash buyers only need apply, due to the construction, and it’s not habitable year-round. But what a bolt-hole this would be — and no doubt it would be hugely popular (and lucrative) as a holiday let.

For sale with Lillicrap Chilcott. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

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Penrith, Cumbria — £399,000

This pretty Georgian home stands in the historic village of Penrith, on the northern fringe of the Lake District National Park. It could even be a lifestyle business: the place has been run as Whitrigg House B&B in recent years.

Listed Grade II, it has been thoughtfully modernised and extended, and now has 1775 sq ft of living space, with the living areas on the ground floor opening up to the garden via bi-fold doors.

There are three bedrooms upstairs — including a master bedroom with panoramic juliette balcony — while outside, the delightful lawned garden houses a sauna.

For sale with Hayward Tod. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

Find more property near Clifton, Penrith, Cumbria.

Blackhill, County Durham — £350,000

Some converted churches barely register their history, once you’re inside; this is emphatically not the case in this marvellous home in Blackhill, near Consett.

The original features are retained wherever possible — most astonishingly in the case of the bedroom with intact rose window. What a feeling it must be to wake up dappled by rose light streaming through…

There are three bedrooms in total, gardens, parking — and, er, ‘use of all open areas within the cemetery’, which we *think* is a good thing…

For sale with JW Wood. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

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Talygarn, Rhondda, Wales — £395,000

Fancy a mini-castle for less than £400,000? Then head to Talygarn Manor and Country Park, near Pontyclun, in Wales.

Spanning three floors, this crenellated building has a sitting room and kitchen and breakfast room on the ground floor, two bedrooms on the second floor and the master suite and another bedroom on the top floor.

From there, a landing leads to the roof terrace, which takes in superb views of the country park. As well as having its own private patio garden, the property also has access to the development’s communal gardens.

For sale with Hywel Anthony. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

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Wimborne, Dorset — £425,000

You’ll have to both have a cheeky offer accepted and be prepared to do some work to pick up this house with a £400,000 budget — but the result could be truly special for a lovely cottage in this famously charming town.

While the house looks like it’s escaped from a Thomas Hardy novel on the outside, there is a lot of updating to be done within. It’ll be worth it: enough period features (such as stone floors) are in place to suggest what this four-bedroom Georgian home could become.

There is also a lovely enclosed garden — not lawned — at the back, as well as off-road parking.

For sale with Hearnes. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

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York, Yorkshire — £325,000

You don’t get much for your money within the ancient city walls of York, but you can still get a small house, as this three-bedroom Georgian home shows.

While it has charm from the outside, inside it’s more modern and could do with a little TLC to add some charm.

The 878sq ft interiors have a kitchen and sitting room on the ground floor and three bedrooms on the top two floors. Outside is a patio garden.

For sale with Ashtons. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

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Uppingham, Rutland — £300,000

A short walk from Uppingham’s High Street is this charming Grade II listed character property.

The delightful two-bedroom cottage features an inglenook fireplace and two reception rooms.

It benefits from a south-facing garden, private driveway parking and garage.

For sale with Newton Fallowell. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

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Sampford Courtenay, West Devon — £395,000

Grade II listed, Forge Cottage is a beautiful thatched house with four bedrooms.

It is situated in the pretty conservation village of Sampford Courtenay, five miles from the town of Okehampton.

The cottage dates from the early 17th century and features beamed ceilings and a large living room with stone fireplace and fixed 17th century bench.

For sale with Robert Williams. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

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Lancashire — £400,000

An enchanting Grade II listed thatched cottage built circa 1604 with many original features and oak flooring throughout.

The property is entirely secluded within its extensive gardens bound by mature trees.

For sale with Chris Wilkinson-Irlam. See more pictures and details about this property.

Barnstaple — £425,000

Another one where you’ll have to do some cheeky offering and negotiation — surely the Stamp Duty holiday will help — but this is a beauty: a charming character cottage in a convenient location, enjoying southerly views over open countryside.