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 our pick of the latest to come to the market.

Chideock, Dorset — £425,000

Yes, you’ll have to put in a bit of an offer to hit our £400k limit (not easy right now), but it’s worth a try and/or pushing your budget for a real picture-book cottage in a gorgreous village near Bridport.

This three-bedroom thatched cottage is full of character, with beamed ceilings and pretty windows, while it has a lovely private garden at the back — and the whole place has been kept in lovely condition.

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

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Dalehouse, North Yorkshire — £350,000

Your eyes do not deceive you: this is not just a home, but a country pub for sale at the price of a studio flat in East Croydon — a pub known as the Fox & Hounds.

It’s a two-bedroom home as well as the local pub (and it’s still very much at the heart of the community) that’s set within the North Yorks Moors National Park and just a few minutes from the coast at Staithes, half-way between Whitby and Saltburn-by-Sea.

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

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Abergavenny, Monmouthshire — £395,000

A beautiful three-bedroom cottage set in a lovely elevated position with views across the Usk Valley, this 18th century home just outside Abergavenny is full of period features.

There’s more character in the kitchen alone than most places have in their entirety, with an Aga, original bread oven and a quarry tiled floor, while the large, south-facing garden at the front of the house is a real selling point as well.

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

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Leven, Fife — £420,000

Magnificently re-done, as the lovely images show, this converted church a short stroll from the seafront had six bedrooms and a vast open-plan living space.

Many of the original church’s features have been retained — including the timber floors and vaulted ceilings — while there’s parking for six cars and a garden.

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

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Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex — £350,000

A 15th-century listed cottage in this almost absurdly picturesque village near Bishop’s Stortford is up for sale — and the village itself is a big part of the appeal, being Goldilocks-sized (i.e. just right) with primary school, village green and a shop.

Just one word of warning for the noise-averse: the pretty brick building to the left of the main picture (and on the other side of the archway) is the village pub, The Cock Inn (absolutely no sniggering in the back, please). Whether that’s a good or a bad thing we’ll leave to you.

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

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Trefasser, Pembrokeshire — £425,000

A fabulous opportunity to buy a 10-acre plot and create your own home from scratch, just yards from the spectacular cliffs that plunge into the Irish Sea.

As the picture shows, there is a LOT of work to be done here, but full permission is in place to renovate and extend to turn the stone cottage that still stands into a 3/4 bedroo home that will have stunning views and a huge amount of space.

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

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Glengonar, Perthshire — £380,000

Idyllic, beautiful and spacious outside, and a complete blank canvas within, this three-bedroom detached house has been stripped bare inside and is crying out for a new owner to make it a home.

It’s very much a peaceful rural retreat, yet the location south of Perth offers straightforward access to the M90, and from there to Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond.

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

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Beckwithshaw, Harrogate — £400,000

This two bedroom apartment is part of a fairytale-like mansion, just outside of Harrogate.

The Grade II-listed property is set within 200 acres of surrounding parkland, with private access into the apartment gained via the communal central courtyard.

Indian slate flooring is a feature throughout many of the spacious rooms, so you may want to invest in some rugs.

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

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Tain, Easter Ross, Scotland — £375,000

You can count on your money going that little bit further in Scotland, proven here with this charming five bedroom Georgian house.

The former manse lies on the southern shores of the Dornoch Firth — an area known for its sandy beaches and excellent fishing opportunities.

The property is in immaculate condition, largely due to the face that it has been in the same family for 40 years and thanks to a recent refurbishment.

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

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Okehampton, Devon — £400,000

No, it’s not the prettiest house, but then again this isn’t just a house: it’s a five-bedroom detached home that provides an opportunity to run a thriving lifestyle business, in the heart of the village of Petrockstow, in Devon. Yes, you too can become a pub landlord, at the price of a two-bedroom flat in Croydon.

The pub/restaurant dates back from the 17th century and sits next to the village church.

The property could easily be taken over and continue running as a pub, or there is scope for renovation to turn it into a private residence… we’re not sure the rest of the village would approve, though.

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

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Polperro, Cornwall — £400,000

A true gem, and really quite a rare opportunity to own a property in one of Cornwall’s most sought after (and beautiful) villages (without breaking the bank), comes in the form of this incredibly pretty two bed house, located in Polperro.

The property is made from traditional Mundic block and sits next to a river that flows into the harbour.

If you’re looking for the catch — there really isn’t one, as the interiors are finished to a lovely standard, creating a comfortable home in one of the country’s most beautiful locations. Go go go!

For sale with Scott Parry. 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 it’s been for sale for a few weeks now, so it’s worth a go. And the reward could be truly special, for this is a lovely cottage in a 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.