An idyllic country house with a touch of Alice in Wonderland in the superb gardens
A pretty, Grade II listed hall house, complete with expansive entertainment spaces and a giant chess board in the garden. Lydia Stangroom jumps down the rabbit hole for a closer look.

With over 14 acres of land, plus numerous outbuildings-including an oasthouse and Kent barn, Great Budds House is the type of property that screams out for large summer garden parties and entertaining.
Complete with a croquet lawn and a giant chess board in the garden, it's hard not to feel like you've stepped into a scene from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.
Currently for sale with Knight Frank at an asking price of £3,500,000, Great Budds House is a beautiful, Grade II listed period property situated in the idyllic rural country setting of Shipbourne, Tonbridge.
The main house is over 5,000 sq ft, spanning three floors, and has retained many period features, including tall ceilings, exposed beams and a traditional Inglenook fireplace in the drawing room.
Being south facing, the house is exposed to lots of natural sunlight and has a large, elegant conservatory to take full advantage of its situation.
Located to the west of the main house is the oasthouse spanning 2,832 sq ft. Traditionally, oasthouses were used for drying hops during the brewing process, with many now converted into living accommodation.
A real space for entertaining, it boasts a swimming pool, billiard room, sauna, changing facilities, two round bedrooms and a (very) well-sized living area.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
To the northwest of the house lies a large, timber frame Kent barn which provides an additional 3,000 sq ft worth of space. Framing a courtyard and the croquet lawn sits an additional two further barns and a stables.
Classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and located within conservation grounds, this picturesque property sits harmoniously amongst a large, well-established garden, complete with a tennis court a Victorian style greenhouse and 14 acres of rural countryside to get lost in.
Budds House is currently for sale with Knight Frank at an asking price of £3,500,000 — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Shipbourne: What you need to know
Location: Shipbourne is a village located between the towns of Tonbridge and Sevenoaks with an approximate 15 -20 minute drive to either town.
Shipbourne is located 6 miles from the neighbouring railway station Borough Green & Wrotham that links to Sevenoaks which has direct train links to London.
Atmosphere: Dubbed the most expensive village to live in Kent, there is a popular local pub/ restaurant and a weekly farmers market.
Things to do: Situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there are plenty of rural walks to enjoy, and the lovely National Trust-run Ightham Mote is close by.
Schools: Shipbourne has its own primary school, Shipbourne County Primary School (rated 'Good' by Ofsted). There's a selection of secondaries in both Tonbridge and not far away in Sevenoaks, while the trio of independent schools at Somerhill are close by in a glorious countryside setting.
Find the best houses for sale in Kent.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
You're all invited to Cecil Beaton's Garden Party
'The space given over to 'Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party' at the Garden Museum is smaller than Beaton’s own drawing room, but its intimacy is its trump card.'
By Charlotte Mullins Published
-
Chelsea Flower Show 2025: Ten things not to miss in what promises to be a superb year at the world's greatest horticultural show
It promises to be a stellar year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Kathryn Bradley-Hole previews some of the highlights you can expect, while we take a look ahead to what Country Life will be up to during the week.
By Kathryn Bradley-Hole Published
-
Swim above the competition in London's highest outdoor pool
The new Shard Place development is the latest amenity-filled addition to the Shard Quarter
By James Fisher Published
-
Business at the front, party at the rear: Ravensbury Lodge in Devon, a four-bed conversion on the market with stunning views of the River Dart
The house in Warfleet, Dartmouth, is a waterside property with a twist — and its contrasting architectural elements are a delightful surprise.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Laverstoke Park, the iconic home of Formula One World Champion Jody Scheckter, roars onto the market
The benchmark for the sale of the year has been set.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
No Mr Bond, we expect you to buy: Sean Connery's former villa on the French Riviera could be yours
Roc Fleuri Villa 'must be Nice's most desirable home', according to the agents.
By Lotte Brundle Last updated
-
Five Cotswold dream homes on the market from £3m to £18m, as seen in Country Life
This week we have a Cotswolds-themed rundown of some of the finest homes to come to the market in this beautiful part of England.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A modern masterpiece for sale in Cornwall that's just one mile from the beach
Hay House combines location, elegance and modern family living to create a special home for the 21st century.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rollercoaster, Bauhaus department store and Brutalist football stand top the latest Buildings at Risk List
The latest Buildings at Risk List from the Twentieth Century Society has been announced. Sunwin House department store and Blackpool’s Grand National Rollercoaster both feature.
By Jack Watkins Published
-
Lutyens's last masterpiece comes up for sale in Oxfordshire, with 27 bedrooms and a cricket pitch
Middleton Park in Middleton Stoney is a vast country home that must surely be among the nation's best
By James Fisher Published