At the foot of the Chilterns in the Oxfordshire hamlet of Postcombe, roughly half-way between Oxford and High Wycombe, a cottage has come to the market which will tick every box for someone seeking a dreamy piece of England.
Grade II-listed Ellsdale Cottage – on the market at £695,000 via Knight Frank – looks as if it's escaped from the pages of a fairytale, but this is no wreck: the place has been sensitively renovated to combine modern comfort with its enormous period charm.
Inglenook fireplaces take pride of place in the sitting and dining rooms and both the living areas and the three bedrooms upstairs feature exposed beams.
Outside, the gardens have been landscaped by an award-winning designer, with unusual plants, ornamental trees, an alfresco dining area and a water feature.
Postcombe itself is an attractive village with easy access to the M40, from where London and Oxford are both within easy reach. Not that you'll need to get in the car any time you need anything: there is a village garage, shop and pub, as well as a nearby hotel.
It's very commutable for those working in London: Haddenham & Thame station is a 15-minute drive away, from where trains take 40 minutes to Marylebone.
10 picture-perfect thatched cottages which are immaculate inside and out
Buying a thatched cottage needn't mean walking into a nightmare of work to do – these delightful places are all
The enchanting cottage that was once home to Sir William Golding
Picture-perfect Ebble Thatch was the home to the great Lord of the Flies author and Nobel Prize in Literature and
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
-
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
-
The homes of two 1980s TV icons are both up for sale at the same timeThe houses where Bob Monkhouse and Sir Terry Wogan spent decades of their lives are currently on the market. Annabel Dixon takes a look.
-
Living on the edge? A lighthouse for sale on a clifftop on one of the most remote islands in BritainBressay Lighthouse was built by the father and uncle of the 'Treasure Island' author.
-
Alan Titchmarsh is selling his Hampshire home (and the garden that comes with it): Exclusive pictures and interviewAfter many happy years in Hampshire, the writer, broadcaster and national treasure Alan Titchmarsh is selling up and looking to move. He spoke to Penny Churchill about his years at Manor Farm House.
