The charm and character of a period property is hard to resist, as many, many readers of Country Life will tell you. But when it comes to the crunch, which style is the most desirable?
Crunch the numbers and it turns out to be Victorian homes that reign supreme: they are the most searched-for period property style, according to figures from the property portal Rightmove.
It’s easy to see why. Victorian homes tend to be spacious, with big windows and high ceilings. They’re big on design features: think majestic fireplaces, eye-catching tiled floors, pretty ceiling roses and delicate cornicing. And they have a reputation for being well-built.
But perhaps most of all, there's lots of them around. From big manor houses and rectories in the countryside, to terraced houses and converted industrial buildings in cities, buyers are not short on choice. The comparison with Georgian homes is obvious; relatively few remain, those that do are often larger, more remote and more expensive, and so in terms of pure search numbers, it's no surprise that people are seeking a house type that is more readily available and affordable.
None of that is to take anything away from Victorian homes, of course.
‘Victorian homes remain particularly popular, characterised by their historic charm, solid construction, and spacious interiors,’ explains Rightmove’s property expert Tim Bannister.
‘You’ll often find Victorian houses in some of the most desirable locations which include convenient access to schools and transport links.’ Who could argue with that?
Georgian homes are the second most searched-for style. Look no further than those picture-perfect rows of townhouses in the likes of Bath, Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Edinburgh. So grand and so elegant, with their symmetry and sash windows.
Matt Thompson, head of sales at Chestertons, points out that, post-pandemic, there was a slight spike in interest for Georgian properties as 'buyers were driven to find a house style that has a reputation for being more spacious and could accommodate a home office more easily'.
In third place are Edwardian homes, typically roomier and lighter than previous architectural eras. Suburban areas and commuter villages in particular often have plentiful examples of this type of period property.
Tudor homes, famed for their oak timber details, are the fourth most-searched for period property style.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Regency era. A Regency home is likely to fall into the ‘in your wildest dreams’ category for most people. In other words, they’re well above the average buyer’s price point. But in all honesty, if money was no object, who wouldn’t want a classic Regency home?
Whatever their era, period properties have long held a special place in our hearts. So it’s no surprise that the words ‘character’ and ‘period’ both make it into Rightmove’s top 20 most searched-for keywords this year.
The likes of Downton Abbey, Bridgerton and The Tudors have no doubt reminded people of the charm of a period property. But have these buyers ever had to foot the bills for a large period property? They’re not cheap to run, to put it mildly. That’s the price you pay for starring in your own period drama.
Could using a buying agent save you money?
Buying agents excel at gaining access to houses of which there’s nary a whisper on the market.
Britain's most expensive street outside London, where homes average £2.6 million — and a bare plot is up for sale at £5.5m
Old Avenue in leafy Weybridge, Surrey, tops the list of the most expensive streets to buy a home outside the
After a quick house sale? Here’s where to look
The fastest-selling housing markets, the Easter spike in homes put up for sale, and the 10 most in-demand areas of
-
‘Everyone had dodgy magazines hidden under their beds and I had interior design magazines’: James Thurstan Waterworth's consuming passionsInterior designer James Thurstan Waterworth was the European design director at Soho House before he went on to open his own studio, Thurstan. He discusses his love of Tudor history, Andrew Scott and how a portrait of a chicken changed his life.
-
Eat our local cheeses or lose our local cheeses, warns Neal's Yard DairyEngland has a rich tradition of fine local cheeses. Put down the cheddar, and protect some of our heritage dairy.
-
Six beautiful homes around the world, from Portofino to Provence to Palm BeachAn exquisite villa tucked into a hillside? A A breathtaking apartment created to make you feel like you're flying through the endless blue skies?
-
An idyllic home where the forest meets the sea, for sale for the first time in over half a centuryLittle Aston is a graceful, charming home with superb gardens and its own orchard, as well as some of the south coast's most beautiful areas right on its doorstep. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
'Just look at those stairs. Just as an art form, they are bewitching, like the shell of a nautilus': The lure of buying a stairway to heavenIt seems like madness to buy a house purely because you fall in love with the staircase — but sometimes, they are simply so beautiful that it's impossible to resist. Toby Keel takes a look at some glorious examples of staircases we've seen in Country Life in the last couple of years.
-
The one-of-a-kind estate with two private beaches and a surf house on storied Martha's Vineyard islandBeach Farm on Martha’s Vineyard — a favourite summertime holiday destination with prominent American families — is a perfect melding of New England and Scandinavian design styles.
-
The architect who created the MI6 building only designed a tiny handful of houses — and one of them is now up for sale in one of London's most bucolic spotsSir Terry Farrell designed the beautiful, light-filled, T-shaped Drum House in Petersham, with gardens laid out by John Sallis Chandler, who has won multiple RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medals.
-
'True waterfront homes are finite... miss one and it could be years before you see another like it again': Why the best waterfront property always hits the spotThere’s no denying the appeal of waterfront property, which now sells for some 51% more than its inland equivalent, finds Knight Frank. Annabel Dixon explores the shore.
-
19 charming homes for sale, from picture-perfect cottages to beachside retreats, as seen in Country LifeThis week's selection of some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week.
-
Tim Burton is selling the house he shared with Helena Bonham-Carter, a sublime home on the Thames that comes with three private islandsMill House in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, might just be the perfect English country home.
