If this five-bedroom home in Oxfordshire was good enough for the Emperor of Japan, it's good enough for you
The Old Rectory in Besselsleigh is an archetypal English home with outstanding royal connections.


Country Life has long had a healthy relationship to Royalty, but usually only the family in charge of these fair isles. But no longer. We are spreading our wings to other, more eastern, isles, by bringing you the glorious Old Rectory in Besselsleigh, Oxfordshire.
For sale with Knight Frank for £1.95 million, the property was the former home of Crown Prince Naruhito, now known as His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan. He wrote about the house in his book The Thames and I: A memoir of two years at Oxford. I never expected to have anything in common with the Emperor of Japan, but now we’ve both written about the Old Rectory. Always good to have something in your back pocket should I accidentally get sat next to him at a dinner.
To the house! As discussed, it is called The Old Rectory, it is in Oxfordshire, and comes with five bedrooms, five reception rooms and 2.5 acres of gardens and grounds. It is about as typical an old rectory as you would expect to find in this part of the world, with lots of spacious reception rooms, dry-stone walling and glorious gardens.




Set over two floors, the property is laid out in an L-plan, with the ground floor comprising a gym, study, sitting room, family room, kitchen and utility/boot room. The five bedrooms can be found on the first floor. There is also a wine cellar, because what self-respecting emperor doesn’t have a wine cellar.
The gardens are of exceptional quality, with lawned areas, well stocked borders and shrubs, and a selection of specimen trees. Further afield, the property benefits from tremendous views over the surrounding countryside, as well as privacy from the stone wall to the front of the home.




Oxford city centre is just a few miles to the north east, while London is accessible by train in under an hour. A home fit for a king? Who knows, but certainly one for a future emperor.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.

James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.
-
My piece of heaven: The Vale of Belvoir by Lady Violet Manners
Lady Violet Manners, who grew up in Belvoir Castle, shares her love of the area around her ancestral home.
By Lady Violet Manners Published
-
Pirates, prophecy and painting: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 19, 2025
From manatee flatulence to the first ATM, Wednesday's quiz asks the important questions.
By Country Life Published
-
A meticulously restored Scottish estate for sale, dripping with history, character and wildlife
The Craigengillan Estate in Ayrshire sits in 2,850 acres above the valley of the River Doon.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Sir Michael Caine's former home on the Thames is a testament to idyllic living and good taste
At Rectory Farm House, luxury and modern convenience blend seamlessly with rural England. Is this the house that Jaws 4 built?
By James Fisher Published
-
How to stand out from the crowd in the most British of outfits — morning dress
Morning dress has remained largely unchanged since the 19th century, but breaking with convention can be chic.
By Will Hosie Published
-
White sand beaches, smuggler's coves, teeming wildlife and a ruined castle in a Scottish island that's on the market for the first time in almost a century
Just off the west coast of Scotland lies Shuna Island, a true playground of open spaces, natural beauty, wildlife, beaches and — yes — a castle. And it's looking for a new owner.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
'One of the 10 most perfect houses in Britain' has come to the market at £9.5 million
Penny Churchill looks at the magical Maperton House.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country Life
An Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
By James Fisher Published
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mould
A new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
By James Fisher Published