Period charm, vast gardens and huge games room as one of the grandest houses in Cambridge comes up for sale
This light, airy and beautiful home has Cambridge on its doorstep.

I think I'm safe in saying that the word 'rubberised' is an unusual one to find in Country Life.
In fact, a quick search reveals just four uses in the archives: one in this wonderful article on military watches; one in a piece on shooting jackets; one in Nicholas Foulkes' favourite shops in Britain; and finally a mention in Martin Fone's 'Curious Questions' entry on the invention of the pneumatic tyre.
Today, all that changes as the word 'rubberised' appears four times in this article alone, in reference to the rubberised basketball court at 2 Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, a sprawling, charming and delightful country house on the south side of the city, just a brief stroll from both the mainline railway station and the Botanic Gardens, which is up for sale at £5.75 million.
If that sounds like a lot, well, it is; the days of University professors living in fine houses in the city are long gone, sadly, unless the professor in question has managed to pen a bestseller or get his or her name onto a lucrative patent.
The tech revolution in this part of the world means that the very best houses in Cambridge attract serious premiums from those who've hit it big; and once you step through the front door, it's not hard to see that this really is about as fine a house as you'll find in the city.
It's a spacious, airy, seven-bedroom house with high ceilings, huge bay windows and bi-folding doors opening from the kitchen/dining room onto a vast garden ringed by mature trees.
The garden is both long and wide, and includes a huge terrace area, wonderful lawns, soft fruit cages, specimen trees and — as previously mentioned — a rubberised basketball court.
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.
It's not only outside that has space for fun: inside, the games room is big enough to swallow up a full-sized tennis table, table football, and what appears to be some sort of driving simulator, with pedals and a steering wheel.
The whole thing seems wonderfully liveable; no wonder the agent calls this property 'one of the most attractive I have had the pleasure to sell.'
For sale via Savills at £5.75m — see more details and pictures.
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
Queens' College, Cambridge: The seat of learning that helped set the mould for Cambridge's most beautiful colleges
John Goodall looks at the early history of Queens’ College, Cambridge, the college that helped define the tradition of academic
The sad decline of Cambridge Castle: 'How could this happen in one of our great university cities?'
Country Life's cultural columnist Athena bemoans the lack of care shown for what remains of one of the first Norman
New College, Oxford: The 650-year story of the college that dreamt it was a palace
John Goodall looks at New College, Oxford, the most widely copied university college in England, a building inspired by a
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
Churchill's birthplace, Monet's London home and more in the Country Life Quiz of the Day
Try your luck at Monday's quiz of the day.
By Toby Keel Published
-
How the railways will save the countryside, with Gareth Dennis
The engineer and policy expert Gareth Dennis joins the Country Life Podcast.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
Become a part of Bath's rich history in this Grade 1-listed Georgian townhouse
With 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
By James Fisher Published
-
17 delightful homes for sale, as seen in Country Life
Our round-up of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a wonderful Cotswolds home and a happily affordable cottage in the West Country.
By Toby Keel Published
-
'This is the most money you'll spend on anything ever': The things that really matter when buying your first home in London
It’s easy to dream of what the ideal first-home in London might be, but when the cost of living in the capital is this expensive, being near a Gail's isn't as important as you think it is.
By James Fisher Published
-
Get lost in the whispers of a running stream at a one-bedroom Cornish cottage
Formerly the studio and retreat of renowned artist Lamorna Birch, this small home near Lamorna Cove is a delight in every single way.
By James Fisher Published
-
How the high street can change for the better
The high street might not be dying, but it's definitely changing and in some places, it's changing for the better. So, what can the centre of town in the 21st century look like?
By Lucy Denton Published
-
A 17th century country house estate for sale in Yorkshire that's not too big and not too small
Take a look inside one of the finest private houses in the north of England that's perfectly manageable as a family house.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Two-thirds of us buy a house and immediately set about refurbishing it
We spend more buying our houses than on anything else in our lives — yet the first thing we do on moving in is set about changing the place. Annabel Dixon takes a look at what we do and why.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
Dawn Chorus: Audrey Hepburn’s Swiss villa hits the market for £17 million and research reveals that looking at art can, quite literally, help you live longer
Everything you need to know today: The Swiss home that Audrey Hepburn lived in for 30 years prior to her death is for sale, those who regularly engage with art have a 31% lower risk of dying early and an iconic Palm Beach hotel teams up with interior designer Ashley Hicks.
By Rosie Paterson Published