Six truly idyllic properties for sale, from idyllic seclusion to a commutable country estate, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best homes to fall under the spotlight via Country Life in the past week.

Somerset — £1,700,000
The glass-walled room. The roses growing across the front door. The chic, clean design and decoration inside.
Yes, this really is it: a country cottage that still, somehow oozes cool. Even the location backs that up: The Newt and the Hauser & Wirth Gallery in Bruton are both nearby.
For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.
Dorset — £5,500,000
The home of Kirstie Allsop's late parents — a place they transformed magnificently in almost every aspect — has been on the market for a little while, with the price now reduced to £5.5m.
It represents the vision of its owners translated into a modern Georgian masterpiece by local builder Martin Fulford. ‘A few walls and one window’ are reputedly all that remains of the original farmhouse.
For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.
Kent — £10,000,000
With trains to London Bridge in just over half an hour, Tonbridge is a popular commuter haven — and that makes this 24-acre mini-estate incredibly desirable, especially given that permission is in place to create a modern Palladian mansion (the main picture here is an artist's impression).
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Your £10m, buys more than a building plot, though: Elizabeth House, the so-called 'Secondary' home of 3,650 sq ft and four floors, is recently completed and ready for new owners to move in.
For sale with Strutt & Parker. See more pictures and details for this property.
Surrey — £2,750,000
Kitchens sell houses, so they say. If that's really true, you'll need to act quickly to snap up this one: a six-bed wonder on the western fringes of London.
Not that it's just the kitchen that's a draw: the garden is glorious, the rooms have perfect proportions and there's even a cupola skylight above the sweeping staircase.
For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.
Somerset — £2,750,000
A manor house near Bath that's so unapologetically traditional you'd expect Mr Darcy to wander out of the front door at any moment to glare at people.
Seven bedrooms make this a great home for big families — and a separate three-bedroom coachouse means that it could be a multi-generational home with ease.
For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.
Devon — £2,750,000
A third house in a row at £2,750,000 seems a bit much, but we couldn't leave this gem out: a wisteria-clad marvel near Axminster.
As idyllic as the house is — and it really is — we'd almost still insist that the gorgeous 29 acres of grounds are really the selling point: this is secluded living in fine style, with gardens, woodland, 1,000 yards of river front and a separate cottage. Bliss.
For sale with Strutt & Parker. See more pictures and details for this property.
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
The Dorset home of Kirstie Allsopp's parents has come up for sale at £6.5 million
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp remembers the moment her parents first caught sight of Lyddon House in the pages of Country
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.
-
It's a perfect storm for the revival of eclecticism, and we're in the middle of it
In design, periods of purism are often followed by a dramatic new mood. Now, the scene is set for an exciting revival of eclecticism.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
How good is your Claudia Winkleman trivia? Find out in The Country Life Quiz of the Day, October 13, 2025
What secrets lurk beneath that fringe?
By Country Life Published
-
An outrageously opulent mansion in London's answer to Beverly Hills, with a gym that 'wouldn't look out of place in a 7* hotel'
'One of the finest houses in St George's Hill' is on the market. Annabel Dixon takes a look at what's on offer.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
Six homes with fantastic features, from pools and paddocks to waterside settings, as seen in Country Life
Our look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a Chipping Norton farm and a Cornish dream home
By Toby Keel Published
-
Queen Victoria's chaplain's house on the Isle of Wight is for sale, and it's a riot of colour, charm and joy
A stone's thrown from Queen Victoria's beloved Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, the house where her chaplain lived is now on the open market.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
An Art Deco masterpiece with five-bedrooms, a private pool, a cinema, a helipad and the ability to conquer oceans
Lady Christine is the very essence of opulence and could be yours for a cool €55.75 million.
By James Fisher Published
-
The elegant 19th century townhouse where JFK and Jackie Kennedy dreamed of the presidency, and made their wish came true
This beautiful five-bedroom house in Washington DC's Georgetown was once home to perhaps the most celebrated couple of the 20th century: John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie Kennedy.
By Toby Keel Published
-
This five-bedroom thatched cottage in the Chilterns looks quite like Claudia Winkleman
Much like everyone's favourite TV host, this property is beautifully presented.
By James Fisher Published
-
A heartbreakingly pretty old rectory in the idyllic Cotswolds valley that offers charm, beauty, sophistication and a fast train to London
Penny Churchill takes a look at the Old Rectory in Charlbury, which has become available for the first time in almost 35 years.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
The abolition of Stamp Duty: Will it happen? Could it happen? What would replace it? And what would be the impact?
The Conservative Party promises to abolish Stamp Duty on primary residences if it wins the next election. We canvassed property experts from across the housing industry to see what the impact would be.
By Toby Keel Last updated