South-East England property for sale
Those who move out of London often focus on the surrounding areas, the so-called Home Counties: Surrey, Sussex and Kent to the south; Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to the west; Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Essex to the north and east. Slightly further out are Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, which also balance of country life with easy access to the metropolis.
Surrey is the county most associated with the ‘stockbroker belt’: it’s very close to London but still leafy and attractive and boasts world-famous estates such as St George’s Hill and Wentworth. Its market towns like Haslemere and Farnham have great amenities and quick rail links back into the capital.
Sussex is perhaps best characterised by the views offered in the beautiful South Downs, but there are also vibrant cities such as Brighton and Chichester which offera real cosmopolitan mix.
Kent, the Garden of England, has been growing in popularity for those moving out of London for some time, and country houses in Kent are remarkably good value compared to those in neighbouring Sussex or Surrey.
Many parts of Hampshire are very pretty and yet still commutable to London – Kingsclere and Winchester are both within an hour of Waterloo, the former a classic English village, the latter with its medieval cobbled streets and fun markets one of the most desirable Cathedral cities in the country.
In Berkshire, towns and villages such as Bucklebury, Bray, and Yattendon are justly famous, while in Buckinghamshire the likes of Long Crendon are both practical and picturesque.
Herfordshire has the charming city of St Albans to recommend it while Harpenden and Hertforshire are also enduringly popular, while Essex has countryside that inspired Constable as well as 350 miles of coastline.
Don’t miss Country Life’s guide to the best places to live near London
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Credit: Knight Frank An idyllic millhouse set in a picture-perfect slice of Hampshire countryside
A delightful millhouse in Hampshire has come up for sale with land, stables, a river full of fish and a bridge, all within easy reach of London.
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Hill Place, Swanmore. Credit: Peter Wright Photographer A gracious Georgian country villa in Hampshire's Meon valley
Hill Place, potentially designed by Sir John Soan, can be purchased as a whole estate or simply as a country house, with just 20 acres of stunning parkland.
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Strutt & Parker. Credit: Strutt & Parker A chance to live in the Gothic mansion just outside London where JFK and the Queen Mother once partied
This incredible apartment in a huge 19th century house within the M25 has had some astonishing visitors. If only the walls of Wall Hall could talk...
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Credit: Knight Frank An grand mansion in the South Downs, once home to the Cowdrays and a maharajah
Selham House is the perfect house for entertaining, with a pool for the summer, large rooms for the winter and a grand entrance hall worthy of Downton Abbey.
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Credit: Knight Frank A rare Grade-II Georgian manor house in the New Forest National Park
Bartley Manor has undergone a series of renovations to return it to its former glory, with each owner since the first leaving their own unique stamp on the property. Penny Churchill reports.
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Belmore House, Cowes, Isle of Wight. Credit: Thearle Photography / Spence Willard A gorgeous Georgian house for sale in Cowes built for a founding father of the Royal Yacht Squadron
The history of Belmore House, a moment's stroll from the charming centre of Cowes, is inextricably linked with the world's most famous yacht club.
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Credit: Savills A magnificent Jacobean manor house with panels believed to come from Windsor Castle, perfectly protected by ancient trees and rolling grounds
Boys Hall is full of surprises and secrets, as well as the potential to be a rare and incredible modern family home.
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Credit: Ockwells A medieval masterpiece in 42 acres of gardens whose owner lost his head over Anne Boleyn
Built during the War of the Roses, Ockwells Manor is a perfect timber-framed mansion with a rich history, set in the heart of Berkshire.
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Credit: Manor House, Boughton Lees - Strutt & ParkerManor House, Boughton Lees - Strutt & Parker A beautiful country house with pool, paddock and endless old school charm
The Manor House in Boughton Lees is a much-loved family home on the market for the first time in 50 years which seems to tick every box for a new family on the lookout for a new place to live.
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Credit: Knight Frank A new mansion in the coveted Wentworth Estate that has it all... including state-of-the-art spa facilities and a car museum
Westbourn is the kind of place for someone who has everything – family and friends to fill the large bedrooms, numerous cars to stack the 'car museum' and £17 million to foot the bill...
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Credit: Savills One of the finest Queen Anne country houses in the Surrey Hills AONB, on sale for the first time in almost half a century
Burgate House stands in 16 acres of grounds beautifully designed by Gertrude Jekyll, long-time partner of Sir Edwin Lutyens.
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Credit: Knight Frank Surprisingly-unlisted fairytale cottage in Berkshire with quaint gardens and a fantastic location
Mistletoe Cottage is picture-perfect, with lovely period features, a wonderful Home County location and a price tag many would find surprising.
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Credit: Jackson-Stops 16 majestic homes for sale, as seen in Country Life
Our regular round-up of the finest homes to have come to the market recently includes some truly incredible properties in and around the Home Counties.
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Tideways from the air. Credit: Savills A house that’s the ultimate London commuter’s dream? Grandeur, private waterfront and easy access to the city
Penny Churchill takes a look at a remarkable house that offers dreamy waterside living within easy reach of London.
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Credit: Mike Harris A flawlessly finished Gothic mansion in the High Weald AONB, with over 14 acres of gardens and grounds
Substantial estates in the county of Kent are rare, but a fine example in the High Weald AONB has come to market.
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Credit: Andy Scott A traditional country estate in Kent with stunning views of the North Downs, on the market for the first time in 70 years
An exception to the law which saw many of Kent's finest estates divided among families and therefore unable to support a traditional country house lifestyle, Pettings Court remains one of the most extensive holdings in the parish.
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Credit: Tony Timmington A stunning property in Kent which could be Britain's best beach house
Kentlands is a remarkable Grade II-listed Arts-and-Crafts house in an idyllic location, sitting along a beach in the private Sandwich Bay Estate.
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Credit: The Grantley Group The one-of-a-kind eco property which overcame planning permission to be built in the Surrey Hills AONB
Ozone was granted permission through Paragraph 55, an extremely rare clause which allows permission under the condition that the property “reflect the highest standards in architecture”.
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Credit: Knight Frank One of Lutyen's first country houses, a mere two miles away from his family home
In this 150th anniversary year of Lutyens’s birth it’s especially intriguing to find a house on the market undoubtedly designed by the great man, with gardens created by his friend and mentor, Gertrude Jekyll.
