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.
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Great Tangley Manor is one of the most beautiful — not to mention one of the oldest — homes in Surrey, and it's now seen a significant price reduction. Penny Churchill and James Fisher report.
Delightful character cottages, sprawling country houses and even a surprisingly big city flat are all among the property options open to those with a seven-figure budget. Here's our pick of the best £1 million houses for sale across the land.
Cobstone Mill became famous across the world as the home of Ian Fleming's second-most famous creation, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Today, this delightful old mill is seeking a new owner.
From homes which make the most of the best of this leafy suburb to a house from where you can hear the roars from the tournament, we take a look at some of the best propety for sale in SW19.
Penny Churchill looks on in wonder at the beautiful, sprawling Turville Grange, a house full of exquisite design and history.
Denham Place has come to the market at a staggering £75 million — and short of acquiring a royal palace, there is ‘nothing of this grandeur or provenance so close to central London’. Penny Churchill takes a look inside.
The astonishing and exquisite Linton Park has come up for sale with a £32 million price tag. Penny Churchill reports.
Jane Austen's wealthy older brother tore down the house in which the great writer was born — and the home that he replaced it with is now on the market: Steventon House.
Elmstone Court is a dreamy house for sale just a few miles from Canterbury. Penny Churchill reports.
Surrey’s private estates are now more than 100 years old, but are still as popular as ever with UK and international buyers. James Fisher takes a look.
Penny Churchill takes a look at the splendidly ancient Homestall Manor, whose every inch seems to be filled with rich stories.
Style and substance go hand in hand at Great Oaks, in Surrey, as James Fisher finds out.
Harold Falkner's work at Runfold Manor in Surrey is a perfect example of what makes this type of house so charming, elegant and highly liveable. Penny Churchill explains more.
A decade ago, Orange Grove near Guildford came up for sale via Country Life; now, the owners are moving on, leaving the house in fabulous condition compared to what they bought in 2012. Penny Churchill takes a look.
Bronwnen Pugh was acclaimed as one of the world's most beautiful women in the 1950s and married Viscount Astor in 1960 — only for her life to turn upside down as her husband was caught up in the Profumo scandal. Following his death, she left Cliveden to start a new life at Tuesley Manor, near Godalming, at a house which is now seeking a new owner.
Victor Ross made his money not from entering one of those prize draws, but from publishing the magazine itself — and he used his success to buy and restore the beautiful Worten Mill in Kent.
Old Timbers is a wonderfully romantic house and grounds just outside Guildford — and while it's been there a long time, it's not even a quarter as old as its medieval appearance makes it look.
Set in 30 acres of parkland grounds between Seaview and Ryde, Woodlands Vale is an ‘architecturally significant’ coastal property that exudes a timeless appeal.
From a beautiful Tunbridge Wells townhouse to a clifftop home in a stunning location, here's our pic of some of great properties for sale in Kent.
