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
Half-way between London and Oxford is Lion House, a converted coaching inn in beautiful condition, which is on the market for the fifth time in more than two centuries.
Whether you're after a charming cottage or an estate with a 12-bedroom house and a couple of hundred acres, our list has something to please.
A pair of magnificent houses have come to the market in two of the most exclusive communities in the London area: Wentworth and St George's Hill.
There are literally thousands of places where you can live outside of London but still get to the city inside an hour. Eleanor Doughty picks out 45 where you're sure to find something which suits you.
Hinwick House, on the border of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, is big — very big. It's also exquisitely charming, as Penny Churchill explains.
Penny Churchill takes a look at a Cambridgeshire country house that's the archetypal Georgian house.
A farmhouse in Kent where the owners have turned their field into a vineyard has come up for sale. Penny Churchill takes a look.
Penny Churchill looks over a beautiful old house, full of history, which has come up for sale in Kent — and once a bit of work has been done, it will be among the finest homes in the country.
The aptly-named Green Place, tucked away in the Test Valley, is a house that offers an ideal escape from the stresses of modern life — just as it was for the man who first had it built.
An ancient Surrey house that's perfectly-located — and set up — for modern living has come up for sale. Annunciata Elwes explains more.
Smallwater has been diligently cared for by its current owners and restored to a state of perfection - it's now ready for the next chapter of its life. Alexandra Fraser takes a look.
Belvedere wants for nothing. A beautiful location, large rooms and acres upon acres of beautifully landscaped woodland all make this one of the most special properties on the market at this moment in time. Penny Churchill reports.
A sprawling house with a pair of gardens designed by some of the most brilliant minds in modern horticulture is at the heart of this huge estate for sale — which just so happens to be rather close to where Country Life is made.
Hunton Court has it all: a beautiful home in wonderful part of the country and full of interesting history, yet within easy reach of London.
Church Cottage is the idyllic countryside family home for everyone, including Alexandra Fraser, who takes a look at its many remarkable features.
Otham Farm in Kent has been rescued, altered and extended again and again. It has now been restored and its gardens salvaged, returning it to a stunning family home. Penny Churchill reports.
Barrington Hall has suffered many ups and downs in its three centuries of existence, but an astonishing restoration effort has put it in superb condition. Now it's looking for an owner to kick off its next few centuries; Penny Churchill reports.
