South Kensington — £4,950,000
This is exactly the sort of beautiful flat which makes this part of London so popular: over 3,000sq ft of gloriously proportioned living space, with three bedrooms, in a fine, leafy square.
There are views of (and access to) the communal gardens of Onslow Square, but as a rare bonus this flat has access from the kitchen directly to a private outdoor space. Just try not to think too hard about the fact that you could save yourself £200,000 by living in this 16th century country house in Cambridgeshire.
For sale with Tedworth. See more pictures and details for this property.
Hampton Court — £5,000,000
Now this is a real find: a genuine Swiss chalet imported from the continent in 1882 and repositioned on 600ft of river front near Hampton Court.
There are Thames moorings (including one that's 150ft) and gardens, as well as history: Fred Astaire and Charlie Chaplin are among those who have visited.
For sale with Absolute Homes. See more pictures and details for this property.
Wapping — £5,000,000
Just a few hundred yards down the river from Tower Bridge, this two-bedroom penthouse looks like it's been lifted out of a film.
This might be the first time we've ever seen a property whose floorplan is three-quarters of a circle, which presumably made figuring out the square footage quite tricky. But they've done it: 3,357sq ft of internal space, and 3,300 sq ft of terrace and balcony.
For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.
Hampstead — £5,000,000
In much of Britain, a budget somewhere around the half-million mark will buy you a detached, five bedroom house with a nice garden. Put that same house in Hampstead Garden Suburb and you can roughly multiply the asking price by ten — such is the value people put on this postcode. And it must be said that this house in Holne Chase is undoubtedly lovely.
This 1930s, double-fronted home has 3,650 sq ft, a double garage, south-west facing garden and is within moments of lovely schools, local amenities and Hampstead Heath.
For sale with Wayne & Silver. See more pictures and details for this property.
Orpington — £5,000,000
Getting half-way to an eight-figure budget really can still buy you a country house within the M25, as this home in Keston shows.
It's a six-bedroom house in an acre of gardens set within a private gated estate — though you may need to set aside a budget for some work, since (unusually) there are no interior images, and the agents note that there is 'vast scope' for further improvement, both often signs that you'll need to roll up your sleeves. Or pay someone else to roll up their sleeves, of course.
For sale with Langford & Russell. 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
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Water you're waiting for? Britain's best heritage lidos were built to save swimmers from polluted seas full of potato peelings, oil and coal — and they're still in action todayThe seaside lido continues to offer safe swimming for holidaymakers irrespective of the tide, but they're also architectural gems worthy of our admiration.
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Ironmongers' Hall: The medieval marvel destroyed by a First World War bomb, and it's inspiring 21st century renaissanceIronmongers’ Hall in London EC2 — home of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers — is one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies. This year it is celebrating the centenary of its Tudor-style Hall; John Goodall takes a look, and tells the remarkable story of the building. Photographs by Will Pryce for the Country Life Picture Library
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The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for saleGreat estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
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A Hampshire Manor for sale that dates back to the days of Alfred the Great, with the most beautiful staircase we've seen in yearsThe ten bedroom property features an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa complex and stables, and it was restored by the same architect who worked on Downing Street.
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The new property hotspots where you can have it all: Beautiful houses, great schools and idyllic lifestyleAcross the country people are selling up and heading to the towns where there's no compromise on dream homes, outstanding schooling and the good life, according to analysis from two of Britain's top estate agents. Anna White explains.
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Where Venice once ruled: The roving Venetians left handsome imprints across the Greek world, from its religion to its rambling villasMatthew Dennison explores the lingering traces of Venice's vanished empire — and the best places to buy where it once stood.
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A delightful 16th century home with some of Kent's most beautiful gardens has come on to the marketThe Grange puts the 'garden' into the Garden of England.
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A pristine Scottish island for sale at the price of a garage in FulhamA dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come on to the market, where you'll be surrounded by sea, living off grid and be neighbours with the local seal colony.
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18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country LifeOur look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
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The gorgeous Somerset home of the designer behind one of Glastonbury's chicest spotsThe Manor in Hinton Blewitt is a glorious Georgian home that ticks every box.
