Picture-perfect cottages

Five stunning properties cottages which celebrate the very best of village life

Holly Kirkwood gets to the heart of the matter as she takes a look at five beautiful properties, all at the hub of their respective villages.

Where to live in the Cotswolds: A guide to choosing the perfect spot

Eight irresistible thatched cottages for sale, from under £450,000

The romantic appeal of an English country cottage with a thatched roof never fades, as these wonderful homes show.

Picture-perfect country cottage with a dreamy English country garden

Church Cottage is the idyllic countryside family home for everyone, including Alexandra Fraser, who takes a look at its many remarkable features.

Eight utterly irresistible thatched cottages for sale, from under £450,000

As Bilbo Baggins has it: ‘It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.’ Best stay warm, under cover of thatch.

A cottage where chocolate-box charm meets an idyllic seaside setting

A picture-perfect fishermans cottage perched at the end of a pier, far away from the heat and bustle of city life.

13 absolutely beautiful character properties for sale at under £400,000

Beautiful country houses often come with price tags which put them out of reach for many – but delightful character properties can be found that are well within reach for most buyers, as these places demonstrate.

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.

Six heartbreakingly pretty cottages for sale at under £500,000

You can live in a picture-perfect home for the price of a small city flat – our property editor Annunciata Elwes picks out some of her favourites from among those on the market at the moment.

Five spectacularly pretty English country cottages for sale

The country cottage has an enduring appeal which never fades – we've taken a look at some of the nicest currently on the market in England.

A picture-perfect cottage for sale in a delightful village near the coast in the North York Moors

Character homes in village locations within national parks are hard to come by – but when they do, they're hard to resist says Penny Churchill.

An idyllic thatched cottage where you can run your own Devonshire tea garden

Amid steams and waterfalls, Rose Cottage boasts a stunning tea garden perfect for hosting a few friends – or 185 neighbours.

Five delightful character homes inside the M25, and all under £725,000

Sometimes it can become easy to despair of finding a beautiful house with charm and outdoor space at an affordable price, yet still within striking distance of London. These five homes show that it's still possible.

The rise of the ‘super cottage’: Underfloor heating, dining table for 12 and claw-foot baths in the bedroom

Creaking country piles with drafty corridors and leaky roofs are increasingly a thing of the past - today's homes in the country have a very different list of features, many of which you'd normally associate with top-end hotels. Arabella Youens speaks to a pair of experts who explain the phenomenon of the 'super cottage'.

Six things you need to know about buying a picture-perfect weekend cottage

We spoke to experts to find out what you need to know about buying a picture-perfect weekend cottage.

Five fabulous houses in the heart of the moors, including a dream thatched cottage at the price of a London studio

10 utterly irresistible character homes for sale under £750,000

We've picked out ten of the finest homes for sale in Britain right now that remain affordable – with everything from picture-perfect thatched cottages to homes full of character which will still allow you to commute to the City.

A magical medieval manor just outside Glastonbury, available for the first time in half a century

Lottisham Manor is an idyllic home near Glastonbury full of medieval character, as Penny Churchill explains.

A fairytale thatched cottage within an hour of central London

A beautiful cottage has come to the market which offers a magical mixture of old world charm and easy access to the city.

Four perfect, pocket-sized character properties from just £275,000

They may be little, but they’re perfectly formed, says Carla Passino.