Off the grid: On-the-market country homes near London
Idyllic country houses – from cottages to stately homes – offering tranquil solitude without being in the sticks
We love London. Obviously. The clue is in the name. But even the most zealous Londoner, who lunches at The River Cafe then dines at J Sheekey, needs the occasional respite from the grind. Since hybrid working became so accessible, we can’t contest the allure of a hybrid living model, too. A country pile and London pied-à-terre? Even the most hardened city-dweller couldn’t fail to be tempted by such a prospect.
Whether you dream of a Cotswolds estate, a Rutland retreat, or an 18th century manor in the South Downs, read on for the country homes for sale near London which might make you think twice about your loyalty to life in the concrete jungle.
Ladyswood House, SN16
Set within a patchwork of fields near Malmsbury in Wiltshire, this bohemian estate has been significantly refurbished by its present owners, who lived here for 25 years. They embarked upon the restoration in 2018, and have completely rewired and replumbed the house, as well as adding a new kitchen and bathrooms throughout. The original architecture and features, including a beautiful Cotswold stone façade, have all been retained. Ladyswood House is now as good as new, with stylish interiors, spectacular grounds, and expansive equestrian facilities.
Guide price: £12,000,000, search.savills.com
Residences by Woolfox, PE9
Country living doesn’t have to mean crumbling cottages or leaky estates. You can have the whole rolling greenery thing and enjoy the finest specifications, too. The super-contemporary Residences by Woolfox in Rutland currently consists of three homes (The Long Barn, The Double Barn and The Barn House) alongside five plots on a 185 acre site, moments from the Georgian market town of Stamford. The homes, which start from 3,000 square feet, are available in four- and five-bedroom configurations, and blend seamlessly with their rural surroundings through the use of locally-sourced Stamford stone and larch cladding.
Finished homes start from £1,600,000, plots from £585,000, woolfox.uk
Punchbowl, BN18
This quaint, quirky home is a compound of influences, from the original 18th century core to Victorian and Edwardian additions and modern refurbishments undertaken by the present owners. The result is a stylish family home with all manner of contemporary additions, like underfloor heating and a built-in home cinema, as well as plenty of period charm: think a sweeping staircase in the entrance hall, full-height bay windows, original parquet floors, and stone fireplaces. Outdoor space is expansive and lovely, comprising a parterre, an entertaining terrace, and a garden with rolling countryside at its foot.
Guide price: £3,500,000, savills.com
Winkworth Farm, GU8
This gorgeous Grade II-listed house, which was originally built in the 16th century, is one of the last timber-framed houses developed by the English architect Edwin Lutyens before Dutch-style brick became the fashion in the 1900s. Set in the heart of the Surrey Hills, Winkworth Farm couldn’t be much more idyllic, especially the gardens, with their wisteria canopies, rose garden and ornamental apple trees. Inside, the house boasts six bedrooms, with further accommodation in the barn (accessed from the wine cellar via an underground tunnel), and modern upgrades such as the oak-framed equivalent of double glazing.
Guide price: £6,750,000, savills.com
Birch Grove, HP8
Image: United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty
Another prime example of state-of-the-art living amidst rural beauty, this time in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Buckinghamshire. Yarrow House is an innovation in luxury, with five bedrooms, a 100 metre-long garden and surrounding wildflower meadow, and impressive eco credentials – this development is net-zero, achieved through a MVHR (mechanical ventilation and heat recovery) system, heat pumps and integrated solar panels. The house is also beautifully-designed, with an elegant 28m façade, an open-air planted atrium, double-sided corner opening glass elevations, and interconnected indoor and outdoor spaces.
£3,275,000, sothebysrealty.co.uk
Mill Lane, GU23
This adorable home leans heavily on its original features: there is exposed brickwork, wooden beams and open fireplaces. What we love about it, however, is the eminently tasteful way that these features have been decorated: the bespoke kitchen, for example, is fitted with an Aga, hand-painted cabinets, and stone worktops. The triple-aspect drawing room is large and bright, with an open fireplace and a snug that overhangs the millstream. The detached barn houses a one-bedroom annexe with vaulted ceilings, along with a kitchen and bathroom. The great outdoors also plays a starring role: the grounds of Millstream House approach 1.9 acres and include streams, bridges, and formal gardens.
£3,000,000, knightfrank.co.uk
Charles Hill Court, GU10
If you’re more of a country pile than quaint cottage sort of person, then this French-inspired mansion will surely do the trick. Charles Hill Court is set within 17 acres of manicured grounds, accessed through iron gates. The sweeping drive, lined with giant sequoia, is the stuff of Edwardian novels, and the striking architecture has elements that are supposedly similar to Mary Antoinette’s palace in Versailles. Indeed, built in 1908 for Elizabeth Antrobus of the Coutts banking family, the property was designed as the ‘perfect country house for a lady’. Yet, despite all of this, Charles Hill Court is not listed, offering buyers the best of both worlds: a beautiful, ornate home, and the flexibility to make changes.
£10,000,000, knightfrank.co.uk
