Surrounded as it is with park-like grounds, it is perhaps somewhat surprising to find out that not only does Downe Hall lie within the village of Downe, but also within the M25 and a mere 17 miles from London.
The elegant six-bedroom home, built in the 19th century, offers a tremendous 6,600sq ft of living space, more than two acres of land, with a swimming pool and tennis court, and has been painstakingly restored and modernised by its current owners.
Set out across three floors and including cellars and an attached garage, Downe Hall showcases tall ceilings, ornate coving, polished timber flooring and a number of fireplaces throughout its interiors.
The elegant arched sash windows that feature throughout the property make a real statement both internally and externally, framed by thick foliage outside and providing far-reaching views of the garden and surrounding farmland inside.
Three generously-proportioned reception rooms welcome you downstairs, including a conservatory with underfloor heating (perfect for year-round enjoyment), a separate utility and laundry room, gym and study, as well as a bright and spacious kitchen/breakfast room with an integrated wine fridge and statement black AGA.
Four bedrooms (including the expansive principal suite with its large walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom) make up the first floor, which also includes a large family media room. The two remaining bedrooms can be found on the second floor alongside eaves storage and a bathroom.
Downe village itself is in a conservation area, within the Metropolitan Green Belt and was once considered for UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its links to Charles Darwin. These days, the village itself is awash with amenities, such as two pubs, farm shop, church and village hall.
Downe Hall is currently on the market via Hamptons with a guide price of £4.25 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
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
-
Six beautiful homes around the world, from Portofino to Provence to Palm BeachAn exquisite villa tucked into a hillside? A A breathtaking apartment created to make you feel like you're flying through the endless blue skies?
-
The 'greatest battle for 300 years': England's great estates face up to a green futureThe climate crisis will affect us all. All over Britain, major landowners are stepping up to tackle a warming world and biodiversity loss.
-
Six beautiful homes around the world, from Portofino to Provence to Palm Beach
An exquisite villa tucked into a hillside? A A breathtaking apartment created to make you feel like you're flying through the endless blue skies?
-
An idyllic home where the forest meets the sea, for sale for the first time in over half a centuryLittle Aston is a graceful, charming home with superb gardens and its own orchard, as well as some of the south coast's most beautiful areas right on its doorstep. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
'Just look at those stairs. Just as an art form, they are bewitching, like the shell of a nautilus': The lure of buying a stairway to heavenIt seems like madness to buy a house purely because you fall in love with the staircase — but sometimes, they are simply so beautiful that it's impossible to resist. Toby Keel takes a look at some glorious examples of staircases we've seen in Country Life in the last couple of years.
-
A one-of-a-kind waterfront estate with two private beaches is for sale on the same storied American island that Jackie Kennedy, the Obamas and Princess Diana have all visitedBeach Farm on Martha’s Vineyard — a favourite summertime holiday destination with prominent American families — is a perfect melding of New England and Scandinavian design styles.
-
The architect who created the MI6 building only designed a tiny handful of houses — and one of them is now up for sale in one of London's most bucolic spotsSir Terry Farrell designed the beautiful, light-filled, T-shaped Drum House in Petersham, with gardens laid out by John Sallis Chandler, who has won multiple RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medals.
-
'True waterfront homes are finite... miss one and it could be years before you see another like it again': Why the best waterfront property always hits the spotThere’s no denying the appeal of waterfront property, which now sells for some 51% more than its inland equivalent, finds Knight Frank. Annabel Dixon explores the shore.
-
19 charming homes for sale, from picture-perfect cottages to beachside retreats, as seen in Country LifeThis week's selection of some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week.
-
Tim Burton is selling the house he shared with Helena Bonham-Carter, a sublime home on the Thames that comes with three private islandsMill House in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, might just be the perfect English country home.
