Superb Cotswolds country house

Hundley House is just on the edge of Charlbury in Oxfordshire. It was designed and built from scratch by Nikki and Christopher Shale with spectacular attention to detail.

‘We spent two years planning everything - from the positioning to capture the sunlight down to the door knobs and cubby holes for shoes,' explains Mrs Shale.

The family are selling to spend more time at their house on Lamu off the Kenyan coast. 'It's a wrench to let it go but it doesn't make sense any more.'

The house has 6 bedrooms, a gym, wine cellar, butler's pantry and a 4-door Aga. Outside are gardens, which include a croquet lawn, hard tennis court, parterre garden and orchard.

£3.25 million through Strutt & Parker (01865 790077)