'One of the biggest country house sales of the century so far' is under way, a superb and historic £32m property in Kent
The astonishing and exquisite Linton Park has come up for sale with a £32 million price tag. Penny Churchill reports.
South-East England property for sale
Those who move out of London often focus on the surrounding areas, the so-called Home Counties: Surrey, Sussex and Kent to the south; Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to the west; Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Essex to the north and east. Slightly further out are Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, which also balance of country life with easy access to the metropolis.
Surrey is the county most associated with the ‘stockbroker belt’: it’s very close to London but still leafy and attractive and boasts world-famous estates such as St George’s Hill and Wentworth. Its market towns like Haslemere and Farnham have great amenities and quick rail links back into the capital.
Sussex is perhaps best characterised by the views offered in the beautiful South Downs, but there are also vibrant cities such as Brighton and Chichester which offera real cosmopolitan mix.
Kent, the Garden of England, has been growing in popularity for those moving out of London for some time, and country houses in Kent are remarkably good value compared to those in neighbouring Sussex or Surrey.
Many parts of Hampshire are very pretty and yet still commutable to London – Kingsclere and Winchester are both within an hour of Waterloo, the former a classic English village, the latter with its medieval cobbled streets and fun markets one of the most desirable Cathedral cities in the country.
In Berkshire, towns and villages such as Bucklebury, Bray, and Yattendon are justly famous, while in Buckinghamshire the likes of Long Crendon are both practical and picturesque.
Herfordshire has the charming city of St Albans to recommend it while Harpenden and Hertforshire are also enduringly popular, while Essex has countryside that inspired Constable as well as 350 miles of coastline.
Don’t miss Country Life’s guide to the best places to live near London
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The old rectory in the village where Jane Austen was born is up for sale — and it's a gorgeous Hampshire masterpiece
Jane Austen's wealthy older brother tore down the house in which the great writer was born — and the home that he replaced it with is now on the market: Steventon House.
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A bright and beautiful country house in Kent with its own cave, and a Monet-inspired bridge
Elmstone Court is a dreamy house for sale just a few miles from Canterbury. Penny Churchill reports.
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How Wentworth, St George's Hill and London's other great private estates have stayed on top for a century
Surrey’s private estates are now more than 100 years old, but are still as popular as ever with UK and international buyers. James Fisher takes a look.
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A truly incredible medieval house in West Sussex where even the front door is 1,000 years old
Penny Churchill takes a look at the splendidly ancient Homestall Manor, whose every inch seems to be filled with rich stories.
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An 'astonishing beauty' of a house has come up for sale just outside Guildford
Style and substance go hand in hand at Great Oaks, in Surrey, as James Fisher finds out.
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A sprawling and elegant house created by one of the great Arts-and-Crafts architects of the 20th century
Harold Falkner's work at Runfold Manor in Surrey is a perfect example of what makes this type of house so charming, elegant and highly liveable. Penny Churchill explains more.
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A glorious country house with library, gym and treehouse, in a hamlet a stone's throw from Guildford
A decade ago, Orange Grove near Guildford came up for sale via Country Life; now, the owners are moving on, leaving the house in fabulous condition compared to what they bought in 2012. Penny Churchill takes a look.
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A beautiful 15th century house that was home to a supermodel caught up in the Profumo scandal
Bronwnen Pugh was acclaimed as one of the world's most beautiful women in the 1950s and married Viscount Astor in 1960 — only for her life to turn upside down as her husband was caught up in the Profumo scandal. Following his death, she left Cliveden to start a new life at Tuesley Manor, near Godalming, at a house which is now seeking a new owner.
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An 18th century watermill that was home to the man who made millions from Reader's Digest
Victor Ross made his money not from entering one of those prize draws, but from publishing the magazine itself — and he used his success to buy and restore the beautiful Worten Mill in Kent.
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A beautiful medieval-style house and estate in the heart of Surrey's 'Golden Triangle'
Old Timbers is a wonderfully romantic house and grounds just outside Guildford — and while it's been there a long time, it's not even a quarter as old as its medieval appearance makes it look.
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A magnificent Victorian country estate on the Isle of Wight where Queen Victoria redesigned her view of the Solent
Set in 30 acres of parkland grounds between Seaview and Ryde, Woodlands Vale is an ‘architecturally significant’ coastal property that exudes a timeless appeal.
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Best country houses for sale in Kent, from townhouses and mansions to a home atop the White Cliffs of Dover
From a beautiful Tunbridge Wells townhouse to a clifftop home in a stunning location, here's our pic of some of great properties for sale in Kent.
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A stylish, refurbished Georgian gem for sale in a village just outside Canterbury
The wonderfully-named village of Wickhambreaux is the location of this gorgeous property, whose outgoing owners have poured a huge amount of love (and money) into the place as it stands today.
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Ten of the best country houses for sale in Surrey, from £450,000 to £18 million
A Georgian house at under £500k is one of the wonders — but for those able to add a zero or two to that budget, the choices are astonishing.
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The wonderful country home of a British motor racing legend has come to the market
Iconic rally driver Paddy Hopkirk lived at this wonderful house which is now on the market in a very commutable location near Beaconsfield.
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A beautifully-refurbished former writer's home in one of the greenest spots within the M25
Merry Hall is a house that once fulfilled the bucolic fantasies of a much-loved British writer. Now, it's seeking a new owner.
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A glorious house for sale in Hampshire that seems to fulfil every bucolic dream
An idyllic house for sale in the heart of Hampshire has come to the market that's pretty, wonderfully refurnished and brilliantly located.
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A vast Tudor house in Essex surrounded by a 600-year old moat, 46 acre grounds and steeped in fascinating history
Historic grandeur, luscious pastures and plenty of 21st century touches — including a fantastic outdoor pool — meet at Stanstead Hall in Greenstead Green, Essex. Carla Passino takes a look.
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An exquisite Georgian country home in Kent with superb gardens and a secret medieval passage that runs beneath its foundations
Milgate House is known to be one of Kent's most important county houses and has a long list of colourful characters that help fill its history.
