Do you like to be beside the seaside? Or is a very big house in the country more your thing? Perhaps you crave the community and company of village people? However you dream of escaping the city, get ready to pack your bags as we head out of town to these unique country homes.

Chocolate box XL

This supersized 17th-century detached cottage in the Essex village of Broxted is big on chunky rustic character. There are hefty timber beams in abundance, while giant brick fireplaces ensure warm and wonderful evenings.

At just under 1,700 sq ft, the cottage is larger than most and has four bedrooms, two big living rooms, twin garages and a separate workspace. Adding more than a dash of glamour are the sweeping driveway approach and half-acre gardens.

£775,000 – click here to discover Millfield Cottage

The shore thing

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and with unparalleled views across the Rye Nature Reserve on the Sussex coast, this gorgeous beach house is just a few minutes walk from the sea.

Inside, everything is stylish and well-designed using natural materials in an unshowy manner which gives the interior a refined yet relaxed vibe that’s perfect for such an untouched setting.

£1,450,000 – click here to discover Fieldview

A timely manor

Enormous rooms and lots of them make up this glamorous section of the former home of Victorian botanist and travel writer Augustus Hare. With an elevated position on the edge of St Leonards, the 3200 sq ft interior dwarfs many typical family houses, as does the splendid 19th-century character.

Four double bedrooms, two large living rooms and a spacious dining kitchen give every member of the household plenty of room to stretch out in comfort, while the beautiful gardens outside have luscious lawns and secret spots to suit any mood or moment.

£995,000 – click here to discover Holmhurst St Mary’s

Amazing grace

Everything is spectacular at this glorious converted church in the Berkshire village of Grazeley, a few miles south of Reading and perfect as a fabulous home, holiday rental or events space.

The sheer scale is something you hardly ever see, and alongside all the wow factors of height, stonework and ecclesiastical character are three levels of beautifully designed luxury that are not only a joy to behold, but also a delight to spend time in.

£2,200,000 – click here to discover Holy Trinity

On the level

From a thatched roof to a thoroughly modern interior, this single-storey home in the Sussex village of Westfield is a brilliant recreation of the original house with an expanded floor plate that now covers 964 sq ft.

The interior is a real triumph of fusing contemporary design with traditional elements, with gorgeous herringbone floors of brick paired with bright white decor and a split-level open-plan living space where bi-folding doors connect with the terrace.

£585,000 – click here to discover Rose Cottage

Sacred space

Set back from the street between a pair of gorgeous stone cottages with thatched roofs, this converted Wesleyan chapel in the Wiltshire village of Barford-St-Martin is just a few miles from lively and cultural Salisbury.

The barrel-vaulted timber ceilings on the first floor are a sight for the eyes, giving the living room and bedrooms on the upper level a unique character that’s simply wonderful to sit and look up at. Meanwhile, the garden is a real surprise at the back of the building, and a real sun trap as well.

£525,000 – click here to discover Old Chapel

Cabin class

Just outside Exeter and close to Dartmoor in the Devon village of Pocombe Bridge, this former meeting hall is now a split-level live-work home of almost 900 sq ft, and something of a shrine to Scandi design.

With its warm neutral tones and wonderful focus on exposed timber – from the ceiling beams and window frames to the floors and bespoke kitchen units – the cosy factor is a constant presence and ramps even up further in the upstairs bedroom tucked under the eaves.

£215,000 – click here to discover The Tin Tab

The inn thing

Formerly a pub in the Kent village of Ospringe on the outskirts of arty and cultural Faversham, this exquisite family home covers over 2,200 sq ft across two floors and retains much from its tavern times.

As well as the four bedrooms, three living rooms and big chef’s dining kitchen inside, the garden at the back is a truly captivating space as somewhere to dine outside with friends, enjoy time with the family or grab some moments of peace.

£550,000 – click here to discover The Mayor’s Arms

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