For those who dream of escaping to the countryside, a palatial pile in the sticks is the ultimate fantasy. Whether it’s the appeal of their grandeur, history or Georgian period features, these stately homes remain the quintessential picture of England – and our love of them continues to be showcased on screen, from Downton Abbey to Bridgerton.
Traditionally owned and used by the landed gentry to split their time between the town and country, as well as providing their income, many estates are now open for visitors to play lord of the manor. We reckon you’ll love our team’s pick of the best country houses on sale right now, so read on to tour some truly sumptuous homes…
For more dream home inspiration, check out our favourite French Chateaux, Tuscan villas and British castles on the market!
And why not savour the Downton experience for real and rent out one of our favourite dreamy stately home holiday lets - perfect for a large group of family and friends
Best country houses for sale in 2024
Hexton Manor Estate, Hertfordshire
Chosen by Sophie Ellis, editorial assistant on Your Home
Price: £15,000,000
Agent: Savills
Standout feature: within an area of outstanding natural beauty
Just 40 miles from the north of London, the 312-hectare Hexton Manor Estate sits within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
You’ll feel as though you’ve just stepped into an Austen novel upon seeing the manor house’s honey-hued exterior – and although we wouldn’t recommend going for a dip in the nearby lakes, they are renowned for trout fishing. The main house is an impressive Grade II listed building with 11 bedrooms and two integral flats, and is filled to the brim with ornate plasterwork, high ceilings and panelling, with plenty of space for soirées.
When the mood strikes, you can easily take yourself for a tour around the estate, through the landscaped park, walled garden and wooded valley.
York Place, Bath
Chosen by Katie Dutton, Staff Writer on HomeStyle and YourHomeStyle.uk
Price: £3,950,000
Agent: Savills
Standout feature: Beautifully landscaped garden
Situated in an idyllic, leafy suburb above the historic spa town Bath, York Place has all the charms of a country getaway as well as the advantages of being a short walk from a bustling city.
The Grade II manor house was built in the early 19th-century with the famous, distinctively honey-coloured Bath stone. The property covers 7,000 square feet and boasts six bedrooms, four reception rooms and five bathrooms across three floors. There is also a stunning welcome hall fit with classic Georgian design elements, such as columns and a winding staircase.
There is plenty of natural light throughout the house, and even more delightfully the property is surrounded by stately landscaped gardens.
Bath is the filming location of Bridgerton and many other period dramas, so there's no better place to start looking for your dream stately home than there!
Tasburgh Hall, Norfolk
Chosen by Rebecca Messina, digital editor on YourHomeStyle.uk
Price: £3,500,000
Agent: Sowerbys
Standout feature: Tennis court, fishing lake and games room
Located in the heart of the Norfolk countryside, the red-brick Tasburgh Hall can trace its roots to an 19th century remodel of a late 18th century lodge, but has been extensively and lovingly restored in recent years. The addition of elements such as underfloor heating and top-of-the-line kitchen and bathroom suites ensure it is absolutely fit for modern living while retaining much of its period charm.
The main building contains 15 bedrooms, including a master bedroom which is truly fit for a lord - boasting not only an en-suite bathroom but two 'his and hers' dressing rooms.
Plus, you'd never be bored at Tasburgh Hall, which includes an indoor gym, garden room and games room, as well as 25 acres of grounds where you'll find a hard tennis court, croquet lawn and a fishing lake. Other outstanding features in the grounds include a kitchen garden, greenhouses and an orchard, allowing the lucky owner to grow plenty of their own produce.
The College, Ottery St. Mary, Devon
Chosen by Debbie Graham, Senior digital editor of YourHomeStyle.uk
Price: £5,950,000
Agent: Strutt & Parker
Standout features: huge library, indoor swimming pool, sweeping driveway
For just a snip under £6 million you can snap up this country gem in lovely Devon. The Grade II listed mansion is what dreams are made of and has everything you need from a country house. It used to belonged to the Coleridge family, one of whom was the famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge who was said to have been inspired by the stunning Devonian landscapes.
The house's imposing credentials include a huge library designed to hold Lord Coleridge’s 18,000 books (you have to wonder if he managed to read them all), a grand hall and staircase, 21 acres of grounds and parkland, tennis court, indoor swimming pool, a cobbled courtyard and the all essential sweeping driveway - all pretty impressive you have to admit.
And we can definitely picture having a morning coffee in the stunning Victorian conservatory (on a silver tray brought to us by Carson obviously) or a leisurely wander around the stunning gardens.
Its 10 bedrooms means there's plenty of space for visitors but there's more accommodation available should you need it in the additional coach house and lodge - perhaps the in-laws could stay in one of these when they visit or maybe you have a dowager countess in the family who could reside in one?
Christchurch Road, Virginia Water
Chosen by Thea Jeffreys, Digital Writer at YourHomeStyle.uk
Price: £11,950,000
Agent: Fine & Country
Standout feature: the spiral staircase, swimming pool and steam room
When you’ve moved through the secure, electronic gates that guard this grand Virginia Water home, you’ll be met by its jaw-dropping, elegant façade. This home really looks like something out of a film, and when you walk through the front door, you won’t believe your eyes.
Inside, you’ll find a grand, marble reception hall with a spiral staircase, ten beautiful, spacious bedrooms, plus a leisure complex that boasts an indoor swimming pool, a gym, a steam room and its very own changing rooms (just in case getting changed in the bedroom upstairs isn’t boujee enough for you!)
Elsewhere in the home, you’ll find a heated driveway with space for ten cars and sprawling landscaped gardens, plus a large terrace with lovely modern seating. Personally, we don’t think we’d want to leave this house, but if you do decide to venture out into the surrounding areas of Ascot and Windsor, you’ll find a plethora of coffee shops, boutiques and, of course, Michelin Star restaurants.
