10 fairytale houses to buy (or dream about)
Children's literature is full of the most beautiful domestic imagery: the snow-covered woods and ginger bread houses described in the dark and beautiful Grimm's Fairy Tales, the charming warmth of Snow White's cottage in the 1937 Disney film, the whimsical burrows in Beatrix Potter's illustrated stories and the hideaways and cosy corners of Winnie the Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood. Escaping into worlds of crackling fires, carved wooden furniture, magnificent castles and thatched-roofed cottages is treat at any age. And sometimes a house hits the market that turns those childhood fantasies into a potential reality.
There are few pastimes as enjoyable as browsing for property, whether you're in the market for a new house or not. In fact, arguably it is far more enjoyable to browse the listings when you're very much not looking for a new home, as then you can judge freely and let your imagination run as wild as they did in childhood. With that in mind, we've pulled together ten of the most sensational houses for sale right now, each like something from a grand novel or fairytale, so you can dream up your future, albeit imaginary, life in a manor house, castle or woodland cottage.
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Fairytale houses currently on the market sure to make your wildest, grandest dreams come true…
1/10Smarden, Kent
Tudor houses always have an ancient, fairytale appeal, and Hartnup House in Smarden, Kent is believed to date from the early 15th century with a later addition completed in 1671. The traditional English cottage (which is noteably only an hour and a half from central London) has an array of striking period features inside and out, including exposed beams, leaded windows and inglenook fireplaces. The picturesque gardens look out onto the striking church of St. Michael the Archangel, so your afternoons can be underscored by the ringing of the bells – what's more charming than that? The gardens are perfect for Peter Rabbit and his friends, with neat lawns, a rose covered walkway, a large vegetable garden and an ornamental pond. Set across three floors, the cottage is deceptively large, with six bedrooms, a drawing room, dining room and even a home office (although this can be ignored in the fantasy version of your forthcoming fairytale life).
Listed with Jackson Stops
2/10Andelat, France
Château de Sailhant towers 30 metres above the wild Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region's volcanoes, deep wooded valleys and waterfalls. Built around the 12th century, this remarkable property – constructed to follow the contours of the rock it's built on – boasts a garden and rose garden at its core. The main building, fashioned from volcanic stone, has a striking silhouette, resembling a pointed arch at its centre, flanked by four round towers crowned with slate roofs. The fortifications, erected during the Hundred Years' War to bolster the estate's defences, are still visible today through the loopholes in the towers' walls. Beyond the perimeter wall, the estate extends to several plots of meadowland, concealing a hidden waterfall and lake within its grounds. Château de Sailhant was purchased and restored by NYC architect Joseph Pell Lombardi in the late nineties – and it comes with it's own hidden waterfall and lake.
3/10Richmond Park, London
There are many reasons why Richmond, which sits in the south west of London, is among the most sought-after neighbourhoods in the city. One is the vast expanses of green space (Richmond Park is roughly 2,500 acres large and even has deer), another is the mixture of Regency, Georgian and Victorian houses which give this quaint village a storybook feel. Pembroke Cottage, which sits on the edge of Richmond Park and was once the gatekeepers lodge for the nearby Pembroke Lodge – now a popular wedding venue – is one of the area's most rare, and most picturesque houses. It has just hit the market with Knight Frank for a healthy £5,000,000, and for one lucky buyer, provides an opportunity to strike the much coveted balance of country and urban life.
Listed with Knight Frank
4/10Salisbury, Wiltshire
This magnificent, vine-covered five bedroom house is perched in an idyllic green valley in historic Salisbury and features mature gardens, a pond, a woodland and a private paddock. Waterdale House dates back to the 1930s, and isn't short of historic features, blending the large manor house aesthetic with that of a cosy, country cottage. The house is in need of some refurbishment (with the help of some woodland animals, no doubt) but has wonderful bones, including a solid wooden floor, marble fireplaces and leaded windows. The garden is the most magical element of the house, with planting that dates back to the late 19th century and a large back paddock that features bluebells, wild garlic and lots of meandering pathways to get lost in.
Listed with Blue Book Agency
5/10Beverley, Yorkshire
Cherry Burton Hall is a late-18th-century manor house in Yorkshire which, complete with stables, a lake and meticulously kept gardens, is the practically plucked straight out of a storybook: there is even a secret bathroom accessed through a rather deceptive, Narnia-esque wardrobe. The decoration is suitably opulent for a house of this size, though if you favour a more pared-back approach, these grand, high-ceilinged rooms would be just as beautiful if the wallpaper were replaced with a series of light earthy, paint colours.
Listed with Blue Book Agency
6/10Upper Lambourn, Berkshire
Nestled between the west country counties of Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, Lambourn is a village characterised by small streets and independent shops surrounded by undulating hills (and, with Hungerford train station in driving distance, from where a regular service runs to and from London, it is very commutable). Among the many dreamy nearby houses is Kingsdown House, a 1930s build based on the style of the great 19th-century architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Its symmetrical facade is characterised by white painted windows framed by climbing rose bushes. Inside, the architectural style is mirrored in details throughout, including curved alcoves and decorative plasterwork. Among the most exciting things about this rather idyllic set-up are the gardens, which are divided into a lawn boxed in by perfectly manicured topiary, a putting green and a tennis court.
7/10Peper Harow Park, Guilford
Peper Harow House, in Surrey, is a grand Palladian manor designed by the celebrated architect Sir William Chambers (who was, incidentally, the architect to King George III and whose portfolio also includes Somerset House, in London). On the market now with Sotheby's International Realty is one of the houses' wings. A fraction of the full house though it is, the wing still has five bedrooms, four bathrooms and four large reception rooms, as well as an enviable kitchen which comes with a separate utility room and wine cellar. Not only is the house already decorated in a most elegant and sophisticated style, but it is surrounded by 19 acres of gardens designed by Capability Brown: the perfect spot for a Bridgerton-style picnic, we think.
Inigo8/10Narborough, Norfolk
Named for its its locale, Narborough Hall is (in our opinion) one of the dreamiest houses currently on the market. The Grade II-listed house, built in 16th century (though extended around 1770 and again in the 1800s to include two wings on the side and a service wing out the back), marries its classical architecture with a more modern, though still traditional, sensibility. Its facade, which has no less than 13 bays of sash windows, is charmingly covered with wisteria. Inside, the decoration is calm and airy, and allows the architecture (and the views out the window) to sing: stone floors, neutral walls and plenty of ornate plasterwork mix together to make a family home which feels both deeply sophisticated and completely charming.
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9/10Cheriton, Hampshire
Hockley House is a grand Georgian mansion in Cheriton, a bucolic village on the edge of the South Downs National Park. It is surrounded by rolling hills and exceptional rural landscapes. Approached by a long gravel drive, it is one of those rare finds which manages to be perfectly suited to 21st-century life, while maintaining deep roots in its historic foundations. Such a balance is usually the result of careful preservation – something the current owners have expertly executed. Throughout, Arts & Crafts influences mingle with all of the mod-cons you could wish for, and outside, 9.31 acres of grounds are divided into beautifully manicured gardens, a swimming pool and a large pond.
Inigo10/10Rye, East Sussex
Situated in an area steeped in ancient Saxon history, this charming 15th-century farmhouse sits on a wooded ridge near the popular town of Rye, offering stunning views of the East Sussex countryside. Lovingly restored by its current owners, with meticulous attention to every detail, the Grade II-listed, L-shaped home spans 3,790 sq ft across three floors and includes expansive outbuildings, gardens, and a treehouse inspired by Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage. The historic town of Rye is nearby, known for its boutiques, pubs, and eateries, while the sandy beaches of Camber are also within easy reach. The east wing, dating back to the 15th century, features close-stud work that highlights its architectural significance. The western part of the house, added in the 1600s, includes timber-framed areas that were later reconstructed in red brick. The L-shaped northern wing is a Georgian addition, characterized by a steeply-pitched roof and casement windows. Together, these features create a façade that is a charming palimpsest of historical periods. For further details, please refer to the History section.
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