Picture-perfect cottages

12 utterly beautiful thatched cottages for sale, from under £250,000

As Bilbo Baggins has it: ‘It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.’ Best stay warm, under cover of thatch.

13 absolutely beautiful character properties for sale at under £400,000

Beautiful country houses often come with price tags which put them out of reach for many – but delightful character properties can be found that are well within reach for most buyers, as these places demonstrate.

An irresistibly gorgeous Cotswolds home comes to the market, with five bedrooms, five reception rooms and perfect village location

James Fisher takes a look at a cottage in Long Compton that ticks every box.

An idyllic cottage in the heart of Cockington that offers the perfect escape from the rat race

Moving to the country and opening a tea shop has never looked more appealing than at Rose Cottage Tea Gardens in a lovely village just outside Torquay.

What £1 million buys across Britain today, from a graceful Sussex home to a Scottish mansion complete with loch

You don't have to be a millionaire to live in a grand country mansion, as these beautiful homes across Britain demonstrate.

A heartbreakingly pretty house with party room, swimming pool and the best of the north Cotswolds on its doorstep

A gorgeous house has come to the market close to popular Cotswolds spots such as Daylesford Farm Shop and Soho Farmhouse. Penny Churchill tells more.

Four idyllic cottages for sale, from under £400,000 to £5 million

James Fisher picks out four of the finest cottages on the market today, from an utterly charming Gloucestershire home to a Chelsea pad with bags of rus in urbe.

Where to live in the Cotswolds: A guide to choosing the perfect spot

Where in the Cotswolds should you move to? The answer will depend on what is more important to you and your family, as our handy guide explains.

A 'quintessential English cottage' in Devon with endless charm, spectacular outdoor space, and walking distance from the beach

This picture-perfect cottage in Devon is a real mix of modern and traditional — and it's all set in a gorgeously private little valley.

A stunning thatched home with beams, fireplaces and secret doors that could be England's biggest cottage

This huge country cottage in Hampshire offers all the charm of a dinky thatched cottage with the spaciousness of a country house.

A picture-perfect thatched cottage under £500,000, with views over the village green and duck pond

An utterly idyllic thatched cottage has come to the market in an AONB near the fine cathedral city of Salisbury which will have suburban homeowners pondering the move to the country.

An absolutely idyllic stone farmhouse, buried in the Caldbeck Fells of the Lake District

Claybottom Farm is exactly as it should be, with a price tag that reflects the love and care which has gone into preserving it for generations to come. Alexandra Fraser takes a look.

An absurdly gorgeous cottage with a story every bit as romantic as its architecture

It's only the first week of January, but we can't help wondering if we'll see a more perfect thatched cottage all year.

Five stunning properties cottages which celebrate the very best of village life

Holly Kirkwood gets to the heart of the matter as she takes a look at five beautiful properties, all at the hub of their respective villages.

Eight irresistible thatched cottages for sale, from under £450,000

The romantic appeal of an English country cottage with a thatched roof never fades, as these wonderful homes show.

Picture-perfect country cottage with a dreamy English country garden

Church Cottage is the idyllic countryside family home for everyone, including Alexandra Fraser, who takes a look at its many remarkable features.

A cottage where chocolate-box charm meets an idyllic seaside setting

A picture-perfect fishermans cottage perched at the end of a pier, far away from the heat and bustle of city life.

Surprisingly-unlisted fairytale cottage in Berkshire with quaint gardens and a fantastic location

Mistletoe Cottage is picture-perfect, with lovely period features, a wonderful Home County location and a price tag many would find surprising.

Six heartbreakingly pretty cottages for sale at under £500,000

You can live in a picture-perfect home for the price of a small city flat – our property editor Annunciata Elwes picks out some of her favourites from among those on the market at the moment.

Five spectacularly pretty English country cottages for sale

The country cottage has an enduring appeal which never fades – we've taken a look at some of the nicest currently on the market in England.