Picture-perfect cottages

Five of Britain's best country houses under £1 million, from an equestrian property in Kent to a Tower House in Scotland

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

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.

14 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.

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.

10 utterly irresistible thatched cottages for sale, from under £400,000

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

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.

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.

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.

A picture-perfect cottage for sale in a delightful village near the coast in the North York Moors

Character homes in village locations within national parks are hard to come by – but when they do, they're hard to resist says Penny Churchill.

An idyllic thatched cottage where you can run your own Devonshire tea garden

Amid steams and waterfalls, Rose Cottage boasts a stunning tea garden perfect for hosting a few friends – or 185 neighbours.

Five delightful character homes inside the M25, and all under £725,000

Sometimes it can become easy to despair of finding a beautiful house with charm and outdoor space at an affordable price, yet still within striking distance of London. These five homes show that it's still possible.

The rise of the ‘super cottage’: Underfloor heating, dining table for 12 and claw-foot baths in the bedroom

Creaking country piles with drafty corridors and leaky roofs are increasingly a thing of the past - today's homes in the country have a very different list of features, many of which you'd normally associate with top-end hotels. Arabella Youens speaks to a pair of experts who explain the phenomenon of the 'super cottage'.