You can’t have escaped the fact that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner but if you want to feel the love every day of the year, how about finding a home with romance written all over it? From cosy cottages and secluded retreats to houses with hot tubs and historic dwellings, these properties are bound to sweep you off your feet
1. Gretna, Dumfries & Galloway, offers over £150,000
Ideal for a first-time buyer, this semi-detached house has three double-bedrooms, a large living room and a separate kitchen/diner, and is chain-free. You won’t have far to go if you’re planning to tie the knot, as it’s down the road from Gretna Green, the UK’s most famous wedding venue. However, these days couples can’t turn up and get married on the spot as 29 days notice is required. For sale through Yopa.
2. Polebrook, Northamptonshire, £525,000
With its undulating thatched roof, limestone walls and mullioned windows, Swallowtail Cottage is rather special. Inside it’s equally charming, comprising a sitting room, an extended kitchen with a breakfast bar and dining area, a ground floor bedroom and ensuite, plus two further bedrooms, a shower room and study on the first floor. The low-maintenance garden includes a patio that gets the late afternoon sunshine, and a hot tub discreetly tucked into a corner. Via Woodford & Co.
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3. Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, offers over £550,000
Sit and watch the world – and boats – go by from this recently-renovated cottage which nestles in an exceptionally picturesque spot next to Batchworth Lock on the Grand Union Canal. It has three bedrooms, living and dining rooms, several fireplaces and a pretty garden overlooking a smaller canal at the back. On the market through Purplebricks.
4. Rhandirmwyn, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, £600,000
Blaen Nant Melyn has to be the ultimate hideway as it’s very secluded with unspoiled countryside in every direction, and views of the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons in the distance. The traditional three-bedroom Welsh cottage is completely off-grid: water comes from a spring and a stream, electricity is supplied via solar panels attached to a battery bank with a back-up diesel generator, and multi-fuel stoves and a boiler provide heating and hot water. Contact Finest Properties.
Read more: 8 cosy homes with real fireplaces
5. Ullenhall, Warwickshire, £825,000
This beautiful three-bedroom converted barn is full of character and charm, featuring flagstone flooring, exposed beams and brickwork, a galleried landing and a big south-facing garden. There’s plenty of room for cuddling up in front of the sitting room fire, and an a dressing area and ensuite in the impressive principal bedroom. Get in touch with Esther Broomhill & Partners.
6. East Bilney, Norfolk, £840,000
Dating back to the late 15th century, this atmospheric Grade II listed cottage is in a rural setting with wonderful walks on the doorstep, and packed with original details such as timber beams, carved staircases and inglenook fireplaces. It comprises a four-bedroom main house and a two-bedroom annex that’s been used for holiday lets, and a magical garden with a pond, topiary, tree ferns and lighting. Through Fine & Country.
7. Denbury, Newton Abbot, Devon, £950,000
Don’t be misled by the name as Goosey Cottage is a generously-sized house incorporating six bedrooms, three bathrooms, three reception rooms, a paddock, stable, summer house and hot tub and a swimming pool. The main bedroom is a lovely place to escape to when you and your partner fancy some time away from the rest of the family, as there’s a Juliet balcony looking out over a valley, and a freestanding bath in the ensuite. Via Marchand Petit.
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8. Giudecca, Venice, Italy, 2.8 million euros (approx £2,485,820)
A contemporary, open plan loft-style apartment set within a 19th century industrial building on an island in one of the world’s most romantic cities. Designed by architect Michael Carapetian, it’s arranged over three floors and has two terraces and fantastic views over Venice and its lagoon. Great attention was given to the acoustics, making it perfect for serenading your loved one. Find out more from Engel & Volkers.
9. Notting Hill, London W11, £2.975m
If this house looks familiar, that’s because it’s in a mews that appeared in Love Actually – the scene where Mark, played by Andrew Lincoln, silently declares his love to Keira Knightley’s character Juliet using cue cards. The luxurious four-storey property has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen/living/dining room opening out to a courtyard garden, and a top floor reception room and terrace. From Knight Frank.
10. Boston, Massachusetts, USA, $14.995m (approx. £12,445,850m)
The Tiffany Ayer Mansion is a real diamond, and the only house in the world to be designed by the iconic jeweller. Unveiled in 1902, it was created by Louis Comfort Tiffany – designer director at Tiffany & Co and son of the founder, Charles Tiffany – and was given National Historic Landmark status in 2005. Includes elaborate plasterwork, stained glass and detailed mosaics, and is ready to be restored and transformed into a fabulous home. Find out more from LandVest.
