Grand country house

On the market for those seeking the most authentic of English country house experiences is Manston House, the eight-bedroom manor first built in the 17th century and today of the Grade II listing.

At Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire – former home of the Mitford sisters – Rosie Pearson has restored the Jacobean house and gardens, which now provide the setting for a biennial celebration of contemporary sculpture.

In a verdant spot of West Sussex, the six bedroom house at Honeybridge Estate is one of the finest houses to rent for big group holidays in England

From reimagined floor plans and versatile spaces to the seamless integration of indoor/outdoor living, discover how today's Georgian homes blend classic sophistication with contemporary functionality.

Dewlish House in Dorchester has just hit the market with Knight Frank for £13m. Take a tour here.

The late Victoria de Rothschild had a passion for beautiful things, evidenced in a new exhibition of contemporary handcrafted pieces from her collection at her former home, Ascott House in Buckinghamshire, which still bears the hallmarks of her refined taste

When the owners of this Cotswolds house bought it, it was a bland Twenties reconstruction of a seventeenth-century house that had burnt down. They and their architect set about rebuilding it, reconnecting it with its gardens and wider surroundings.

Thanks to some clever architectural additions and designer Rita Konig’s carefully considered interiors, this generous, sprawling 19th-century house now has a wonderful coherence while providing a series of distinct spaces for family life, work, relaxing and entertaining

Natalie Massenet and Erik Torstensson spent the past six years transforming a former rectory in the English countryside into a family-friendly retreat.

Consider this your motivation to reach new style heights.