If a suburban semi or standard new build doesn’t cut it for you, then try an oast house or a modern-day castle instead.
We’ve rounded up everything from award-winning contemporary homes to a converted windmill in our top 10 most unusual home for sale.
1. Four-bedroom detached house in St. Leonards-On-Sea, East Sussex, for £1.5m
It’s rare to come across a home with its own bowling alley – especially one in a converted Victorian Turkish bathhouse. The property has undergone several iterations, including a school swimming house and a glass factory, but now it’s a one-of-a-kind home containing four double bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Available via Platform Property
2. Two-bedroom detached house in Balham, South London, for £865,000
From the street, you wouldn’t realise that this brick and metal building was actually the exterior of a cutting-edge home. Thanks to its clever design, the two-bedroom property won a RIBA London Award in May 2017. All of the light in the property comes from an internal courtyard garden, while concealed storage helps make the most of the space available.
Available via The Modern House
3. Three-bedroom barn conversion in Bilsington, Ashford, Kent, for £650,000
With their round kilns and white cowls, Oast houses are a staple of the Kent countryside. This one isn’t listed but none of its charm has been lost, as recent modernisation has been carefully thought out. Far-reaching countryside views are also on offer and the house sits in beautiful grounds that include a pond and plenty of parking.
Available via Andrew & Co
Ready to find your dream home?
Search more than half a million properties for sale, from brand new homes to period homes.
4. Five-bedroom detached house in Stock, Ingatestone, Essex, for £2.3m
How about beating the traffic with a home that boasts its own licensed airfield? The 630m landing area is one of a handful of registered private airstrips in Essex and also comes with a three-opening hangar for you to store your plane or helicopter. There’s also potential to make back some money on the £2.3m property, as it offers two well-stocked lakes that are currently let out to a fishing club.
Available via Walkers
5. Four-bedroom detached house in Torquay, Devon, for £1.5m
Lincombe Keep might look like something out of Game of Thrones, but this unusual home was only built in 1992. It was designed to blend into its Grade II-listed grounds, which were created by Fred Harrild, who was believed to be a student of famed architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Inside, the property is like a time machine, with décor that doesn’t appear to have changed since the house was built.
Available via Absolute Sales & Lettings
6. Six-bedroom detached house Kingston Vale, South London, price on application
This stunning Huf Haus combines German engineering with Japanese style. Huf Haus only produce bespoke homes and limit the number they build to around 150 each year, so every property is unique. Underfloor heating and automatic electric blinds help keep the house cosy in winter, while the beautifully designed zen gardens are the perfect place to relax in the summer.
Available via Robert Holmes
7. Three-bedroom detached house in Barnham, West Sussex, for £575,000
Barnham Windmill has evolved dramatically since it was first built in 1829. It was powered by wind until the early 1920s, when it was converted to engine power. The RAF then occupied the mill during World War II, using it as an observation post to spot enemy aircraft. In 2008, the mill was tastefully transformed into a comfortable family home, while still preserving the mill machinery.
Available via Jackson-Stops
8. Five-bedroom detached property in Forest Row, East Sussex, for £1.95m
If you’re looking for a one-off property with the latest in energy-efficient technology, this eco-home overlooking Weirwood Reservoir should do the trick. The property contains triple-glazed windows, a roof with photovoltaic solar panels and an air source heat pump that regulates the underfloor heating. It was “Highly Commended” by The Sussex Heritage Trust in the 2016 Design Excellence Awards.
Available via Humbert
9. One-bedroom detached house in Boston, Lincolnshire, £399,950
Church conversions aren’t that uncommon these days, but this Grade II-listed church in Lincolnshire stands out from the rest. It dates back to 1876 and is full of original features that have been carefully preserved by keeping an open plan layout. The sole bedroom can be found on a mezzanine level, which puts you right among the ceiling’s ornately carved wooden beams.
Available via Urban Spaces Sales
10. Three-bedroom detached house in Wroxham, Norfolk, for £810,000
Finally, for those longing for life by the water, there’s this thatched home with its own private 32ft mooring and a detached boat house. The immaculately looked-after property was built in 2004 and is perfect for multi-generational living too, as there’s a one-bedroom annexe attached to the boat house.
Available via Waterside Estate Agents