0:00:02 > 0:00:06I'm in the home town of one of England's most loved crime writers.
0:00:06 > 0:00:11In the English language, her books have only been outsold by the Bible and Shakespeare.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15Find out which county is the source of such criminal creativity in a moment.
0:00:27 > 0:00:33'Today, I'll be helping a couple ditch busy suburban life to seek riverside bliss in the country.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35'It could be all plain sailing.'
0:00:35 > 0:00:38This is a fantastic room.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42'But the mystery house always throws our house-hunters off course.'
0:00:42 > 0:00:45- Wow!- Very wow!
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Today, I'm in Wallingford in Oxfordshire,
0:00:50 > 0:00:55and it was here from 1934 till her death in 1976 that Agatha Christie lived,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58one of our most beloved whodunnit writers.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01It was here that she wrote The Mouse Trap
0:01:01 > 0:01:05which is still running in London after more than 20,000 performances.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Hopefully, we won't come across any murderous mishaps,
0:01:09 > 0:01:15but we will be looking at some beautiful property in this most wonderful county.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20The historic county of Oxfordshire is home to one of Britain's cultural epicentres.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24Its capital, Oxford, is dominated by its prestigious university
0:01:24 > 0:01:28which dates back to the 11th century and is the oldest in England.
0:01:28 > 0:01:34Many of Oxfordshire's towns have grown up along the River Thames which meanders through the county.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39Henley-on-Thames is world famous for its annual summer regatta
0:01:39 > 0:01:43and Wallingford, historically a prosperous trading centre,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46offers fine stretches of river where you can moor up and relax.
0:01:46 > 0:01:52The county's heritage is reflected in its architecture from pretty thatched cottages
0:01:52 > 0:01:58to Georgian merchant houses, so there's plenty of property on offer here to suit all tastes.
0:02:00 > 0:02:06In the general downward spiral of house prices across the country, Oxfordshire is faring rather well.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10The average decline has been 18%, but here it's just been 12.
0:02:10 > 0:02:16Prices are dropping, but because really nice properties by the river are scarce, they get snapped up.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21They're rare and they're beautiful, but we have managed to find some. Take a look.
0:02:21 > 0:02:27If you can stretch to £1.5 million, there's this five-bedroomed stone farmhouse in Horspath.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31It has four grand reception rooms, an impressive kitchen/dining room
0:02:31 > 0:02:35and conservatory with views of the two and a quarter acres of garden.
0:02:37 > 0:02:43For £525,000, this four-bedroomed, detached house in Chilton Village
0:02:43 > 0:02:47offers a cheerful kitchen/breakfast room and a large, light family room
0:02:47 > 0:02:51with doors leading out on to the terraced gardens.
0:02:51 > 0:02:57This three-bedroomed, Grade 2 listed thatched cottage in Wroxton could be yours for £380,000.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02It exudes character charm with its spacious sitting/dining room, open fireplaces
0:03:02 > 0:03:05and cottage-style garden.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Lovely - some of Oxfordshire's finest properties,
0:03:08 > 0:03:14but are they what our house buyers today are looking for? And can they afford them?
0:03:14 > 0:03:19Today's escapees are Mark, a pet food supplier, and Karen.
0:03:19 > 0:03:25They've lived in their four-bedroomed property in Ruislip, Middlesex, for 17 years
0:03:25 > 0:03:30and have now decided to downsize and realise their dream of moving to the country.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35But with two grown-up daughters still living with them, there's only so much downsizing they can do.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39The house we live in at the moment, it's a lot of work for Karen,
0:03:39 > 0:03:44so I think now is the time to downsize a bit with a lot less maintenance.
0:03:44 > 0:03:49Rather than spending all weekend, every weekend, cleaning and tidying up,
0:03:49 > 0:03:55it would be nice to just spend that time in a more recreational way, I think.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00They're looking to Oxfordshire, around Henley-on-Thames, for their change of lifestyle.
0:04:00 > 0:04:06We'd like to move to the country because we just love the open space.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10We love the countryside for the walking, we've got the dog.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13That's quite a big side of our recreational life now.
0:04:13 > 0:04:19But it's soaking up life by the river which is a major driving force behind their move.
0:04:19 > 0:04:25We bought a boat a couple of years ago and have spent most weekends going up and down the river,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27which we thoroughly enjoy, don't we?
0:04:27 > 0:04:34We've fallen in love with the area, so we'd like to spend seven days a week there, not just weekends.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39Their boat is moored at a lock about a 50-minute drive from where they are now,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42but ideally, they'd keep it a bit closer to home.
0:04:42 > 0:04:48One of the purposes of moving to this type of area would be to access the boat more easily
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and spend evenings down here, as well as weekends.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55When we come down here, we just always feel so much more relaxed.
0:04:55 > 0:05:01- It's like going on holiday.- It is. We go back after a couple of days and feel quite refreshed.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04In order to see how much their property is worth,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08we've arranged for a local estate agent to value the house.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11It's a lovely chalet bungalow,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14arguably one of the best spots in Ruislip.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18For those reasons, I would value this property at around £650,000.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22The estate agent's valuation
0:05:22 > 0:05:27in this current market is pretty accurate. I feel it's a fair price.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29So what's the budget for their move?
0:05:29 > 0:05:35The budget for our next move would be around the £600,000 mark.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40As well as being close to the river and having space for the family,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42they don't want to feel cut off.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45The ideal location for me would be in a village.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49I do like to have a bit of life. I don't want to be too isolated.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54There are features of their current property they are reluctant to lose.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57This is probably my favourite room of the house.
0:05:57 > 0:06:03It's the room we spend a lot of time in, cooking, Mark doing the cooking, me doing the clearing up,
0:06:03 > 0:06:08girls gossiping, letting me know what's going on in the world and with their friends.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10I'd like that in the new house.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13They might have intentions of downsizing,
0:06:13 > 0:06:17but they want their dream home to make a grand impression.
0:06:17 > 0:06:23I'd be looking for some uniqueness, just something different, something unusual
0:06:23 > 0:06:28that gave me that real "Wow, I really want to live here" feeling.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32I would also like a nice view as well. That's important to me.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40The first part of Mark and Karen's house-searching criteria is not so problematic -
0:06:40 > 0:06:44three bedrooms, nice house, big kitchen/diner, manageable garden.
0:06:44 > 0:06:50The second part, being close to the river, is more spiky as everybody wants to be near the Thames.
0:06:50 > 0:06:56However, we've given ourselves the leeway of being 20 to 30 minutes away from a mooring
0:06:56 > 0:06:59which makes things a little bit easier.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02'Our search will radiate out from Henley-on-Thames
0:07:02 > 0:07:08'with properties being no more than a 30-minute drive from a part of the river with mooring potential.
0:07:08 > 0:07:14'And with their daughters working in London, they'll need to be in commuting distance from the capital.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19'I'll be taking our couple to see three choice houses which can't fail to impress,
0:07:19 > 0:07:24'but I won't reveal the price tags until they've had a good look round.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29'Last of the three is the mystery property which could always make a splash.'
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Karen and Mark, welcome to Oxfordshire.
0:07:32 > 0:07:38- Thank you.- It's not a million miles away from Ruislip, but will it be a wrench leaving friends and family?
0:07:38 > 0:07:44We've been thinking about that. It will be a bit of a wrench, but we feel we're ready for it now.
0:07:44 > 0:07:50- 17 years is a long time in one place. We're both ready for the move now, aren't we?- Yeah.
0:07:50 > 0:07:57We've got a big circle of friends and, hopefully, they'll come and see us here because it's so beautiful.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- But it's the boats that are calling you.- Absolutely.
0:08:00 > 0:08:07- This is a new hobby?- We've only had the boat a couple of years, but we thoroughly enjoy the river.
0:08:07 > 0:08:13We'll try and find a place near the river, not on the river. Your budget doesn't allow for that.
0:08:13 > 0:08:19- Is 600,000 the top of your budget? You haven't given us a bit more to play with?- Not really.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21It's where we'd feel comfortable.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26- We've got some nice properties lined up. Shall we go and look? - Yes, please.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31'So Karen and Mark's budget is £600,000.'
0:08:43 > 0:08:45'So, time to take to the road.'
0:08:47 > 0:08:50How realistic are you about being close to the river?
0:08:50 > 0:08:56- It's probably wishful thinking. - It's almost like to reach that dream house, we need to downsize.
0:08:58 > 0:09:04- A big downstairs and smaller bedrooms, that would possibly be a compromise.- Yeah, that's fine.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07'Wise words indeed.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11'We'll see if they change their minds during our house search.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16'Our first property is in Waterperry, a 20-minute drive from an Oxford river mooring
0:09:16 > 0:09:18'and an hour's commute from London.
0:09:18 > 0:09:24'The village has some lovely local gems, including the Queen Anne frontage of Waterperry House,
0:09:24 > 0:09:31'the wooden tower of the village church and Waterperry Gardens with open-air theatre performances.
0:09:31 > 0:09:36'I have high hopes that this barn conversion may take us one step closer
0:09:36 > 0:09:39'to finding Mark and Karen's dream home.'
0:09:39 > 0:09:45- How do we feel about barn conversions?- Yeah, lovely.- Very excited.- She's all excited.- I am.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50Cotswold stone. Barn originally probably from the 17th century,
0:09:50 > 0:09:55- but obviously, inside, all your mod cons.- Beautiful stone.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- Lovely building.- It's certainly got potential.- I see smiles. Good.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03- I am smiling. - It's definitely got potential.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07- So this could be the thing. - It could be.- This could be the one.
0:10:07 > 0:10:13'They're eager to get inside and I'm sure they'll be impressed by what lies beyond the front door.'
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Come on in.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Lovely hall.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27- Here we have the downstairs. - I love it.- Do you love it? - Yeah, very nice.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31- What do you love about it? - It's just a lovely feel.
0:10:31 > 0:10:36Very tastefully done. It just makes you feel relaxed walking in here. It's lovely.
0:10:36 > 0:10:43- You've also got a log burner which kicks out a lot of heat in the winter.- I love this. Very nice.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48- So can you imagine spending some winter nights here? - I can.- Definitely.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53- With friends around the fire? It's a nice, big space, isn't it?- It is.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57They've used it well. You wouldn't need to do anything to this.
0:10:57 > 0:11:03- With what we've seen so far. - Very nice.- It doesn't stop here. It goes in a sort of dog leg.
0:11:03 > 0:11:10- This is the main room. This was the barn. Then it comes out into what used to be the kitchen.- OK.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14- They moved the kitchen from this end to the other end.- OK.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- Can we go and have a look? - I'm afraid not(!)
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Yes, of course.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23'Lots of smiles so far. Let's see what they make of the kitchen.'
0:11:27 > 0:11:30- Ah!- Did I hear an "ah"?
0:11:30 > 0:11:32This is lovely.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Oh, this is a fantastic room.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Very, very nice. Very "us". Very "you".
0:11:39 > 0:11:44Yes, this is exactly what I was looking for. Very, very nice.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- It's lovely.- What do you like about it?- The space.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51The space. An eating, sitting, living kitchen.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54It ticks all those boxes.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59I love the mixture of modern and the warmth and cosiness of the beams.
0:11:59 > 0:12:05- Pet-friendly floor. - Very pet-friendly floor. Everything is "us friendly".
0:12:05 > 0:12:08- So thumbs up for the kitchen? - Yes.- Definitely.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13Now we have to sort out all the sleeping arrangements. Let's go upstairs.
0:12:13 > 0:12:19'Mark and Karen seem pleased with the downstairs which also has a utility room and cloakroom,
0:12:19 > 0:12:25'and so upstairs we go where we find all four bedrooms, including one nice-sized double
0:12:25 > 0:12:28'and two smaller, light, well-decorated rooms.
0:12:28 > 0:12:34'There's also a modern family bathroom, but I'm taking them to the other end of the landing
0:12:34 > 0:12:36'where their bedroom awaits.'
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Here's your master.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Very, very good.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46Yeah, this suits us. It's a fantastic room.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- Very, very nice.- Beautifully done.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51It's a very tasteful house.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55You've got these skylights which really pour in light
0:12:55 > 0:12:59and the little "Juliet" balcony over the garden.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- You can serenade me.- Yes, dear.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Are there any wardrobes in here?
0:13:05 > 0:13:10- Yes, they're here.- Oh, yes.- Then you've got a very nice en-suite.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12- This is great.- It's good, isn't it?
0:13:12 > 0:13:16- Very nice. - It's very tastefully done, I think.
0:13:16 > 0:13:22This lovely combination of old and new really, really works well together.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25- Big shower. - Yeah, they've done a nice job.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29- The whole place has a really nice feel to it.- It does. Very welcoming.
0:13:29 > 0:13:35'The house offers them space to accommodate their children and character features in spades,
0:13:35 > 0:13:39'so if they like the garden, we may be on to a winner.'
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- It's not massive, but you didn't want massive.- No.- No.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49- We figured that's OK. - This is idyllic.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54It's enough space for the dog to run around, but not too much work, and you're not overlooked.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59- It's quite private. - But you are in a community, so you're not completely remote.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02And do you think you can afford it?
0:14:02 > 0:14:04I think...550?
0:14:04 > 0:14:11No, I don't think so. I'd like to hope so, but I think more... 610, I'm gonna go.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15About halfway between the two. It's on at 595.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- OK.- It's dropped quite a bit since being on the market.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23It's only been on the market since...about six months.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26But, you know, it's a buyer's market right now.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31- Have a look inside and then we'll meet out the front.- OK.- Thank you.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Satisfied customers, I think.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38I think that kitchen blew them away and who can blame them?
0:14:38 > 0:14:42It's tossing up about whether it's close enough to the river,
0:14:42 > 0:14:45but I think we've got Karen.
0:14:48 > 0:14:55This barn conversion comes in just under budget at £595,000 and fits our couple's brief perfectly.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12It's an hour's commute to London with nights out in Oxford for their daughters.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16When I first saw the property, I really liked the look of it.
0:15:16 > 0:15:22It's got plenty of character and we've both always liked the idea of a barn conversion.
0:15:22 > 0:15:28Beautiful lounge, very tastefully done. The kitchen is absolutely fantastic. I really like it.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33My only worry about the property is how far it is from where we live at the moment
0:15:33 > 0:15:39and how long it would take me to get to my boat, but otherwise it ticks lots of boxes.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43I thought, "Wow, this is my type of property!"
0:15:43 > 0:15:45It's lovely.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48The outside is fantastic.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52It's got a real homely feel to it.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Then when we came through the door, even more so.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59This is the sort of house I can see myself in.
0:15:59 > 0:16:05'Karen and Mark leave smiling after what seemed a very promising house tour.'
0:16:13 > 0:16:19'The River Thames has been a famous water highway for centuries and the scene of historic rowing rivalry
0:16:19 > 0:16:23'between two of England's oldest universities.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26'Oxford University Boat Club has existed since 1829,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30'the year of the first Oxford and Cambridge boat race,
0:16:30 > 0:16:34'which is now watched worldwide by more than 100 million people.'
0:16:34 > 0:16:39As a sporadic and not very good rower from my days at Cambridge,
0:16:39 > 0:16:45it pains me greatly to say Oxford University thrashed us the last two years in a row in the boat race,
0:16:45 > 0:16:51but I'm putting my pride to one side and meeting one of the victorious oarsmen, Colin Smith,
0:16:51 > 0:16:56who not only won for Oxford - boo, but won for Britain too at the Olympics.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58- Colin, nice to see you. - Nice to see you.
0:16:58 > 0:17:05'Colin has trained on this stretch of the River Thames for five years and knows it better than most.'
0:17:05 > 0:17:11We're here in Oxfordshire because we're concentrating on the Thames. I know the boat race is in London.
0:17:11 > 0:17:17I've seen fours and eights going up and down the river. Is rowing as big a thing as we imagine it is?
0:17:17 > 0:17:20It's huge, especially in Oxfordshire.
0:17:20 > 0:17:26No matter what time of year, there are always so many boats going up and down, all ages and abilities.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30It's a real centre of rowing in this country and around the world.
0:17:30 > 0:17:36I'm feeling slightly anxious being here with an Olympian, but you'll put me through my paces.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39- I've not done it for about 20 years. - Absolutely.
0:17:39 > 0:17:44Welcome to Oxford University Boat Club. We'll see what your rowing is like now.
0:17:44 > 0:17:51'Today's modern boathouse stores Oxford's pristine racing eight boats, each costing £28,000.
0:17:51 > 0:17:57'They're made from Kevlar and carbon fibre materials which make the boat light, strong and ergonomic,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01'very different from the heavy old wooden things I used in my time.
0:18:01 > 0:18:06'While I help Colin carry our boat to the river, I'm trying to remember the basics
0:18:06 > 0:18:09'as my oarmanship skills are pretty rusty.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14'Straight back, push with the legs, keep my oars at right angles to the water.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19'I don't want to disappoint Colin as we start working as a team.'
0:18:19 > 0:18:26- So, shoes off, into the boat. We'll go see how your Cambridge rowing is. - I'm starting to get anxious now.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30'It's quite disconcerting as we push away from land.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33'I certainly don't want to rock the boat too much.'
0:18:33 > 0:18:37We'll just go along with the backs and the arms now.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42- Don't worry if the blades run along the water.- It's quite hard keeping them square.- Yeah.
0:18:42 > 0:18:48'Ah, this takes me back to the days of my youth. The old technique is starting to return...'
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Oh! 'With the odd hiccup.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54'In the lead-up to the famous boat race,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58'Colin and the team put in 24 hours a week of training for nine months,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02'burning up to 6,000 calories a day. Very gruelling.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07'Just as it's all going well, Colin sets me the challenge of doing a racing start.'
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Make sure the oars are nicely covered, correctly square.
0:19:11 > 0:19:17Just sit in a comfortable position. When we go, just push with the legs and pull with the back.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20- Are you ready?- Yeah.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22- Attention...- Yeah.- Go.
0:19:24 > 0:19:30'Racing teams can reach up to 14 miles per hour and it certainly feels like we're hurtling along.'
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Holy moly!
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Whoo-hoo!
0:19:35 > 0:19:39'Come on, Appleton, don't let the team down!'
0:19:42 > 0:19:44And easy there.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46That's good.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50- Really good.- You've clearly got some natural talent.- Really good.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54That'll be the Olympian telling me I'm really good at rowing.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56'I may have mastered the rowing,
0:19:56 > 0:20:02'but whether we can find Mark and Karen's winning property remains to be seen.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07'As the sun sets over Oxfordshire,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11'the first day of our property hunt is at an end.'
0:20:20 > 0:20:23'Mark and Karen want to quit the suburbs of Ruislip
0:20:23 > 0:20:27'and downsize to a riverside retreat in Oxfordshire.
0:20:27 > 0:20:33'With a budget of £600,000, they want a character home with a big kitchen to entertain in.
0:20:33 > 0:20:39'They've seen one property and, coming up, our navigational skills are put to the test.'
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- We could play hide and seek. - It's like an Aladdin's cave.
0:20:42 > 0:20:49'And there's the mystery property which may give them a completely different view on downsizing.'
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Day two of our search along the property riverbank
0:20:52 > 0:20:57and Karen and Mark are being quite flexible about what they're looking for.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01They're not very rigid in their dream home just yet,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05so we'll cast the net a bit wider, looking outside of Oxfordshire,
0:21:05 > 0:21:11then also show them something that's right on the river. It's going to be interesting.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Our next property is in Aldermaston just over the border into Berkshire
0:21:15 > 0:21:19and an hour's commute from London for Mark and Karen's daughters.
0:21:19 > 0:21:25The village centre is a conservation area and still retains its distinctive character.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29There's even a pub with its own jail, happily not in use now.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Beside picture-perfect properties,
0:21:32 > 0:21:38Mark and Karen can walk their dog along the Kennet and Avon Canal and be 20 minutes away from a mooring.
0:21:38 > 0:21:46The house we're showing them is a barn conversion and will test their resolve on downsizing.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Come on in, through this little secret magic garden.
0:21:50 > 0:21:57- This is the property I want to show you.- Very nice.- So we've come into Berkshire, Aldermaston is Berkshire,
0:21:57 > 0:22:02and it's on the canal. I don't think your boat is licensed for canals.
0:22:02 > 0:22:08- Not at the moment, no. - You might look into that.- OK. - Or buy a new boat, Mark!- Maybe!
0:22:08 > 0:22:12The nearest mooring on the river is Reading, actually.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17This is the property. It's a barn, an old grain storage barn.
0:22:17 > 0:22:24The little ventilation holes kept the grain well-aired. It was converted in 2000, nine years ago.
0:22:24 > 0:22:31- You wanted something unusual architecturally.- Yeah.- Inside is definitely unusual architecturally.
0:22:31 > 0:22:32Good!
0:22:32 > 0:22:39'Karen's longed-for quirky features pop up even before we make it inside.'
0:22:39 > 0:22:45- The architectural interest starts here.- That's a fabulous door. - It's like something out of a church.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50- Yeah.- Strange you should say that. It is a chapel door that was salvaged.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56Come on in. You need to pay attention. The house is complicated!
0:22:56 > 0:23:01- Lovely floor.- You've got the flooring throughout the house, actually.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06- Very strong stylistic elements. - Beautiful.- Yes, very nicely done.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10- Panelling, too.- I want you to notice that it's a multi-layered house.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13It's on several levels.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17- That is your lounge. - That's very unusual!
0:23:17 > 0:23:20The lounge? Up there?
0:23:20 > 0:23:24There's downstairs, there's this floor, the mid floor, then upstairs.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28- It's working on lots of levels. - Very interesting.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33This is a little games room, but I want to take you to the kitchen.
0:23:33 > 0:23:38- Oh, this is lovely.- L-shaped. - Very, very nice.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42- Yeah, this is nice. - Unusual layout, but it's good.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46How would this work for you in terms of entertaining friends and family?
0:23:46 > 0:23:51I think it would be good for us. There's a nice table and chairs,
0:23:51 > 0:23:57- so the family can sit and watch Mum and Dad cook, as they normally do. - I think it's very user-friendly.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02- Two ovens, so I can leave a mess everywhere!- Yeah.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05It's a mess-tastic kitchen!
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- There's a lot of rooms in this house.- Very unusual property.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12- It's...it's quite a labyrinth.- OK.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16- Let's look upstairs. It's downstairs and upstairs.- I'm intrigued!
0:24:16 > 0:24:21'As we head up to the first floor, things get more and more curious.'
0:24:21 > 0:24:26- I feel I need a map to explain all this house to you. - It's very different.
0:24:26 > 0:24:32The house is a mirror image, so there's a staircase on this end and another one at the other end.
0:24:32 > 0:24:38- And the staircase is split in two by the beam...- Wonderful. - ..inside the house.
0:24:38 > 0:24:44So you've got a double staircase. So you won't cross on the stairs, which is bad luck.
0:24:44 > 0:24:50'Superstition aside, we'll venture in to what could be their master - one of the five bedrooms here.'
0:24:50 > 0:24:54It's not massive... but it's got a lot of light.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Yeah, it's quite snug.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03- Yeah.- And you've got a lot of storage here..- Plenty of wardrobes.
0:25:03 > 0:25:09Essentially, this whole landing would be yours. You've the bathroom on the other side. It's your wing.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13Yeah. Again, it's a real quirky room.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17- Very different.- What do you think, Mark?- Yeah. No, I like it.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22- Not too small?- No. Perfectly adequate. Only sleep in the bedroom.
0:25:22 > 0:25:28'Although there's no en suite, one of two family bathrooms is right next door.'
0:25:31 > 0:25:33- Well, this is lovely.- Very nice.
0:25:33 > 0:25:39- Lovely stone.- It's nicely done. - Very tastefully done.- Great shower.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44- It's a very artistic shower. - There's certainly a lot of rooms.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49'We continue through this maze on the first floor to the main sitting room.'
0:25:49 > 0:25:55- Ta-da! - Oh, this is gorgeous! - Oh, yes. It's very nice.
0:25:55 > 0:26:02Very unusual, isn't it? Cos we're now upstairs. It's slightly topsy-turvy.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07You certainly don't expect a lounge in the middle of a house.
0:26:07 > 0:26:13- So that's the window to what could be the dining room? - Exactly. Where we looked up before.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17- And a snug up the top there. - It's a clever use of space.
0:26:17 > 0:26:23- It's amazing. It doesn't seem like there's space inside for all these layers.- Lovely.- Very unusual.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26And it's very well done.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Then we go through here and you've got the mirror image.
0:26:30 > 0:26:36'They seem pretty switched on to this house. This side has the second bathroom and a single bedroom.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41'Up on the second floor is a third double bedroom and a dressing area.
0:26:41 > 0:26:48- 'With our tour picking up pace, we're going downstairs for more fun and games.'- It's an Aladdin's cave!
0:26:53 > 0:26:55More rooms here.
0:26:55 > 0:27:01- Oh, this one's a bit small for the girls. That wouldn't fit all their clothes and shoes.- Definitely not.
0:27:01 > 0:27:08- This one has a sink. - Oh, this is a good room. This would be good for one of the girls.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Very, very unusual property.
0:27:11 > 0:27:17'There are certainly enough bedrooms for their daughters. Now it's time to scope the garden.'
0:27:17 > 0:27:24There isn't much more to the garden that you haven't seen. The courtyard there is very pretty,
0:27:24 > 0:27:29- but this is your lot. But that's all right.- Suits me.- Perfect size.
0:27:29 > 0:27:37- Don't want too much garden work. - You've got enough to do inside! - I have!- A lot of cleaning.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41- How much do you think it costs? - Oh, dear. It's so difficult.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46- I'm gonna... 585. - Yeah, pretty much.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50- 575?- 575. It's actually on the market at 600.
0:27:50 > 0:27:56- OK.- OK.- Although you weren't looking to be close to Reading, to be close to it is very desirable
0:27:56 > 0:28:03- because of the links into London. - It's a very nice property. I'd like a good look round it.
0:28:03 > 0:28:10- I'll give you a ball of string in case you get lost! And meet you at the front.- Excellent. Thank you.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Wow. That's great, because this was a wildcard, this house.
0:28:15 > 0:28:21Some people would have really hated all that labyrinthine up and down. They seemed to really like it.
0:28:21 > 0:28:29Great. And they're chatting away. They're thinking about what to do with it. First step to a sale!
0:28:30 > 0:28:34Bang on their limit at £600,000, this barn conversion offers:
0:28:42 > 0:28:47With access to the river and transport links for their girls.
0:28:47 > 0:28:52- This house is like Aladdin's cave! - There's so many rooms in here.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56- I don't know that I'd keep this as a dining room.- I don't think so.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00- I'd have the upstairs one. Could we have this as a pool room?- Yeah.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03You'd get the pool table in there.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06It's great. Very, very quirky.
0:29:06 > 0:29:13It's got lots of lovely features. Very unusual, all on different levels. It's a great property.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17The girls would like it. Plenty of bedrooms for them to argue over.
0:29:17 > 0:29:24And, from what I understand, it's quite easy to get into London, so...who knows?
0:29:24 > 0:29:30'Our couple will be ditching their desire to live right on the river if they go for this family house.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33'Are they ready to make that leap?
0:29:36 > 0:29:43'As they seem drawn to quirky buildings, we've brought them to this towering architectural oddity,
0:29:43 > 0:29:47'20 miles outside Oxford. Faringdon Folly was built in 1935
0:29:47 > 0:29:52'and stands proudly as a monument to great British eccentricity.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57'To tell us more is Eddie Williams, one of the Folly's trustees,
0:29:57 > 0:30:01'who reveals the reason for its extravagant design.'
0:30:01 > 0:30:06It was built by Lord Berners, who owned this land.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10This was called Folly Hill way before there was a tower.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14He said, "Wouldn't it be nice to have a folly on top of this hill?"
0:30:14 > 0:30:20He had real trouble getting planning permission. The locals couldn't understand the benefit of it.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24And the real point of the tower is it's completely useless!
0:30:24 > 0:30:29It was built for fun, for the view, but with no purpose in mind.
0:30:29 > 0:30:35'Although conceived with fun in mind, its construction didn't go entirely to plan.'
0:30:35 > 0:30:43Berners went on holiday for three months to Rome. When he came back, it was in plain classical style.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47Berners was furious. Hence, the top 20 feet is in Gothic style,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50very different from the rest of it.
0:30:50 > 0:30:56'Time to take a look, but at 104 feet, it's a daunting climb up inside the tower.
0:30:56 > 0:31:02'Here in the Belvedere Room, Lord Berners would have entertained his high society guests,
0:31:02 > 0:31:08'but Mark and Karen plough on to the top and it's worth the effort
0:31:08 > 0:31:14- 'with panoramic views across five counties.'- Who did he get to build the tower?
0:31:14 > 0:31:20There is a myth that he had the tower built to give employment in the area during the Depression,
0:31:20 > 0:31:26but he only employed one extra labourer beyond his staff in the grounds and in his house,
0:31:26 > 0:31:31- with carpenters and builders already employed.- So everybody would have...
0:31:31 > 0:31:35- Everybody was doing their bit. - Incredible.- Amazing.
0:31:35 > 0:31:41'Hopefully, such fantastic views have inspired Mark and Karen to broaden their horizons
0:31:41 > 0:31:46'when it comes to choosing a home for the next stage of their lives.'
0:31:48 > 0:31:52It's very interesting showing them these properties.
0:31:52 > 0:31:58They don't want to downsize at all. "I want to downsize into a house with the same number of bedrooms."
0:31:58 > 0:32:04They don't really want to get rid of anything, but they do want to be closer to the river.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08For the Mystery House, we'll focus their minds entirely on the boat
0:32:08 > 0:32:13to make it clear what they're going to have to let go of.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20Our mystery property is a quick boat ride from the centre of Henley.
0:32:20 > 0:32:26Henley is a genteel town on the banks of the Thames, filled with well-preserved buildings
0:32:26 > 0:32:32and a thriving market. The perfect spot for our couple to moor up and soak up life on the river.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37Come in to the mystery garden.
0:32:37 > 0:32:38Wow.
0:32:38 > 0:32:43- Very wow.- We got a wow out of you! That's very good.- A big wow.
0:32:43 > 0:32:48You've got to remember, the mystery house is a mind experiment.
0:32:48 > 0:32:54What you really wanted was a place on the water with your own mooring.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58On the Thames Valley, that is extremely expensive,
0:32:58 > 0:33:05but the mystery house is just that. It is a place on the water with your own private mooring.
0:33:05 > 0:33:10How much do you want that? How important is that idea?
0:33:10 > 0:33:16- I'm very interested to see what you've got to show us. - That sound of the water.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19- Every morning...- Idyllic.
0:33:19 > 0:33:24- But obviously there are compromises. - OK.- The compromise is this.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26It's not all yours!
0:33:27 > 0:33:33This is an old mill house, again a conversion, done in '82.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36- It is a block of apartments. - OK.- OK.
0:33:36 > 0:33:41That's the thinking. Your apartment, however, is...
0:33:41 > 0:33:45- the only one with a balcony. - Ohh.
0:33:45 > 0:33:51- How do you feel about apartment living?- Never done it. Don't know anything about it.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55- But very interested to look inside. - Definitely.- Just to warn you,
0:33:55 > 0:33:58this would really be downsizing.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02- OK.- OK. - You've got to think, really,
0:34:02 > 0:34:06- no children.- OK! - Just the two of you.
0:34:06 > 0:34:11- No dog! - Your boat and the countryside.- OK.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15- It's just a mind experiment.- OK. - Let's go.
0:34:15 > 0:34:21'Mark and Karen don't seem daunted, but they can't stop looking at that view.
0:34:21 > 0:34:26'Let's take them behind the closed doors and see what they think.'
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Come on in.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37Oh, this is fabulous.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39- Very different.- Very different.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43I didn't know what to expect. This is good.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46- This is good.- It's lovely.
0:34:46 > 0:34:54- Open-plan living. - This is your main living space and your kitchen, next to it.
0:34:54 > 0:34:59- It's all about the view onto the river.- Yeah. And what was the mill for?
0:34:59 > 0:35:06- It was for milling flour.- OK. - Actually, it's a good question, because your balcony...
0:35:09 > 0:35:13- The view is amazing. - It's incredible.
0:35:13 > 0:35:18This used to be where they pulled up the corn.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22The whole apartment is really about the river.
0:35:22 > 0:35:27Looking out, wherever you sit, you can look out onto the Thames.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32The kitchen probably falls short of your dream kitchen.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34I think it's compact.
0:35:34 > 0:35:41What's nice is that it does flow very nicely into the rest of the space. That's a nice dining space.
0:35:41 > 0:35:48- It's not cramped. - No, it does work in the context of the layout of the room.
0:35:48 > 0:35:54- You've certainly given us the absolute perfect view.- Maybe we need to save and buy this as well!
0:35:54 > 0:35:57- Our weekend residence.- Absolutely.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01'Now we head upstairs to the master bedroom.'
0:36:02 > 0:36:08- This little crow's nest is your master suite.- Very cute. - Very compact again.
0:36:08 > 0:36:15These two cupboards are very deep. They go right to the end of the building, almost walk-in wardrobes.
0:36:15 > 0:36:21- More wardrobes there. - Lots of lovely light. Views of the hillside and trees.
0:36:21 > 0:36:26- Beautiful.- I like the staircase. - What's that room?- The en suite.
0:36:26 > 0:36:27Oh!
0:36:37 > 0:36:43Might need to do a bit of a refurb of the bathroom suite, but lovely views again.
0:36:43 > 0:36:49- Beautiful view.- Soak in the bath and hear the weir running. - Very peaceful.
0:36:50 > 0:36:56'We retrace our steps and head downstairs. Just off the living room is a modern shower room with WC
0:36:56 > 0:37:02'and two further bedrooms - one a single - and a small room currently set up as a study.
0:37:02 > 0:37:09'Time to head outside and take a punt on the price they'd pay for such a prime spot.'
0:37:11 > 0:37:12Well...
0:37:12 > 0:37:17Back outside with the view, the river, Henley, your private mooring.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21- And the dreaded price. - The dreaded price.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25I have no idea where to pitch in on this one.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28525.
0:37:32 > 0:37:33495?
0:37:33 > 0:37:38- Well, you're both wrong. - What, again?!- Yeah, right.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41It's actually on the market at 550.
0:37:41 > 0:37:47And it's dropped a colossal amount so the mind boggles to think what it was at the top of the market.
0:37:47 > 0:37:55But it's all about the location. I can't conceive of how much premium you have on having your own mooring.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00It is a beautiful view. That's unquestionable, but it...
0:38:00 > 0:38:06- I'd like to have that as my weekend residence. Unfortunately....- So would I!
0:38:06 > 0:38:11Why don't you walk around and think about this whole move?
0:38:11 > 0:38:15- This is an important move for you. - Yeah.- Compromises have to be made.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20Have a stroll around and I'll be sitting here by the waterside.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24Go explore. ..It's fascinating, you know.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28If they're really contemplating a big downsizing move,
0:38:28 > 0:38:35then thinking about a house that isn't for their two children is actually a really big issue.
0:38:35 > 0:38:43And this is not a bad starting point, but maybe they're not quite ready to downsize yet.
0:38:44 > 0:38:51This apartment in a Grade 2-listed mill conversion comes in under budget at £550,000
0:38:51 > 0:38:53and offers our couple:
0:39:04 > 0:39:08I don't think it's possible. It's far too small.
0:39:08 > 0:39:15- It doesn't fit our requirements at this time of life. - We can't create the dream.- Not yet.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Never mind.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22- Perhaps we'll have to tone down our expectations.- Seems that way.
0:39:22 > 0:39:30I couldn't fault the location. It's idyllic. It would make a wonderful weekend place to come
0:39:30 > 0:39:37and just spend time and chill out, but in terms of living, I don't think the accommodation is ideal for us.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40Maybe as a retirement home, but not just yet.
0:39:40 > 0:39:45It's difficult to get the property right and the location,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47but I will compromise.
0:39:47 > 0:39:52I have realised since we've been looking in the area,
0:39:52 > 0:39:58I don't have the amount of money that's necessary to tick all of our boxes, so we'll have to compromise.
0:39:58 > 0:40:03And I'm not sure which way we'll compromise.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07Will it be being near a river or...or the size of the house?
0:40:14 > 0:40:20'Karen and Mark's property tour of Oxfordshire is now over and there's plenty to think about.'
0:40:25 > 0:40:29Usually I'm pretty certain which house our buyers will go for,
0:40:29 > 0:40:35but with Mark and Karen I'm not quite so sure. They're turned out to be pretty dubious downsizers.
0:40:35 > 0:40:41They could go for the house with the most bedrooms after all. Let's find out.
0:40:43 > 0:40:48- Here you are! Relaxing after a hard day's property shopping.- We are.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53One more thing I need to ask you and that's your favourite property.
0:40:53 > 0:41:00Can you cast your minds back to that Cotswold-stone barn conversion? What were your thoughts about that?
0:41:00 > 0:41:04I loved that one. I could see me and Mark in there.
0:41:04 > 0:41:11It had that modern feel, which I liked, but it still had the old traditional barn look.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15I really liked that property. I loved the layout. Perfect kitchen.
0:41:15 > 0:41:20Nice-sized lounge, bedrooms good. Everything about it I liked.
0:41:20 > 0:41:27And yet you also liked the higgledy-piggledy conversion, a bit further out in Berkshire.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31I loved the quirkiness of it. The higgledy-piggledy look we liked.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35Yeah. So much character. The church doors as you go in.
0:41:35 > 0:41:42The multi-level rooms, but there were just too many rooms and too much cleaning for Karen.
0:41:42 > 0:41:49- She's talking about less cleaning. - And it was difficult cleaning because of the layout.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53At the other end of the scale, the apartment by the waterside.
0:41:53 > 0:42:01Location, view, absolutely perfect, but I think you've gone over the top with the downsizing on that.
0:42:03 > 0:42:08- It was just far too small for us. - What conclusions have you drawn about downsizing?
0:42:08 > 0:42:15It's something we have to do, but it's difficult with our lifestyle and all the people we have over
0:42:15 > 0:42:21and trying to imagine that lifestyle continuing in our new home. It's a hard one.
0:42:21 > 0:42:26- Have you decided which one you might proceed on?- The barn conversion.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30I'd like to take our daughters to look at it.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32And who knows?
0:42:32 > 0:42:35Who knows? Watch this space.
0:42:35 > 0:42:42- Agreed?- Very much so.- I'm so pleased. I'll look forward to seeing you putting along the Thames.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46- Thank you.- Thank you. - It's been really enjoyable.
0:42:51 > 0:42:58I'll be very interested to see whether they move with their daughters into a big house
0:42:58 > 0:43:04or they wait out the vagaries of the market and truly downsize a little further into the future.
0:43:04 > 0:43:10Decisions, decisions. I hope you decide to join us next time. See you then.
0:43:11 > 0:43:17If you'd like to escape to the country, too, and would like our help, please apply online:
0:43:30 > 0:43:34Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2009
0:43:35 > 0:43:37Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk