North Norfolk Escape to the Country

In 1933, one of the world's greatest scientists, Albert Einstein,

came to England to escape persecution from Germany

and Hitler's newly formed Third Reich.

But to which English county did he come and why?

Find out in just a moment.

In today's show, I'll be helping a couple of newlywed journalists

start the next chapter of their lives together in the country.

And we pull out all the stops with our early properties.

-I think this property has loads of character.

-It certainly does.

-We are quite excited at the moment.

-Are you?

-Yeah.

Then, our mystery home takes things to a new level.

-And this is your mystery house.

-Is it?

-Yep.

Today, I'm in Norfolk, in the seaside town of Cromer.

Now, in the early '30s, Albert Einstein was subject to death threats by the Nazis

and took refuge here after being helped across

the Channel by the MP

and anti-fascist campaigner Oliver Locker-Lampson.

With a bounty of 1,000 guineas on his head,

he sought sanctuary in a heavily guarded hut in nearby

Roughton Heath, just outside Cromer,

where he continued his scientific work

that was later used on the first nuclear bomb.

Now, just some weeks later, Einstein left Norfolk

for exile in America, never to return to Europe again.

As the fifth largest county in England, Norfolk makes up

the lion's share of the East Anglian region.

Much of its 90-mile coastline falls within designated

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

a prime example being Holkham Beach, celebrated for its pine woods

and swathes of sand dunes.

Along the coast, the independent shops and fine Georgian buildings

of Burnham Market make it

a popular choice with holidaymakers and homebuyers alike.

With 96% of Norfolk given over to farming, woodland, forestry

and protected sites, it's the perfect landscape

in which to seek out a rural bolthole.

The average price of a detached home in Norfolk is £214,000,

that's some £40,000 below the national average.

But move toward the North Norfolk coast

and the picture changes dramatically,

particularly in property hotspots like Blakeney and Burnham Market.

In these areas,

you can expect to pay at least double the county average.

Worth bearing in mind, as we take a look at what is

currently on the market.

Priced at £329,000,

this four-bedroom cottage in Thorpe Market combines light,

airy reception rooms with rustic beams and a wood burner.

The well-planned kitchen has a welcome farmhouse feel,

and outside, the grounds extend to just over half an acre.

£450,000 could buy you this beautiful

five-bedroom barn conversion in a rural setting just outside Dereham.

The sitting room features an inglenook fireplace

with exposed beam.

And the central island provides a great focal point

of the stunning bespoke kitchen.

All for a budget-topping £775,000, this barn conversion

in Burnham Overy serves up a very generous kitchen.

Along with a quirky snug on the mezzanine,

the four bedrooms also feature high-vaulted ceilings.

Outside, the private terrace leads

onto three acres of communal grounds.

Some stunning Norfolk properties there.

Let's meet today's buyers

and find out why they are ready to escape to the country.

Newlyweds Justine and Neil currently

live together in his house on the outskirts of Peterborough

with Justine's daughter and their two dogs.

Both journalists, they've always had a passion for all things rural.

So now, they've decided to take the plunge and find a country home

that gives them the lifestyle they've always dreamt of.

I think really, we both love the countryside, we've both been

involved in all sorts of aspects of things to do with the countryside.

Neil has worked on magazines to do with angling and golf

and I've worked on gardening magazines

and an equestrian magazine,

and our hearts really are in the countryside.

They've set their sights on North Norfolk,

having recently holidayed there,

and it gives Neil the chance to pursue a sport he loves.

I particularly like golf.

There are some great courses around Norfolk,

which is where we would like to go.

Yes, that's right. We both like gardens as well.

We like visiting gardens and we would quite like

to be in the countryside and have a nice country garden.

This may be the first home they are buying together,

but they are both united in what they're looking for.

In our new property, we'd like to have at least three bedrooms

and two bathrooms, a good-sized kitchen, maybe a kitchen-diner,

and we'd like a nice, sort of airy, open living space.

We both work from home,

so we'd like an office space if it's not a dedicated room.

I suppose, ideally, a utility area for the dogs going in and out

as well, because they get a bit muddy.

Although they are looking for character features like beams

and a wood burner, Neil has an aversion to thatch.

But outside space is important.

In respect to the garden, I would like a south-facing garden

so we could possibly grow vegetables and have flower borders as well.

And we can sit outside in the evening, yeah.

Sounds idyllic.

Only one more thing to nail down,

and that's how much they have to spend.

For our new property, we are looking to spend up to £425,000.

Having been to North Norfolk on holiday

and fallen head over heels in love with the place, Neil and Justine

are hoping to start a new life away from the urban sprawl

of Peterborough.

Now, many of us have probably considered the romantic idea

of moving somewhere we've been on holiday,

but how many of us have actually done it?

I just hope I can find a property for Neil

and Justine that matches up to that dream.

At our buyers' request,

we'll be focusing our house search

around the market town of Holt,

which is a part of North Norfolk

we know they love.

However, we may stray out of

this area in order to get them

the most we can for their budget.

We've lined up three gorgeous

properties to show them,

but as always,

I won't be revealing the price of each until they've had

a guess first.

The final option is, of course, our mystery house,

and I think it could be the last place they'd expect to find

their new home.

-Well, welcome to Norfolk.

-Thanks.

-Thank you, Nicki.

It's a little bit damp this morning, but it's not going to put us off.

-No.

-No.

-Hope not.

So, why is it you want to move to this part of the world?

Well, normally, it's not raining quite like this, I think.

We love the beautiful countryside, there is so much to see

and do around here.

And it's also within easy access of Norfolk, Norwich.

You can get to London, we can get to Peterborough,

where we're from. So, lots of good things about it.

Now, I know you're both very keen on North Norfolk,

but how wide are you prepared to go for this search?

Well, we do like...

As Justine said, we do like the coastline,

but we've found a few places around here

which we like as well, in terms of villages and towns.

-So, yeah, we could move a bit.

-A bit more inland, yes.

More towards Fakenham, or perhaps out towards King's Lynn.

There's no time like the present to find you the perfect property.

And, of course, we can't forget your lovely daughter and the dogs

as well that are coming too.

We're going to get you an amazing house, all for what price?

Remind me of our budget again.

-425.

-OK. Your house is on the market.

-Yes.

-You've accepted an offer?

-We've accepted an offer...

-Yes.

-..only in the last week.

-So we're in a great place, aren't we? Right.

Well, let's see what we can find you. Let's get started. Come on.

With their budget of £425,000,

Neil and Justine want a character home,

which features light, airy reception rooms,

a spacious kitchen-diner

with utility room and three bedrooms,

preferably with an en suite.

Crucially, they both need a home office,

which ideally would be self-contained.

Outside, they'd like a generous garden for the dogs

and space to grow veg.

And it all needs to be located

on the edge of a village.

We're getting our property search

started seven miles from the market town of Swaffham,

which is dotted with elegant Georgian buildings

and has, at its centre, a domed butter cross,

which is topped with a statue of the goddess Ceres,

particularly fitting for an area rooted in its farming heritage.

In the outlying hamlet of Pentney, our first property is also

a reminder of this area's agricultural past.

So, here is your first property.

-Wow.

-Gosh.

-It's very pretty, isn't it?

-It is, yes.

-Quite big as well.

-It is quite big, actually.

Bigger than I was expecting.

It's actually an old farmhouse. It dates back about 200 years.

So, as a setting, does this appeal?

Yeah, I like the garden. I think it's wonderful, isn't it?

There's plenty of room and there's a gate there to keep the dogs in.

-They'd love it around here.

-Yeah, they would.

-Good.

-All right, how keen are you to get started?

-Oh, yes, please.

-Come on.

'Let's hope we can build on their great first reactions

'as we explore inside.'

So, come on through.

Come on in, Justine.

So, this is like a little anti-room, if you like.

There's nothing little about it.

But through that door, you have a huge utility-cum-boot room.

-Brilliant.

-Which would be perfect for the dogs, with access as well.

-If ever you didn't want them in the main house...

-Great.

..you've got a huge space.

Although they tend to have their own ideas of not being

in the main house!

With the dogs sorted, we'll turn our attention to their living areas.

-It's certainly a spacious house.

-Gosh, this is lovely, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Look at the beautiful wood everywhere.

I like the stonework as well, which goes well with the wood.

Yeah. This is all cast stone, it's a local stone.

Some of it's exposed through the hallway when we came through.

-Oh, yes.

-Just past the downstairs cloakroom.

I think this property has loads of character.

It certainly does. We're quite excited.

-Are you?

-Yeah, yeah.

Those proportions and character feel continue in the kitchen.

Gosh!

-I like gosh.

-Good.

-It's beautiful, isn't it?

-It is.

-Yes, yes.

I don't think a kitchen can ever be too big, in all honesty.

-No, it's a good size.

-It's a fantastic size.

-And, ideally, you wanted somewhere where you could dine as well.

-Yes.

You can certainly fit a table in here, can't you?

Look at the views. They are wonderful, aren't they?

Now, I have to tell you this.

The owner has spotted 120 different varieties of birds

from the kitchen window.

-Oh, my goodness!

-So much so, he tends to hover in here.

And look out the window all the time.

Tucked away off the kitchen, there's also a fantastic walk-in

pantry, as well as another grand reception room for entertaining.

-Fancy some formal dining?

-Wow, that is formal dining, isn't it?

-It's beautiful.

-And a wood-burning stove, look at that.

Multi-fuel, so wood... If you've had enough of wood, you can have coal.

-Right.

-The biggest beam you've ever seen.

-I mean, just look at that flint wall.

-That is stunning, isn't it?

It looks like a Norman wall there, doesn't it?

-You could be in Norman times.

-You could be in a castle.

-Yeah.

But it is done in a modern way, I think, as well.

It seems to be totally natural, doesn't it?

-It feels like a home, doesn't it?

-Yes.

-That's what I think.

It's charming, it's got lots of character,

but it also feels like a home.

It also gives them plenty of space to work,

as behind the dining room,

there's a large dedicated office and separate studio.

Our period farmhouse seems to have wowed them

with its downstairs living areas and character,

but can upstairs match up?

Well, we're about to find out, as off the landing

are all four bedrooms, with the first stop being the master.

-It's beautiful in light, isn't it?

-It is.

-I don't think I have shown you a small room.

-No, it is huge!

-It's huge.

-It's a lovely size, isn't it?

You get all your wardrobes and things in here.

So, plenty of space. However, if you have got lots of clothes

-and possessions...

-Yes!

-I love your honesty.

-..there's a huge dressing room just through that door.

-Wow.

However, the family bathroom is only next-door.

If you wanted to convert that and make it an en suite,

all the plumbing is on that side of the house.

-Good.

-It would be quite easily done.

-Yeah.

The other three bedrooms are all large enough to be doubles

and make use of the light, spacious family bathroom.

Overall, the house definitely seems to have worked its magic.

But we know these two are very keen gardeners,

so I am hoping what's on offer outside won't disappoint.

You've got about two thirds of an acre.

You've got a double garage or carport with storage at the side

and you've got a greenhouse and an additional outbuilding at the back.

Gosh, that's huge!

Which, you might have to look at planning permission,

but you could actually have an office at the end of the garden.

-Brilliant.

-Overlooking these fields.

We couldn't get more into the country than this.

No, it is the country dream, isn't it?

It is the country dream. Let's hope we continue on that high note,

because we are going to have to talk about money.

-Who wants to guess the price first?

-You want to go first?

-OK.

Our budget is 425, so I'm really hoping it is 425 and not above that,

although, I mean, it's a brilliant house, so it might well be.

-What do you think?

-I would have to go higher than that.

I think I would go...£450,000.

The current asking price... Neil, you're on the money - £450,000.

I've spoken to the owner, they would be happy to negotiate.

-That's exciting.

-That is exciting, yes.

Who wants to have another look around?

-Oh, yes, please.

-Go on, then. Explore, take your time.

Mind the chickens.

Well, what can I say? Such a fantastic start,

but it really is the most splendid property.

Priced at £450,000,

but with properties currently selling

an average of 8% below the asking price across England,

this home would definitely be within reach for Neil and Justine's

top budget of £425,000.

It has two large reception rooms with character fireplaces,

four bedrooms with the option to create a master en suite,

a home office for him and her

and it's all wrapped up in a generous

two thirds of an acre of garden

set in open countryside.

I was quite impressed with the land that it had in front

and the size of the property.

I thought all the rooms were of a really good size.

And the quality of the finishes, I think it's fantastic.

I was actually blown away by the whole thing.

I just really liked it.

When we opened the door, I thought, "Wow, this could be really amazing."

Then, as we went through the house, it was really amazing, actually.

We're very excited,

we're just trying to figure out if we could actually buy it.

So, you know, let's see. Let's see what the other properties are like.

What a great start. They loved it.

-Happy, you two?

-Yes, very.

-Good.

Guess what? That's only the first property we've got to show you.

-Great.

-Come on.

The North Norfolk remote coastline of salt marshes

and award-winning beaches have been a popular destination

for tourists since the 19th century.

From 1887 to 1924,

passengers and freight were transported

by the North Norfolk railway.

And these days, you can still travel by steam train

and make a ten mile round-trip between Sheringham and Holt.

Lying four miles inland,

the Georgian market town of Holt is a particular favourite of Justine

and Neil, who have also spent many a happy holiday here.

A 20-minute drive further down the Norfolk coast

are the private gardens of East Ruston Old Vicarage,

which Justine, as a green-fingered enthusiast,

visited several years ago.

She was keen to see how they'd changed,

so we arranged for them to meet the owner, Alan Gray,

who has torn up the rulebook on how to create an English country garden.

Welcome to my garden on the windy but wonderful coast of Norfolk.

Now, this is a desert.

You can do this if you are really mad.

-What do you think?

-It's amazing.

How did you manage to find the place and come here?

It must be a long story.

Well, I think gardening was in my genes.

Graham, my partner, and I bought this house in 1973.

This particular area we're standing on we didn't buy until 22 years ago.

This is part of the...

It's one of the first pieces of garden

we developed when we acquired an extra parcel of land.

The first thing we did is, we got into JCB.

The thing about a desert is it's not really a garden, it's a landscape.

You can manipulate.

I think that's my favourite word, manipulation,

because you manipulate the landscape,

you manipulate the garden to do what you want it to do.

You have visited this garden before, I believe.

-Yes, that's right.

-You remember the exotic garden?

I'd love to see it again, certainly. I'm sure I will when I get there.

-It's moved on a bit since you last saw it, so let's have a look.

-OK.

Ten years after his spade first went in the ground,

Alan's exotic garden is now a mature and lush oasis.

Have you got any particular favourite plants in this garden?

One of the plants I like particularly is behind the fountain.

-It's called Tetrapanax papyrifera rex.

-I'm glad you said that!

Don't worry if you can't remember,

because all you need to remember are two simple words, T Rex.

Would it be difficult to achieve an exotic look

like this in my own garden at home?

Well, I think the thing to do is to start with foliage.

You need big leaves. Palms, for instance, Trachycarpus fortunei.

-Bamboos for that wonderful, sort of, movement.

-Beautiful, wispy.

-Yes.

Absolutely. All those things add up to an exotic feeling.

-Put them all together and what have you got?

-An exotic garden.

Alan's constant drive for new projects has led him

to start work on his Diamond Jubilee Walled Garden,

which he plans to fill with fruit trees.

The late maverick garden writer Christopher Lloyd

coined the term "unstoppable gardeners,"

and it's clear to see that Alan is one of them.

Armed with inspiration for their own garden,

hopefully, our newlyweds will soon be able to enjoy

the fruits of their house hunting labours here in Norfolk.

As our property search continues,

we get to grips with the question of who wants what.

My question to you is, are we going to have perfect harmony

with this search?

Slightly different opinions of what you both like, because, Neil,

you don't like thatch, do you?

No, I don't, and I don't really know the reason why.

There's something about a thatch cottage.

Although they look picture postcard, I think it's something I don't like.

-But, Justine, you like them, don't you?

-Well, I quite like them.

They can be a bit dark inside maybe,

but they look beautiful on the outside

-and it is the quintessential English countryside, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-We do tend to agree on most things, though, don't we?

-We do.

But if it comes down to it, I'm the boss. So we know who wins.

Yes, we do.

Well, that's told Neil,

as we head near to the market town of East Dereham.

Today, Georgian and Victorian

architecture defines its centre,

as the town's older buildings were destroyed by fires in the 16th

and 17th centuries, although its church survived.

Our second property, in the outlying village of Brisley,

has a thatched roof made of local Norfolk reed

which, despite the rain, hopefully won't prove a turn-off for Neil.

So, you two, to our second property.

I know you didn't want a thatch, ideally.

Justine, you were quite up for a thatch, though.

Yes, I don't mind so much,

but I know Neil is looking at the roof going, "Oh."

-I'm intrigued to see what's inside.

-Good. Come on then.

On that note, let's go in the dry.

Well, fingers crossed we can make Neil happy inside.

So, this property flows round

and we're actually going to start in the sitting room.

-OK. Gorgeous fireplace, isn't it? Really stunning focal point.

-Yeah.

-The actual fireplace, the surround is Georgian.

-Right.

-Yeah, they got that from a local hotel.

-Oh, did they?

-Yeah.

-So, it doesn't feel like a thatch inside, does it?

-No, no.

-No, it doesn't. No, it definitely doesn't.

-I've been won over.

That's good. It's only the first room.

That didn't take long, did it?

And the second reception room builds on that Georgian style grandeur.

So, here is your dining area.

Again, the way that it has been laid out is very formal,

beautifully done.

-Stunning, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Good size.

-Classical.

-It is a good size.

-Look at the room itself.

-Yes.

And two windows either side, which brings in lots of light.

-Check out that view.

-Oh, look, there is a little bridge, how lovely.

-Your own bridge.

-Yes, that's gorgeous.

-That's a lovely aspect.

-It's a gorgeous aspect, yes.

Although there is no separate study,

they could think about converting this room into an office snug.

But let's see what they make of the kitchen.

The kitchen is such an important room, and this

is very different from the rest of the house we've seen so far.

-It is, actually, isn't it?

-It looks modern.

-Yeah.

-More modern.

-It is.

-The kitchen has been redone.

-Right.

They had an extension done next door,

so you've got a very generous utility room.

That's lovely in there, isn't it? Lots of space.

-And I get thinking, the practicalities, the dogs.

-Yep.

You know, you've got a beautiful home.

Here, the dogs can roam free, you've got a boot room, perfect.

'The light, airy rooms downstairs seem to have measured up, so we'll

'head to the first floor,

'where there are three double bedrooms in total,'

with enough space for Justine's daughter and visiting guests.

There is also a good-sized bathroom that has light streaming in.

Time to check out where they would sleep.

So, good landing that leads you through, into the master.

Oh, this is a good size, isn't it?

Lots of cupboard space, which is always very useful.

Loads of cupboard space.

Two windows again, so the through light. That's really nice.

I'm amazed at the amount of light that's being thrown

into the house on a really dark and dismal day.

I am pleasantly surprised by it,

whereas I don't think you're as excited about it.

No, for me, it hasn't quite got the character

of the other place already.

So, despite the clean lines and great proportions

inside our modern cottage, Justine isn't

completely won over.

Maybe she'll warm to the lovely setting

and space on offer outside.

So, again, another substantial wraparound garden

-and then...

-Fields.

-We're definitely in the country, aren't we?

We are, there are some gorgeous views.

The bridge is really sweet.

-It is gorgeous and then you've got a little bit more garden there.

-Yes.

Well, you like the thatch, you're not giving too much away.

There are certainly points about this house that appeal.

Let's see if the price does. Who wants to go first?

-Shall I go first this time?

-Go on, then.

-I think it is on budget.

I would say £425,000.

I was going to say £430,000.

It's above that. You're the closest,

-but it is on the market for £445,000.

-Right.

-However, they are happy to negotiate.

-Right.

-OK.

-Thank you.

-See you in a little while.

It is the most magnificent cottage, pristine inside,

a fantastic garden, but is it their country retreat?

I'm not so sure.

Although over budget at £445,000,

they could make an offer that reflects the fact

they can move quickly.

Our cottage with a modern twist offers them

two good-sized reception rooms

with space for an office,

a kitchen-diner

with that handy utility room for the dogs.

Upstairs, they get the three bedrooms they asked for

and, along with a double garage,

the lovely gardens

reach to half an acre.

When we walked up to the door, I was shocked

it was a thatched house, cos I thought Neil was going to hate it.

When we got through the door and went into the living room,

it had a real wow factor. It was lovely and light and bright.

It's beautiful. It's such a beautiful house,

you have to give it some serious thought.

When I first saw the thatch roof, I thought, "Oh, my goodness,

"what have they brought me to?"

But once inside the property, I thought it was very,

very well decorated.

My main concern, I think, would be, could we put our own stamp on it?

-All right, you two, have you seen enough?

-Yes, thank you.

-Good.

-But have you enjoyed today?

-We've had a great day, haven't we?

I think we've seen two stunning houses and two different...

Two different houses. We've got a lot to think about tonight.

Good. All right, then, let's go.

As evening falls over the Norfolk skyline,

the first day of our house hunt draws to a close.

With £425,000 in their pocket,

newlywed journalists Neil and Justine want to escape

Peterborough to seek out a more leisurely lifestyle

in the North Norfolk countryside.

We've gone on a charm offensive with our properties so far,

and the farmhouse really seemed to light their fire.

But coming up, our mystery property confounds their expectations.

-We wouldn't probably have looked inside this place.

-No.

We'd think, "It looks amazing," but we wouldn't consider it for us.

And I take to the waves

and get close-up to Norfolk's native wildlife.

Yesterday, I thought, went rather well.

Now, the first house we showed Neil and Justine

got an amazing reaction.

So much so, I thought our search could be over.

The second property they saw, well, Neil has always had

reservations about thatch, but this house changed his mind.

In fact, I think he liked it more than Justine did.

Which leads us to our mystery house.

Now, after the success of yesterday, this house has a lot to deliver,

but it does give them character, quirkiness

and it's in a location they may not have considered for themselves.

Anything you're dying to see that you're really hoping

I'm taking you to?

-I'm not really...

-Sure.

..sure, really, what to expect,

but one of my other pet hates is a converted chapel or church.

So I probably think you might be

sneaking another one in there as well.

Well, Neil will have to wait and see.

However, there is good news for both of them

in that their favourite town

of Holt is just five miles from our mystery house,

which is situated in the village of Little Walsingham.

Along with the necessary amenities, it's stunning 16th

and 17th-century architecture harks back to the days

when this was a place of pilgrimage and housed a monastery and friary.

We know our house buyers love the countryside,

but with our mystery property, we are taking a gamble, putting them

right in the middle of the village, but I think it's well worth it.

And this is your mystery house.

-Is it?

-Yep. The whole thing.

-The whole thing? It's huge!

-Yep.

-It is huge, isn't it?

-My gosh!

-Late 16th century.

-Right.

-It is Grade-II listed.

-Is it?

-Yep.

-I'm not surprised.

Although it's got two front doors,

-it is actually...

-Oh, yes!

-..one property.

I quite like the beams at the top of the building.

-Tudor-looking, aren't they?

-Yeah, exposed. It gives it character.

'Well, they seem very taken with the exterior.

'Let's see what they make of the inside.'

Step inside a little piece of history.

-What a beautiful entrance hall.

-Have you noticed how high the beams are?

Yes.

So, it's thought that this was actually used for the public,

this house, it wasn't a private residence.

Normally, the beams would be a lot lower.

They don't know what it was used for, it could have been a shop

-or something like that around this time.

-OK, yes.

'And those high beams continue next door.'

If we come through into the drawing room... From the road,

this looks like a separate cottage, but this was one house.

In the Victorian times, they separated it into two.

And then it has been put back into its former glory.

I like the fireplace, again. Again, another wood-burning stove.

It's an inglenook. Yes, isn't it gorgeous?

Look, there is a little alcove there for your sofa

and lovely beams, again, in the ceiling.

'Let's see if they love the kitchen as much.'

And here is, I won't call it the modern extension, but it was done...

-Oh, I see.

-..in the Victorian times.

-Right.

So you've got a nice big kitchen here.

Just across the hallway is a utility room

-and you've got a downstairs shower room.

-Oh, good.

-That is good.

Before we move on, I've got to ask you,

have you ever considered living in a house this old?

-No. We wouldn't probably have looked inside this place.

-No.

We'd think, "It looks amazing," but we wouldn't have considered it.

-But now, we sort of are.

-Mmm.

-Yeah.

'Next door, a garden room gives them a third reception area.'

-I particularly love this room.

-It's beautiful, isn't it?

-Look how light it is.

-So, is it south-facing?

-Yep.

-That's south-facing. That's all your garden there.

-Wow!

-I'd love to use this as an office.

-Yes, that's an idea!

Work in here with the light.

I hadn't thought of the office, but it'd be lovely.

-Although it is really nice with a dining table in it as well.

-True.

Negotiations already.

The downstairs of our mystery house has lots of living areas

to play around with.

Upstairs, they won't need to scrimp on bedrooms either.

Come on through.

So, you've got four double bedrooms in total, this being the master.

Gosh, it's amazing, it's got little areas to it.

It's fantastic, isn't it?

-This one has the en suite.

-Brilliant.

-That's good, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Oh, I like this feature here.

-Yes, it's lovely, isn't it?

-It sort of separates off a space. This could be a dressing area.

-Yeah.

It's these beams which I absolutely love.

They do make the room, don't they?

With three other double bedrooms,

our mystery property gives one more than they asked for.

And down a few steps is a huge family bathroom.

Outside also gives them a range of outbuildings,

one of which houses a ready-made office.

The historic stonework used in the region is also an eye-catching

feature of the garden.

So, I can offer you your own walled garden.

That's beautiful, isn't it?

It's something I've always wanted because it's better,

more substantial than a rickety old fence.

-It is.

-For the dogs especially, to keep them in.

Yes. But it is also great for growing plants against.

It's very sheltered. You can grow fruit trees,

which we'd love to do.

But how much is our mystery house on the market for?

-Shall I go first?

-Yes.

But it's going to be a shot in the dark cos I've got no idea,

but I think it's above our budget. So I would say £460,000.

I'm going to say 445.

Oh! I was going to say you're the closest, but you are very close.

-The asking price is £450,000.

-Right.

I've spoken to the owner, they understand your budget is 425

and they are happy to have a conversation with you.

Right, excellent, OK. That's great.

-Do you want another look at it?

-Yes, we do.

-Brilliant, off you go.

-Thank you.

-See you later.

Although our mystery property

is over budget at £450,000,

the vendor is happy to discuss sensible offers.

It's a beautifully preserved local gem,

providing them with three reception rooms

and four bedrooms with a master en suite.

Outside, the outbuildings give them

that all-important office,

but it does throw down the gauntlet

of living right in the heart of

this historic village.

I was pleasantly surprised when we came up to the building.

It was an old property. I wasn't sure what to expect.

I was very surprised at how I reacted to this type of house

once I was inside.

And then going into the garden, very pleasantly surprised.

It certainly made me think about whether I could live

in a property like this.

I wasn't expecting to have a Tudor building.

It's not something we ever would have considered before.

Lots of room, lots of little nooks and crannies, lovely kitchen,

probably a room to put our own stamp on it.

I'm really confused now, because there's a couple

of properties that I've really loved and it needs quite a lot of thought,

I think, about what we're going to do next.

Well, that's given you something to think about, hasn't it?

-It certainly has.

-A pleasant surprise?

Yes, I think so, but it has got our minds whirring a bit.

Let's take you somewhere quiet,

you can gather your thoughts and then we'll have a chat.

-OK, thanks.

-Brilliant.

The North Norfolk coast is home to a scattering of quiet seaside

towns and historic little harbours, a fine example being Blakeney.

Beyond the salt marshes and mud creeks that lead out to sea

are the shores of Blakeney Point,

now a nature reserve famed for its vast seal colony.

Earlier in the week, I met up with Edward Stubbings

from the National Trust to take a closer look

at these fantastic creatures

and find out a little bit more about what draws them

to this protected part of Britain's coastline.

What am I going to see today?

There is the common seal and then there is the grey seal.

And you get them in this area all year round, or just certain times

of the year?

Yeah, generally speaking, all year round.

In the summer, you tend to get more common seals,

when they're breeding.

In the winter, you tend to get more grey seals, when they're breeding.

Why is that?

Um, well, the grey seals are a northern species

and common seals came up from the south.

So, there is something in that which gives them

completely different breeding biologies.

Taking one of the organised boat trips is the best way to ensure that

wildlife isn't disturbed, and also to see the seals right up close.

So, we've got a mixture up there of common and grey seals.

When you said I was going to be lucky and see some seals,

I didn't quite appreciate we'd see so many. Look at them!

Yeah, and so close-up as well.

-I mean...

-They're coming towards us.

We're not scaring them,

it seems, in any way.

They're inquisitive of the boat and the grey seals,

the young grey seals in particular, will come up close to the boat.

Look, he's coming over.

I can't contain my excitement, this is amazing.

You can see a couple of bull grey seals here,

the ones with the huge noses.

So, what sort of weight would the bull seals get up to?

I think they are over 300kg.

To spot the difference, grey seals have a straighter nose

and less rounded head than the common seal.

The name is misleading too, as among the 500 seals who

bask on these sandbanks, it is the grey seal that are more numerous.

As the boat turns, we catch sight of some youngsters.

Are they pups I can see?

Yeah, there's about three...

very small still common seal pups,

which will have been born

during the summer.

They tend to give birth to

their pups a little bit further out

towards the Wash over there.

The common seals can actually give birth into shallow water.

They're a bit more water-based, if you like, then the grey seals,

which need to come up onto dry land to give birth.

Time to leave these glorious seals and the beautiful

Norfolk coast behind, as we head inland to find out how we've got on.

What a fantastic boat trip!

To be able to get so close to those seals, a truly memorable experience.

So that's it, our house hunt here in Norfolk is over.

And by the sounds of it, our mystery property may have worked its magic

once again. Certainly, Justine and Neil seemed rather taken with it.

But how does that house compare to the two we showed them yesterday?

Let's find out.

Well, Neil and Justine,

being expert journalists writing about country issues

and lifestyles, do we get a good review?

That's my question. Us here, in Norfolk.

-Oh, I think you do. Definitely a bestseller.

-Yeah?

-Ten out of ten for me.

-Fantastic!

Let's start with our very first property.

From the outside, it had an amazing curbside appeal, I thought.

As soon as you walked through the gate,

it was just an amazing property, wasn't it?

Lots of character. Lots of character, wasn't there?

As soon as you walked in the door, the entranceway, you go,

"Oh, wow, this is amazing."

Big utility, big living room, the fireplaces, and I loved the kitchen.

-So, we really left that property on a high, didn't we?

-Yes.

All three of us were very excited about it.

So our second property, that was the thatch.

-It was cheeky.

-It was very, very cheeky.

So, yes, it was going to challenge me to like that from the outset,

but it was very picture postcard and it looked very inviting.

And the style really wasn't my own, and I hope that wasn't just

because of the decor.

I hope I could look past it, but I couldn't quite see myself there...

-No.

-..or us making our own sort of mark on it.

Although it is very beautiful,

it didn't have the character that you both craved.

-So we took you to our mystery house.

-Yes.

That was a bit of a shock, wasn't it?

My concern was, before he went in, was that it's dark and cold,

some things we don't want.

But when we went inside,

they disappeared straightaway, those fears.

I think it's got a warm feeling to it, and it is light and airy

in places, isn't it?

-The living room is fantastic. It's so cosy and warm.

-It was.

-And it had a studio outside.

-That was fantastic.

Having the office outside, to be able to shut the door, go back in

your house, just a few steps away, that's surely everybody's dream.

-It is. So the first house you'll buy together is the next one.

-Yes.

Is it one of our three? That's what I want to find out.

Well, we've got a bit of a surprise for you, actually.

-We're going to see house number one on our way home tonight.

-Fantastic!

I think we're very excited

and a little emotional about the whole thing.

-Yes.

-And that number one property just did it for us.

-It blew us away.

-Yes, it did.

Thanks very much for finding it and taking us on this wonderful

-journey. It's been a remarkable year for us, hasn't it?

-Yes.

Here I am getting emotional again.

-Oh, that's nice, though. Emotional in a good way.

-Yes.

Oh, my goodness, I so hope you get it.

Well, I won't say congratulations yet,

but we will be keeping our fingers crossed.

And if we have found you the house of your dreams, well,

the best news ever.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Thank you, Nicki.

Well, that sounds like success.

Having decided to move to North Norfolk only a few months ago,

after having an amazing holiday here, according to Neil and Justine,

we may have found them their first future home together.

Now, the property they fell in love with had the perfect blend

of character and warmth, surrounded by beautiful countryside.

Surely the perfect setting for two journalists working from home?

We wish them both all the best.

See you next time.

Neil and Justine did make an offer on our first property,

which happily was accepted.

So, fingers crossed, they should be moving in the near future.

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