0:00:02 > 0:00:06These 16th century ruins are the childhood home and birthplace of England's shortest-reigning monarch,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09who only survived nine days in the job.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Who were they, and where did they live? Find out in just a moment.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32'It's a back-to-nature venture for today's house-buying duo.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36'And there are some pleasant surprises both inside the properties...'
0:00:36 > 0:00:39- I've lived in smaller houses than this bathroom.- That's true.- Yeah.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42'..and more to amaze outside, too.'
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Oh, this is brilliant. It's absolutely fabulous.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Today we're in Leicestershire and these are the ruins of Bradgate House,
0:00:52 > 0:00:54the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57otherwise known as the Nine-Day Queen.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Her accession to the throne in 1553
0:00:59 > 0:01:04was the result of noblemen supporting the Protestant cause.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09But it didn't last very long, because of an upswing of support for the Catholic Mary Tudor,
0:01:09 > 0:01:13who had Jane's head cut off, aged just 17.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17Bradgate House and its estates stayed with the Grey family until the 1920s,
0:01:17 > 0:01:21when it was turned into a country park, the largest in Leicestershire
0:01:21 > 0:01:24and one of the county's crowning glories.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29'Lying in central England, the landlocked county of Leicestershire
0:01:29 > 0:01:31'is sandwiched by seven other counties,
0:01:31 > 0:01:35'bordering Nottinghamshire to the north, Northamptonshire to the south,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38'and the compact county of Rutland to the east.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44'One of the highest points in the county is Beacon Hill.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47'Down in the valley, the River Soar is the county's main waterway,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51'which winds through the lush scenery past pretty villages
0:01:51 > 0:01:55'that make the perfect escape for those seeking a rural dream.'
0:01:56 > 0:02:00So which of these areas are going to appeal to our buyers today? Let's meet them.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07'Prompted by the prospect of a job relocation,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10'lifelong Reading resident and firefighter Stefan,
0:02:10 > 0:02:14'along with his wife Ruth, are completely sold on rural life
0:02:14 > 0:02:19'after a year's dry run renting a cottage in an East Berkshire village.'
0:02:19 > 0:02:23We decided to do a little experiment and to dip our toe in the water, so to speak,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25and try out the countryside for size
0:02:25 > 0:02:31before we invested in, you know, a property properly in the countryside.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35We have loved it and, you know, we don't want to go back to Reading now.
0:02:35 > 0:02:42- We do want to move on and try and get our own place somewhere. - Put down some permanent roots.- Yeah.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44'The main motivation for this move
0:02:44 > 0:02:49'is the desire to give their children a closer affinity with the natural world.'
0:02:49 > 0:02:52We've got two children. Olly's eight and Jessica's five.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54They're particularly excited about moving to the country,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58somewhere where they can have a treehouse in the garden.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02'They are also hoping this move out to the east of the country
0:03:02 > 0:03:06'will provide lots of new recreational opportunities.'
0:03:06 > 0:03:08As a family, we're all keen cyclists.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11I love to be out on my bikes
0:03:11 > 0:03:14and a large proportion of my money is spent on
0:03:14 > 0:03:16acquiring or maintaining the bikes.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19And the roads up there and the rolling hills and the countryside,
0:03:19 > 0:03:24I just thought I could spend hours out here on these roads and be perfectly happy.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27'And they want that rural freedom right on their doorstep.'
0:03:27 > 0:03:31It's really important that we find somewhere where we can walk out of our house
0:03:31 > 0:03:34and find some woods where we can take our children
0:03:34 > 0:03:35and just let them play.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38'Top priority may be the outdoors,
0:03:38 > 0:03:42'but they do have a couple of considerations for the bricks and mortar, too.'
0:03:42 > 0:03:48For this house that we're looking for, we want it to be the house that the children grow up in.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Whether it be a period property or a more modern build,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54we don't really mind.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58'Their central Reading house is currently on the market,
0:03:58 > 0:04:00'so all that remains is to figure out their finances.'
0:04:00 > 0:04:05The budget for this move is £375,000.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11'Ruth and Stef's son is soon to start studying music at school in Cambridgeshire,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14'so good access by car is essential.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18'So we'll be focusing our house search on the lovely villages in the east of Leicestershire.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23'And we're meeting up in the county to find out more about their family's impending move.'
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Hello, guys. Welcome to Leicestershire.
0:04:25 > 0:04:31- It's a bit rainy outside so I thought we'd meet inside to spare our clothes.- We appreciate that.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36- So, why Leicestershire? Why are you moving here? - Well, I've got myself a new job
0:04:36 > 0:04:38working for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41So now we're going to move up and experience life in Leicestershire.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46In terms of the house itself, what are you looking for? What's the spec for the building?
0:04:46 > 0:04:49First of all, we'd like it to have four bedrooms.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51If we were to find the perfect house with three bedrooms,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55I think that it wouldn't matter too much as long as there was a reception room downstairs,
0:04:55 > 0:05:00perhaps a study or something, that we could actually give over to our guests to have their own space.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05What about the location? Are you looking to be out in the sticks or more in the centre of a village?
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Mainly we drive to school.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10We have to drive to the shops to pick up our essentials.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13If we could avoid doing that then that would be great.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17And if we could combine that with rural living or village life
0:05:17 > 0:05:20- then that would be perfect. - What about the money side of things?
0:05:20 > 0:05:23How's the house sale in Reading going?
0:05:23 > 0:05:28- Well, that's sold...- Oh. - ..as of relatively recently and that sale is progressing through now.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33Well, good, I think that's all the relevant facts. We have three lovely houses.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36And it is a beautiful part of the countryside. Much underrated, I think.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38- I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of them.- Great.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44'I'm glad Stef and Ruth have managed to up their spend a bit, as every penny counts.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48'So, for a revised budget of £380,000,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52'they're after a house with its own unique personality,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54'that has the potential for four bedrooms
0:05:54 > 0:05:58'and a secure garden with enough space for a treehouse.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02'Lastly, they'd like to be within walking distance of essential amenities
0:06:02 > 0:06:05'as well as a good primary school.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10'Rather unusually, our buyers haven't got an exacting list of house requirements.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13'So we've chosen a varied range of beautiful property styles,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16'at least one of which, I hope, will meet the mark.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20'But as always, the price will be a guessing game.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23'Then, to top things off, we've got the mystery property,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26'which will pit house against garden.'
0:06:29 > 0:06:32'We're kicking off the house search in the village of Hallaton,
0:06:32 > 0:06:36'which is about an hour and 15 minutes' drive from Cambridge.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39'Surrounded by gorgeous countryside in the Welland Valley,
0:06:39 > 0:06:43'Hallaton lies in the midst of beautiful walking and cycling territory.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48'This is a much sought-after place to live with a small, well-regarded primary school.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52'Much of the attractive architecture is constructed from ironstone and limestone
0:06:52 > 0:06:56'quarried in this eastern part of this county.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59'And our first property is a Grade II listed cottage
0:06:59 > 0:07:02'right in the centre of the village.'
0:07:02 > 0:07:06- Very nice.- So, several things you'll have noticed.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08It's attached, it's part of a terrace.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10- But it's a Georgian terrace.- Right.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14From the 1790s. I think it's a beautiful property.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16- First impressions?- Well, it's clearly a terraced property,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19which is something that we've not considered.
0:07:19 > 0:07:25- So I'll be intrigued to see if inside it gives us the space that we want.- Mm-hm.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30Looking in through the window, it looks really, really lovely. I can't wait to get inside.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35- I am worried that there might not be a garden. It might be a courtyard. - Let's hope. Let's look inside.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39'This is a beautifully appointed and deceptively spacious cottage,
0:07:39 > 0:07:43'with more than enough room for a baby grand piano in the entrance hall.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48'That's got to be an immediate plus point for Stef and Ruth's musically-minded son.'
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Come into the sitting room.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54You get a feel for the period of the property,
0:07:54 > 0:07:56cos this is a lovely Georgian space.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00It's really nice. Very light.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03- Yes, I'm loving the big window. That's a fantastic view.- Yeah.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06It's got the lovely Georgian casement windows,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08a nice little sort of butler's cupboard.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11I could definitely see us sitting here as a family
0:08:11 > 0:08:14and feeling really quite chilled, cos the view's just really nice.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- Well, the kitchen area is a bit more modern.- OK.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24It'll be interesting to see what you think about this.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28- Wow!- Oh, wow! Oh, this is huge.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30- Yeah. So there's a bit more space here.- Yes.- Yeah.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32I love the window seat.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34That's something I had when I was a little girl
0:08:34 > 0:08:36and I'd love to have that again.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39'I believe that's a thumbs up for downstairs,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43'which also houses a huge shower room with enough space to hide away all the white goods.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47'Upstairs there's another smart and stylish bathroom,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50'this time with a roll-top bath, which serves all of the bedrooms.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53'But we have just three to choose from here,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55'one of which is a petite single room.'
0:08:55 > 0:08:59This is the biggest room, the master bedroom.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02You've got lovely light from the north and the south.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05And you can see the rafters of the original cottage.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07- There's some history in those rafters.- Definitely.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Where are we going to put the children? Let's have a look.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18So, the other side of the landing, we have got this room.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19Another good-size room.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23- It's beautiful.- I love this room and I love the master bedroom.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26I think they're fantastic rooms, big windows,
0:09:26 > 0:09:30lovely views out over the village and the countryside.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32If we had one child, it would be very, very easy.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36With two children and visitors, it's becoming a little bit more complicated.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41'We've hit a potentially thorny issue with the lack of bedroom space upstairs.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45'But I think I've got just the thing to win them back over outside.
0:09:46 > 0:09:47SHE LAUGHS
0:09:47 > 0:09:51- It's lovely, it's like a little surprise. - It's a complete secret.- Wow!
0:09:51 > 0:09:55- And there's your tree for your treehouse.- Perfect.- Yay!
0:09:55 > 0:09:59It's awesome. It's a really lovely surprise.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01It is a proper secret garden.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- I can imagine our...- I know a girl who would love it.- Very much.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07- Particularly the blossom.- Yeah, she'd stand under that and dance.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10I can tell you now, she'd be so thrilled with that.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- Aw! That is lovely to hear.- Yeah.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Let's talk money. How much do you think this is on the market for?
0:10:15 > 0:10:22- I'm thinking...about 375. - I'm going to go for 380.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Well, you should listen to your wife, because she's exactly right.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29It is on the market for £375,000.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36'Just under their top budget, the first in our selection
0:10:36 > 0:10:41'is a late 18th-century terraced home at the hub of a lively village.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45'The property comes with a huge open-plan kitchen and family room,
0:10:45 > 0:10:49'three bedrooms and a secure secret garden.'
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Good thoughts?
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- We really like it. - Ah, that's what we like to hear.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56But we do have another house lined up. Follow me.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06'A high concentration of the Leicestershire landscape
0:11:06 > 0:11:10'is dedicated to farmland, and in the northern portion of the county,
0:11:10 > 0:11:14'the small town of Melton Mowbray has completely turned around its fortunes
0:11:14 > 0:11:19'by capitalising on its food-producing heritage.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23'Today I'm meeting Melton councillor and champion for the town Matthew O'Callaghan.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Matthew, we're sitting in a very bustling Melton now,
0:11:27 > 0:11:30but let's spin back the clock. What was this like back in the '90s?
0:11:30 > 0:11:31Going through a rough time.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35About '97, we'd got the Asfordby mine closed,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37we'd got the army depot closed,
0:11:37 > 0:11:42and we'd also had the effects of mad cow disease on the cattle market and the agricultural infrastructure.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44What did the town decide to do?
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Myself and a group of other people decided we'd have to do something about it.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51And we looked at what could we do as a town and what's unique about the town?
0:11:51 > 0:11:53And, of course, it's our food heritage.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56It's Stilton cheese, it's Melton Mowbray pork pies.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00We decided to focus on that and use that to regenerate the town.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03'The first step of Melton's food resurrection
0:12:03 > 0:12:08'was a campaign to protect and preserve the town's world-famous pork pies.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11'Produced here since the 18th century,
0:12:11 > 0:12:15'in 2009, the pies were granted protected geographical status,
0:12:15 > 0:12:19'meaning only those made locally can bear the name Melton Mowbray.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26'Our next destination takes us further north into the county
0:12:26 > 0:12:28'to the village of Goadby Marwood.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31'Just a few miles from the Vale of Belvoir,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34'Goadby Marwood is a quiet rural village.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37'Much of the architecture here is built from locally-mined ironstone,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41'including buildings that date back to the early 1600s.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45'But parts of the local church have origins in the 13th century.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49'And the second house is in the middle of the village,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51'just off a quiet no-through road.'
0:12:51 > 0:12:56Round the post, here we have house number two.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- Wow.- Very cute.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03- It is!- So we're getting slightly more detached as we go along.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05- SHE LAUGHS - Semidetached.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10- Clear on one side. - Originally it would've been two little cottages from the 1850s.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15It's been extensively expanded, but it's the lovely ironstone that's so common to this part of the world.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- I love the colour of the stone. It really is pretty.- Yes.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Yeah. I'm liking the fact that it's got a garage,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- it's got off-road parking. - Yes.- Plenty of space.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26- It's a nice property. Let's look inside.- OK!
0:13:28 > 0:13:31'Now, our first property earlier today, beautiful though it was,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34'seemed to lack the sleeping quarters our buyers desired.
0:13:34 > 0:13:39'So with this second house, we're giving them more options in an altogether different design.'
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Come on in. Straight into the living space.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47- Oh, yes!- This is lovely!- It is!
0:13:47 > 0:13:51- It is, it's lovely! - It is a much more kind of open-plan...- It is.- Uh-huh.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54I'm loving the brick there. I really like that.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- That would've been the outside wall of the original cottage.- Yeah.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00- You get the sunlight in these big, lovely bow windows.- Yes.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04- Shall we move on through into the kitchen and have a look?- Sure.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10It's a much more modern space than the last house.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12There's lots of cupboards in here.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17I like the window, as well, that you can see through and watch the children while you're cooking dinner.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- And I like the stable door. - Yes, nice to have a stable door.
0:14:20 > 0:14:25- And also, this is east-facing, so you get the morning sunshine. - Oh, nice.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29- They've got two kids, as well, so they eat most of their meals in here.- I like that.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- Shall we go and have a look at the other rooms?- Yes!- Definitely.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35'There are four rooms in total down on the ground floor,
0:14:35 > 0:14:39'including a separate dining room and one more reception
0:14:39 > 0:14:42'that's currently designated as a play room.'
0:14:42 > 0:14:44I just wanted to show you this little room quickly,
0:14:44 > 0:14:49because I think this might be a good fourth bedroom.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51- Guest room?- Yeah.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- No, I see where you're going with that.- Mm.
0:14:54 > 0:14:59Then when the guests aren't here, it's a nice little play room for the kids. Fantastic.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01- It's a super space.- It is.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03- Let's peek at the bedrooms.- OK.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08'Upstairs, alongside a four-piece family bathroom,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11'lie the remaining bedrooms, and there are three to choose from.
0:15:11 > 0:15:16As I mentioned, three bedrooms upstairs, but these ones are all a good size.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- This is the master.- It's lovely.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- Lots of light.- Built-in storage.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25- Yeah, that's fab. Lots of it.- Yeah.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- The nice thing about this property is there are lots of nooks and crannies.- Indeed.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- Lots of outbuildings. So let's go outside.- OK.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37'Outside, the detached single garage we saw earlier has been divided up
0:15:37 > 0:15:41'into useful storage space and a fully-kitted office.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45'Then the enclosed garden is mainly laid to lawn,
0:15:45 > 0:15:47'bordered by mature shrubs.'
0:15:47 > 0:15:52- So what do you think of this garden? - I love the magnolia bush.
0:15:52 > 0:15:57Jessica and I have promised each other that's something we're going to do together in our next house,
0:15:57 > 0:16:01to plant one, but there's one already here, so that was the first thing that attracted my attention.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03- So you have to buy the house now! - THEY LAUGH
0:16:03 > 0:16:05It's a sign!
0:16:05 > 0:16:09So now you've got an overview of the property, what do you think is the price tag?
0:16:09 > 0:16:11I'm jumping in at 360.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14- Can I fix you to a figure?- OK. 365.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17- 365. 360.- 360.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19You're both completely wrong.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22This is on the market for 295.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- Wow!- Oh, my word! You're joking!
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- That's a lovely house for that amount.- I'm genuinely gobsmacked.
0:16:29 > 0:16:30Yeah. Really lovely.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35'A sizable £85,000 under budget
0:16:35 > 0:16:38'with a guide price of £295,000,
0:16:38 > 0:16:42'our second property is an extended semidetached cottage
0:16:42 > 0:16:44'dating back to the 1850s.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46'It has three reception rooms,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49'a large kitchen/diner, three bedrooms
0:16:49 > 0:16:52'and a well-maintained, enclosed garden.'
0:16:55 > 0:16:58So, if you pull the door behind you, because we are done for the day.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02- Yay!- Both properties inspected. Time for rest and relaxation.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16The weather gods are smiling on us here in Leicestershire
0:17:16 > 0:17:19for our Mystery House tour with Stef and Ruth.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23I think they liked the properties yesterday but they might have been a little bit small
0:17:23 > 0:17:26in terms of giving them the bedrooms and the garden that they wanted.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31So the Mystery House. Usually mystery houses give them something they don't really ask for,
0:17:31 > 0:17:36something unusual. In this instance, the Mystery House is actually giving them everything on their wish list
0:17:36 > 0:17:39but in a very quirky way. Best if you have a look.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46'Our final property stop is back down to southern Leicestershire
0:17:46 > 0:17:49'where we're heading for Dunton Bassett.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53'A small, rural village surrounded by beautiful countryside,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56'residents of Dunton Bassett benefit from a couple of pubs,
0:17:56 > 0:18:00'a newsagent with post office and a good primary school.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05- Which one is it? Which one is it? - I have no idea!
0:18:05 > 0:18:10Here we have it. So, this is an unusual property because, as you can see, it's a courtyard property.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13But the one I want to show you is the king of them,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15the original farmhouse, this one in the corner.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18- Wow.- All of it.- What, all of it?
0:18:18 > 0:18:22- All of it.- Wow. - Goodness. That is huge.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24We wanted to give you all the space you need.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28- OK.- What are your thoughts about it? - That is massive, isn't it?
0:18:28 > 0:18:31- Fantastic. I think it looks amazing. - I can't wait to look inside.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34I'm looking forward to showing you. Come on.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37'To access the Mystery House, we're going round to the front door.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40'Right in the heart of the village, this is a Grade II listed farmhouse
0:18:40 > 0:18:43'with roots in the mid-16th century.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46'But it's had a thoroughly modern makeover.'
0:18:46 > 0:18:52- Come into... - Oh, my word! Can you get in?
0:18:52 > 0:18:56- ..this amazing kitchen/dining room. - Oh, my word!
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- Wow.- It's incredible. - I nearly cried then.- Ohh!
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- That's amazing! - Go on, give me some tears.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05- That is unbelievable! What do you think?- Yes, it's fantastic.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09And then this room is really interesting, cos this is the oldest part of the house,
0:19:09 > 0:19:13- it would've been the old farmhouse. - Wow.- Back to the 16th century.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17You've got the original cross beam, which would've probably come from a ship.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21And they've stripped it back and turned it into a lovely dining room.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25- It's amazing. You've pulled it out of the bag.- Just gorgeous.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Well, it's a big house, so I'll let you explore later, but let's go and look at the oldest part.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35That probably would've been, I'm not sure, the dairy or something.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39But this was obviously the kitchen, because you've got this great big old range,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42and then a bread oven in this part here.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45It's a fantastic room.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48- There's some history in here.- It's got loads of character, this room.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55'Beyond this study, the garage has been turned into a gym.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58'Then beyond that is the utility and storage room.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03'The layout of this property takes the shape of an L,
0:20:03 > 0:20:07'with the converted garage and utility to the far side of one wing.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10'But we're going to make our way back through the dining room and kitchen
0:20:10 > 0:20:13'towards the entrance hall and over to the other wing,
0:20:13 > 0:20:17'where there are another two reception rooms.'
0:20:17 > 0:20:20I guess this is the posh wing,
0:20:20 > 0:20:22cos it's got carpet.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27That's lovely. Really, really tranquil.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- It is.- Beautifully done. - It is, beautiful.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33You have not one but two sitting rooms.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- It could be your summer sitting room and your winter sitting room.- Good!
0:20:36 > 0:20:41One of the reasons we've brought you here was because we haven't really managed to give you the bedrooms
0:20:41 > 0:20:44in the other properties. But in this one,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46oh, boy, have we given you bedrooms!
0:20:49 > 0:20:54'The stairs back in the hallway lead up to the bounty of bedrooms.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57'In the more modern part, above the sitting rooms,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00'there's a family bathroom and three bedrooms,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02'all of which are really generously sized,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05'with plenty of space to accommodate Ruth and Stef's two children
0:21:05 > 0:21:09'as well as visiting family and friends.
0:21:09 > 0:21:14'And that just leaves the far wing, all of which has been dedicated to the master suite.'
0:21:14 > 0:21:19Mind your head. But I wanted to show you this room to see your reaction.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- Wow!- Wow!- That's amazing!
0:21:22 > 0:21:26- This is a room and a half. - And it really is a master bedroom.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28It's beautiful.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32- Big and spacious and very light. - Yes.- Yeah!- Definitely.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36- That's great.- Does it fit the bill? - Without a doubt.- Yeah!
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I'd feel like I was living in a luxury hotel every night coming in here.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43One disappointment is that the en suite's a bit small.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46I'm sensing sarcasm.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53- Oh, my gosh! It just gets better! - Oh, my word!
0:21:53 > 0:21:56THEY LAUGH
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Wow. Oh, this is amazing!
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- I've lived in smaller houses than this bathroom.- It's true, isn't it?
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Definitely, yes. Let's go outside.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08- You can explore upstairs later on. After you.- OK.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13'There's no doubt that the house itself more than meets our buyers' criteria,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17'but the compromise of this mystery package is outside in the garden,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20'which is the smallest of all our three properties.'
0:22:21 > 0:22:26What do you think about having a garden of this size, and it's obviously a bit exposed.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29- Yeah.- To be honest...
0:22:30 > 0:22:33..we like the house so much that it actually didn't become an issue.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36It's a nice, manageable space.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Well, it's a big property. What do you think it's on the market for?
0:22:39 > 0:22:42I think it might be a little over our budget.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Erm, perhaps around 389.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49- Right. - Well, I'm going to go a bit lower,
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- so I'm going to go in at 369.- 369.
0:22:52 > 0:22:59Well... you were right in the sense that the property is over-budget.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03So brace yourself. It's on the market for £400,000.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07But don't despair, because we've been talking to the owners and they are open to negotiation.
0:23:07 > 0:23:13- They could possibly come down to 380. But there is nothing you'd need to do to this house.- No.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17'On the market for £400,000,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20'the listed mystery property may be over-budget,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23'but it's also overflowing with features
0:23:23 > 0:23:25'that include a large farmhouse kitchen,
0:23:25 > 0:23:29'through to a separate dining room, a further three reception rooms,
0:23:29 > 0:23:31'and four spacious bedrooms,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34'one of which is a rather sumptuous master en suite.'
0:23:36 > 0:23:38OK, guys, that's all the properties seen.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Time for us to gather our thoughts.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59- Long day.- Mm.
0:23:59 > 0:24:04Let's talk about the properties. I got the impression that the Mystery House was a bit of a winner.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07- Is that fair to say? - I think you might be right.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09- Definitely.- Good, good.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14But I was a little bit unsure about who might be a contender out of the other two.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Any clues about that?
0:24:17 > 0:24:21I think the house that we saw second,
0:24:21 > 0:24:25I think we've discounted that one because it's too far for Ruth to travel.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29- Does that mean house number one was a contender? - Downstairs was fantastic
0:24:29 > 0:24:34and we really liked it, but the problem with the third bedroom being so tiny,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37it is surmountable, but...
0:24:38 > 0:24:43..we're just not sure whether or not we, you know, we may have liked another house more.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Hm. So clearly you're referring to the Mystery House there.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51What is the situation with what happens next?
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Can you proceed? Would you put an offer in?
0:24:54 > 0:24:57- Yes, we'd like to go back and visit again.- Without a doubt.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Go back, have a look, maybe take the kids so they can have a look.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02They're very good judges of a house
0:25:02 > 0:25:06and they'll quickly identify which bedroom they want, although it won't be very difficult.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09That would make us very happy if they feel comfortable in there.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Yeah. And possibly make an offer after a second visit.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16- So were you excited enough that you thought, "Oh, I can imagine living here?"- Definitely.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21Well, I know that time is pressing. Your job starts soon and your house is sold.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24It's lovely that we found one that really struck a chord.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28- We appreciate your help.- We do. Thank you.- Best of luck!- Thank you.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Well, it looks like our Mystery House may be a winner,
0:25:34 > 0:25:39though I think that Olly and Jessica will have a very important deciding vote to cast.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44They're the part of the house-buying process we haven't been privy to.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Still, I think our work here in Leicestershire may be done.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Join us next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56'On reflection, Stef and Ruth decided that the garden of the Mystery House wasn't ideal for them.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00'So the search for their perfect Leicestershire home continues.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04'If you'd like to escape to the country in Northern Ireland,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07'Scotland, Wales or England and you need our help,
0:26:07 > 0:26:09'why not apply online at:'