0:00:02 > 0:00:05This magnificent house was the childhood home of one young lady
0:00:05 > 0:00:08who had the misfortune of marrying King Henry VIII.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Find out which of his six wives grew up here in a few moments.
0:00:28 > 0:00:33'Today, we help a London couple escape the noise and pollution of the Big Smoke
0:00:33 > 0:00:38'for the fresh air and quiet of the countryside, and it's not all plain sailing.'
0:00:38 > 0:00:44- This doesn't feel like a home. - Right.- It feels like a house. - It feels like a show home.- Yeah.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47'But finally, we come up trumps.'
0:00:47 > 0:00:49- Ohh!- Oh, wow!
0:00:49 > 0:00:53That is really pretty. Super-gorgeous.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Today, I'm in Kent and this is Hever Castle
0:00:59 > 0:01:03where Anne Boleyn was lucky enough to spend her early years
0:01:03 > 0:01:07before losing her head as the second wife of Henry VIII.
0:01:07 > 0:01:12Four centuries on, the American entrepreneur William Waldorf Astor bought this house
0:01:12 > 0:01:14and upsized it in every way.
0:01:14 > 0:01:20He employed over 700 craftsmen to build a whole new Tudor-style wing.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25Later on in the show, I'll be taking a closer look at this lavish restoration,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29just one of the great treasures this county is home to.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34In the south-east corner of Britain, tucked between London and the English Channel,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Kent is thought to be the oldest county in England.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42Celebrated for its rich farmland and fruit orchards, it's also known for its brewing industry
0:01:42 > 0:01:48where hops were once dried in distinctive, conical-shaped oast houses that still dot the landscape.
0:01:48 > 0:01:55Gentle, rolling hills, downland and wooded valleys sit alongside the county's architectural heritage
0:01:55 > 0:01:58with historic towns like Royal Tunbridge Wells
0:01:58 > 0:02:02which developed as a spa resort over 400 years ago.
0:02:02 > 0:02:08Sitting on the nation's front line, Kent boasts more than 18 spectacular castles,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12including Sissinghurst with its world-famous garden.
0:02:12 > 0:02:18And while the excellent transport routes into London make Kent prime commuter territory,
0:02:18 > 0:02:20it does inflate property prices.
0:02:21 > 0:02:27You'll find the average detached home here costs £316,000.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30That's around 60,000 above the national figure.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Places that command a premium include sought-after villages
0:02:34 > 0:02:40like Chiddingstone, Ightham and Fordcombe in the north and north-west of the county.
0:02:40 > 0:02:46However, if you travel east towards the peaceful pockets around Maidstone and Canterbury,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48you'll get more home for your money,
0:02:48 > 0:02:53so let's meet today's buyers and find out why they're drawn to Kent.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Married for five years, Dan and Celia currently live
0:02:56 > 0:03:00in a rented, three-bedroom house in Greenwich, south-east London,
0:03:00 > 0:03:07but now, disenchanted with city living, they want a country home in which to raise their young family.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11It is extremely built-up. We're overlooked by a massive tower block.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15We've got a bit of a walk to get to any green space at all.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18It would be nice to leave behind the concrete jungle
0:03:18 > 0:03:23and move somewhere where there's a bit more fresh air and a bit more space.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27And also not hearing police sirens would be really nice, all the time.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30But yeah, it's time to just move on and move out.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35Having enjoyed a rural childhood themselves, Celia and Dan are keen
0:03:35 > 0:03:41that their three-year-old son Ned and six-month-old daughter Clem have the same opportunities.
0:03:41 > 0:03:48In the countryside, kids have more freedom. I spent my summers building dams in streams and climbing trees.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53I have this vision that they can get on their bikes and cycle round to people's houses
0:03:53 > 0:03:57which I wouldn't feel comfortable them doing in a busy town like Greenwich.
0:03:57 > 0:04:03With doctor Celia working in central London and dentist Dan on the south-east edge of the capital,
0:04:03 > 0:04:09they want to keep commuting time to a minimum, but still enjoy all the elements of a country life.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13I'd like to move into a village and be part of a smaller community.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Greenwich is a nice community, but it's a very big community.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22It would be nice to live somewhere a bit smaller. I'd like the children to go to a local school.
0:04:22 > 0:04:29As a keen cyclist, Dan is looking forward to having a choice of scenic routes right on his doorstep.
0:04:29 > 0:04:35I spend a good hour, hour and a half to get to the countryside when we go riding or running,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38so it would be nice to already be there.
0:04:38 > 0:04:44The family plan to spend as much time as possible indulging their passion for the great outdoors.
0:04:44 > 0:04:50We're quite into camping and we've got our van. We haven't been getting to the country as much as we'd like.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I've checked out some campsites around Kent
0:04:53 > 0:04:58and hopefully, we'll instil a love of the countryside in the kids while they're so little.
0:04:58 > 0:05:04But as well as the space of the open countryside, Dan and Celia are looking for a house big enough
0:05:04 > 0:05:08for their two small children and Dan's 11-year-old daughter Megan.
0:05:08 > 0:05:14It would be nice to have a five-bedroom house because when Megan stays with us at the weekends,
0:05:14 > 0:05:20she ends up staying on a blow-up bed in Clem's room, so it would be nice for her to have her own room.
0:05:20 > 0:05:26We're bursting out at the seams. We haven't got room to store Dan's bike stuff and our ski stuff and whatever.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30I'm really looking forward to moving somewhere where we have a garage,
0:05:30 > 0:05:36where these umpteen bikes can be stored and not cluttering up my hallway and my kitchen.
0:05:36 > 0:05:42This will be the first property Dan and Celia are buying together and they have to make the right choice.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47We do plan on just moving once and then staying there, hopefully, for a long time,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50so it will change our life in a massive way.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54It will be very exciting and nice to have a place that's actually ours.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59It's a major decision, so what have they set aside for their dream home?
0:05:59 > 0:06:04Top end of the budget to spend probably would be between £850,000 to £900,000.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05Yeah!
0:06:05 > 0:06:11'Dan and Celia are interested in the area close to the market town of Tonbridge,
0:06:11 > 0:06:16'four miles north of Tunbridge Wells and around 30 miles south-east of London.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21'I'm meeting them in situ to find out just what kind of property they have in mind.'
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Dan and Celia, welcome to Kent.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28- Thank you.- This is an important purchase for you two. Tell us more.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32This will be the first house we've bought together, so it's exciting.
0:06:32 > 0:06:38So, what's important for you both? Is it the house, is it the location?
0:06:38 > 0:06:43- What's the priority?- I think in terms of our quality of life, probably it's the location.
0:06:43 > 0:06:49We want a decent school for the kids to go to. We want both of us to not have a horrible commute to work.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54Tell us a little bit about the home you're looking for in your eyes.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Ideally, detached, olde-worlde, a little bit quirky.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02We'd like five bedrooms because we've got three children
0:07:02 > 0:07:08and it would be nice to have some space for people to visit and so on, and, if possible, a play room.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Remind us how much we've got to spend.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15- We are lucky enough to have a budget of £850,000.- OK.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Is there any flexibility on that or is that the limit?
0:07:18 > 0:07:23I suppose for the perfect house we would be able to go up to about £900,000.
0:07:23 > 0:07:29- We've got three properties lined up to show you in this beautiful county. Shall we get started?- Yeah.
0:07:33 > 0:07:39With a generous budget of up to £900,000, our buyers are looking for a detached character property.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58We've found three contrasting properties to tempt them with.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02At each one, I'll ask them to guess the price before I reveal it.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04The last is the mystery house
0:08:04 > 0:08:08which, whilst straying from the wish list, might just bowl them over.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13So, it's time to head to our first property.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19- As we're driving around, it's hard to believe we're not that far from the city.- I know.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24It's extraordinary that within an hour of where we live, you can be in such a rural place
0:08:24 > 0:08:29with almost unmade-up roads and so much beautiful countryside. I've been really surprised.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34- And plenty of paths to cycle and walk and run for you, Dan. - Yeah, very much so.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39Out in the country, obviously, there's less cars, less traffic.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44- It's a lot nicer for someone on a bike to be just riding around. - Less pollution.
0:08:44 > 0:08:50'We're testing Dan and Celia with our first property which is on the edge of Tonbidge.
0:08:50 > 0:08:56'It offers the convenience they're after, though will it give them enough of that country feel?
0:08:56 > 0:09:02'Built around the River Medway with over 150 listed buildings, including its very own castle,
0:09:02 > 0:09:08'Tonbridge offers excellent primary schools and all the shops and amenities our buyers need.
0:09:08 > 0:09:14'With great train and road connections into London, they could be at work in less than an hour.'
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- So, here is...- Oh, wow! - ..our first property.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21- Very nice.- Lovely.- Beautiful. - It looks stunning, doesn't it?
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Is this what you had in mind when you thought of moving?
0:09:24 > 0:09:30It's perhaps a little more urban than we'd expected, but there are benefits to being on the edge of a town.
0:09:30 > 0:09:35When the children get older, they can walk places. We won't have to drive them everywhere.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38- There's pros and cons to it. - Something to weigh up.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40- Shall we start the tour?- Yeah.
0:09:41 > 0:09:48'Built in 1957, this house has been extended and the space provides a substantial family home.'
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Gosh, it's lovely and light!
0:09:54 > 0:09:59- Plenty of windows which is great. - Yeah.- Wow, I love the fireplace!
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Different from where you are at the moment?
0:10:02 > 0:10:05You could fit our whole house in this...
0:10:05 > 0:10:10- Every room is going to be spacious for you two. How lovely!- I know.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- It seems very grown-up to have a house this big.- Yeah.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16- Shall we continue to the kitchen? - Yeah.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24- So, you've got the kitchen here. - Mm-hm.- So, long and thin.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28But it leads into a separate area with informal dining at the end.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Yeah, that's really nice to have space for a family kitchen table.
0:10:32 > 0:10:39This is where the original house ended, so you could look at opening that out a little bit more.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42Wow, that would be a big space if this was all opened out!
0:10:42 > 0:10:46And there's another room through here which I've got an idea for.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51It makes a great office.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54But what about if you took away that wall
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- and opened it all out?- Yeah.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00- That would be lovely. - Amazing for the children.- Yeah.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04You can keep an eye on them. They've got access to the garden.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09- But what a great area and it's away from the rest of the house. - It would be so big.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14I have this vision of a great, big kitchen table everyone can sit around. That would be really nice.
0:11:14 > 0:11:20- I think it would transform the downstairs if you could open it up.- Absolutely.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24And just behind us, you've actually got a dining area, a separate room.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29People of our generation are less likely to use a formal dining room and are more likely
0:11:29 > 0:11:35to entertain friends on the side of the kitchen, so you could put the kids' stuff in there.
0:11:35 > 0:11:41That could be the children's play room. We've got it sorted! Now we'll go upstairs and see the bedrooms.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46'Upstairs are three good-sized rooms, all with built-in cupboards,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49'a light, spacious double and a family bathroom,
0:11:49 > 0:11:52'plus there's an impressive master suite.'
0:11:52 > 0:11:55So, lots of bedrooms with this property.
0:11:55 > 0:12:01- How do you fancy having your own en-suite?- Yeah. Are we allowed to have a little look?- Go on.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Oh, right. It goes on.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Wow! Dressing room and bathroom.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07- It's huge.- Terrific.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11'Dan and Celia seem happy with the room inside the house.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16'There's also a basement with a games room and a large wine cellar.
0:12:16 > 0:12:22'I hope the garden won't disappoint. There's a large patio and lawn with mature trees and shrubs,
0:12:22 > 0:12:27'plus two garages to accommodate their camper van and Dan's bikes.'
0:12:27 > 0:12:31You've got a beautifully presented, mature garden.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36It's not overlooked at all, which, considering there are other houses around, is really nice.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40- It's a decent-sized plot. - And you've got the front garden.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44It's plenty big enough for the kids to have a game of football, so that's fine.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48So, who wants to go first with "guess the price"?
0:12:48 > 0:12:53About eight hundred and twenty...five thousand pounds.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58I've had a look at some of the houses that you can walk into Tonbridge from round here.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01You've done a lot more research. That's unfair.
0:13:01 > 0:13:07I think it would be quite a lot more than that with this amount of garden and in such good condition.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10I'd say we're looking at more like 875.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15I'm sorry to tell you that one of you is wrong and one of you is bang on the money.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Eight hundred and seventy-five thousand pounds.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23Do you fancy having another look around? With that price in mind,
0:13:23 > 0:13:29- take a long look at that property, all the rooms, what adjustments you can make. Off you go. Enjoy.- Thanks.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36At £875,000, this house is under their maximum budget.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52- I reckon we could shut Ned in here with the ping-pong table.- Definitely.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55It would keep him occupied for hours.
0:13:55 > 0:14:01From my point of view, this house has given me massive food for thought.
0:14:01 > 0:14:07For it to be in our style, in our taste, we'd have to do some re-modelling, re-decorating.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10It's less rural than what we'd been thinking about,
0:14:10 > 0:14:15but I can see all the merits of actually living here close to Tonbridge,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18close to train lines and so on.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- Are you happy? Have you seen enough?- Yeah, very much so.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27- That's our first house done. Shall we get moving now?- Yeah.- Come on.
0:14:27 > 0:14:33Kent's ancient woodland covers more area than nearly any other county in England
0:14:33 > 0:14:36and provides a rich habitat for wildlife.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41Dan and Celia are looking forward to exploring the woods as a family once they move here.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46We thought they would enjoy learning some new bush skills to try out with the children.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51We sent them to woodland near the town of Tenterden in the Kentish Weald
0:14:51 > 0:14:54to meet expert woodsman and bushcraft leader Phil Brown.
0:14:54 > 0:15:01- Hiya.- Hi.- I'm Phil.- Hi, I'm Dan. - Nice to meet you.- This is Celia. - Nice to meet you.- Good to meet you.
0:15:01 > 0:15:07- I'll show you some bushcraft and survival skills today. Do you have children?- Yeah, three.
0:15:07 > 0:15:13- Fantastic. Hopefully, you can take those skills forward with your kids and have fun outdoors.- Excellent.
0:15:13 > 0:15:19Dan and Celia are already keen campers, but Phil is going to teach them how to build a shelter,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22using the natural materials all around them in the woods.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26We've got the ridge pole here and two forked sticks.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31What we're going to do is we're going to put the base of the ridge pole
0:15:31 > 0:15:34up against this big oak tree which isn't going to move,
0:15:34 > 0:15:39just making sure that these...interlock.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42That is how we're going to make our shelter.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47- We're going to lean pieces of wood all the way down this, OK?- Mm-hm.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51If you guys want to start looking around, seeing what you can find...
0:15:51 > 0:15:55Along with oak trees, the main species in this part of the woods is hornbeam.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00Used for the hammers on piano keys and the teeth on water-mills and windmills,
0:16:00 > 0:16:04it's particularly strong and ideal for building a sturdy shelter.
0:16:04 > 0:16:09- You can do one side. I'll do the other.- We'll see which one leaks!
0:16:13 > 0:16:16That's looking really, really good.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Come on, Celia. Your side's looking poor.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32I'm absolutely amazed by how this is looking even after, what, 10, 15 minutes.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37- You've slept a night in one of these things?- Yeah, they're great.
0:16:37 > 0:16:43I've tried them various seasons. One time I'd been out for a week, hadn't shaved and I had a bit of stubble.
0:16:43 > 0:16:49- I woke up in the morning and I had slugs squashed into my beard. - Eugh!- Eugh!- Yeah, fond memories(!)
0:16:55 > 0:16:58This is looking really good now, guys.
0:16:58 > 0:17:04For the thatching, this is what will take the time, a bit of energy and you will get a bit dirty.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08What we're going to do is we're going to scrape up the leaves around us.
0:17:08 > 0:17:13This is where the work begins. You've had it easy up until now.
0:17:13 > 0:17:19The leaves are packed tight over the frame to form a thatched roof on the shelter, making it watertight.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33What do you think, Phil?
0:17:33 > 0:17:37- It's great. Good effort.- We've definitely learned something today.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42- And got a bit dirty. - A bit.- Fantastic. - Got my countryside hands on.- Yeah.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Now they've learned how to make a temporary shelter,
0:17:45 > 0:17:50it's time to get on with the hunt for Dan and Celia's permanent home in the country.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55Our second house is located in the village of Chart Sutton,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58around 13 miles east of Tonbridge.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Staplehurst, three miles south of the property,
0:18:01 > 0:18:06offers a good selection of local shops, some traditional pubs and a library,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10plus the all-important main-line rail service into London.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Let me show you our second property.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18- Wow!- Wow!
0:18:18 > 0:18:23- OK...- It's beautiful.- That is... - Two "wows". That rates highly.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29The house itself is about 100 years old. It was extended about 30, 35 years ago.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- Are you eager to step inside? - Yes, absolutely.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36'This may look like a classic character property,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39'but the interior is quite a surprise.'
0:18:40 > 0:18:45So, it's not quite the cottage it looks from the outside, is it?
0:18:45 > 0:18:47It's enormous.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49It's huge.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52- Surprised?- It's a bit mind-boggling.
0:18:52 > 0:18:57- It looks really small from the outside and in here it's a bit like a Tardis.- Yeah.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02Everywhere downstairs has got under-floor heating with its own thermostat.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06As big a sitting room as you could possibly want,
0:19:06 > 0:19:12then through that door is a media room. That's how they use it when the grandchildren come to stay.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- But it could be the children's play area.- Brilliant.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17How do you feel as you walk in?
0:19:17 > 0:19:22I'm a bit...mind-blown, to be honest. I didn't expect it to be a big room like this.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26From the outside, I thought it would be lots of small compartments.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30- Do you want to see the next bit, the kitchen?- Yeah.- Absolutely.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35And if you like a lot of space in your kitchen...
0:19:36 > 0:19:41- Mm-hm.- It's taken your breath away, hasn't it?- It's enormous.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44- This all looks brand-new. - It is, actually.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49It's been here a year and a half, so you've got granite work surfaces all the way round,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52a huge island in the middle,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55two ovens at the end, so much storage space.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Yeah, it's a lot smarter than any kitchen I've ever had.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Yeah, it's quite sort of, um... grown-up.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07- Is it too much for you? - I think it is too much. I'll be honest with you.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Is it too sort of smart, do you think? Is it too smart for your...?
0:20:11 > 0:20:18It's not to my taste, but if it's only a year old, I wouldn't dream of changing it. Do you know what I mean?
0:20:18 > 0:20:22I think my problem is that this doesn't feel like a home.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- It feels like a house. - It feels like a show home.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27We'll continue upstairs now.
0:20:30 > 0:20:36'Leading off the generous living room is a conservatory overlooking the garden and the open countryside,
0:20:36 > 0:20:42'but despite all the space, it seems Dan and Celia can't imagine themselves in this property.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45'Maybe they'll be more taken with the upstairs.'
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Now, before we look at bedrooms,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50I have to show you this.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52- Wow!- Step inside.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56It is the most amazing shower, power shower, jets everywhere.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- It's a double shower.- It's got room for two.- We'll not go into that!
0:21:00 > 0:21:05- You have a bath, a jacuzzi.- You could have the whole family in there.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08I'll bring you back to reality and show you the bedrooms now.
0:21:12 > 0:21:18So, we have a very light and spacious master bedroom with en-suite.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24- Plenty of space.- Loads of light. - This has got a lot of light and beautiful views.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Yeah, really nice to have a kind of...two-aspect views.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32And high ceilings. It doesn't feel cottagey inside. It feels big.
0:21:32 > 0:21:38And this is the old part of the property. So, you've got five bedrooms in total - one single,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41- four doubles, two of those are en-suite.- Right, OK.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- When your guests come to stay... - They'll be very happy.
0:21:45 > 0:21:51- Then you've got your family bathroom as well. How would you feel waking up with that view?- Extremely lucky.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55- And the children as well... - Yeah, it's an idyllic spot.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59Let's head outside. I've got some out-buildings to point out to you
0:21:59 > 0:22:02and also we are going to have to discuss money.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13So, the total outside space, it is pretty impressive.
0:22:13 > 0:22:19You've got an out-building there. A bit of work has been done on it. Piping and everything's in there.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Next door to that you've got a sauna and a hot-tub.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26A huge garage, a carport. Then we start on the land.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31In total, there's four acres, including the footprint of the property.
0:22:31 > 0:22:37So, if you follow the conifer trees down, past the gee-gee in a field,
0:22:37 > 0:22:41all the way up, right to the back, then it comes all the way round here
0:22:41 > 0:22:45and you've got the play area right at the back for the children.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47- It's a big chunk of England.- It is.
0:22:47 > 0:22:53- Shall we walk round to the front of the property and talk about money? - Yeah.- Come on.
0:22:54 > 0:23:00'Having guessed the exact price of the last house, can Celia do it again?'
0:23:02 > 0:23:08- We're at the front of the property. It looks attractive, doesn't it?- Very attractive.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13I really like the Kentish clapboard. We've seen a lot of these houses. They're really pretty.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17Celia, I think it's your turn to go first, isn't it?
0:23:17 > 0:23:22Well, it's a big house. It's been newly done up and it's got masses of land.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25I can't imagine all that will come very cheap.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27I'll have another stab at 875.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Right. How about you, Dan? Guess the price.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34- I think very similar, very similar. - You can agree.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36But I would say slightly cheaper,
0:23:36 > 0:23:40maybe 860?
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Right. Interesting.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47- The asking price is £850,000. - Oh, right, OK.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50- Surprised?- Yeah.- Yeah. - Definitely surprised.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55- Have a second look around. I'll meet you out the back door in true country style.- Lovely.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57- Thanks.- See you when you're ready.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01On the market for £850,000,
0:24:01 > 0:24:06this modernised period property is well under Dan and Celia's maximum budget.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22I love the location, I love all this land.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26It really feels like you're in the country which is what we're after,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29but I'm a bit less enamoured on the inside.
0:24:29 > 0:24:36I like old properties because they have old, quirky features inside and this has been stripped bare of those
0:24:36 > 0:24:41and done to a very, very high standard, but not to my taste
0:24:41 > 0:24:45and you can't really replace those old features once they've gone.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49This house is a paradox.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51It's beautiful on the outside
0:24:51 > 0:24:54and olde-worlde, 100 years old on the outside,
0:24:54 > 0:24:58but when you walk in on the inside, it just feels like a new build,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02so, to make it feel olde-worlde and 100 years old in the inside
0:25:02 > 0:25:05would be a lot of work.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14- Happy, you two?- Mm-hm.- Thank you. - What a glorious end to our day!
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Sun shining, in the countryside...
0:25:16 > 0:25:20It's gorgeous. It certainly feels a million miles from London.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25- Yeah. We've given you some thinking to do with these properties. - You have, yeah.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40'It's the second day of our house-hunt in Kent with London couple, Dan and Celia.
0:25:40 > 0:25:46'They have a generous budget of up to £900,000 to spend on a rural family home.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50'Coming up, it seems it's love at first sight at our mystery house.'
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- That is absolutely beautiful. - Wow! Unbelievable.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58'And I visit historic Hever Castle where Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII did their courting.'
0:25:58 > 0:26:00That is what I call a view!
0:26:03 > 0:26:09Yesterday, we showed Dan and Celia a country home on the edge of their preferred location of Tonbridge
0:26:09 > 0:26:12with all the convenience close to hand.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Our second property, the cottage, it had had an extensive makeover,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19but was surrounded by rolling countryside.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23And it seemed to me the couple were in a real quandary.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27Do they want the convenience of being on the doorstep of a major town
0:26:27 > 0:26:30versus the country, rural idyll?
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Today, we're going to show them a mystery house
0:26:33 > 0:26:37that is a beautiful home right next to a stunning village with a school,
0:26:37 > 0:26:42but it's in a part of the county they've never considered before.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Let's see how we get on.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49'We're taking a risk with our mystery house, travelling around 30 miles south-east of Tonbridge
0:26:49 > 0:26:56'where you get more property for your pound, but it's a longer commute to their work in London.
0:26:56 > 0:27:01'However, this property has real period charm and I think it could be made for them.'
0:27:01 > 0:27:07- Have you thought about what we might be taking you to see?- I have, but I'm really quite nervous.
0:27:07 > 0:27:12I'm really nervous. It could be...a more extreme version of either two of the houses.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19I'd like to think it's the good bits of both of them.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22What would be your worst nightmare?
0:27:23 > 0:27:25- A new build on an estate.- Yeah.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36'Our third and final property is just outside the small village of Mersham.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39'There's a church, a couple of pubs and village shops here,
0:27:39 > 0:27:45'but although the road connections are good, it would mean a longer drive to work for Dan
0:27:45 > 0:27:50'and Celia would have to travel three miles to Ashford to catch the train to London.'
0:27:50 > 0:27:55Education, how important is it, on a scale of one to ten, for your little ones?
0:27:55 > 0:27:57In the top two, definitely.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01- This could be your local village school.- It's lovely.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06It got a good ranking from Ofsted last year. It's got about 200 pupils.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11So, if you buy the mystery house, this could be their local primary school.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14- Are you ready for our mystery house? - Absolutely.- Come on.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21'This timber-framed manor house is Grade II listed
0:28:21 > 0:28:24'and is thought to date back to the 16th century.'
0:28:24 > 0:28:27So, I'm bringing you to see our final property.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32I know this is a very important move. It's the first time you'll have bought a house together.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36You want this to be your home for the next 20 or 30 years.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40Dan and Celia, this is your mystery house. Take a look.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44- Oh!- Oh, wow!
0:28:44 > 0:28:46That is really pretty.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48Oh, wow, that is beautiful!
0:28:48 > 0:28:51Super... Super-gorgeous.
0:28:51 > 0:28:56- Shall we start the grand tour? - Yes, let's.- Very much so.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04So, I have to say "welcome".
0:29:05 > 0:29:07Wow!
0:29:07 > 0:29:10- Wow!- That's absolutely beautiful. - It's unbelievable.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13- It's hard to believe this is a home.- Yeah.
0:29:13 > 0:29:19- How keen are you to get started? - Desperate.- Shall we start with the kitchen?- Yeah.- Kitchen first.
0:29:22 > 0:29:28- You might have a period house, but you've got a fantastic modern kitchen.- Wow!
0:29:28 > 0:29:32- But done in such a nice style. It really fits with the feel of the house.- It does.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36It's lovely. I love the big, open range at the end.
0:29:36 > 0:29:41- Would you change anything here? - No, not at all.- I'd be very happy for this to be my kitchen.
0:29:41 > 0:29:46- You could walk straight into this. - Yeah.- This is absolutely beautiful.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50- We've surprised you, haven't we? - I'm a bit blown away, yeah. It's really nice.
0:29:50 > 0:29:56It's not often you get to see the inside of a house like this, let alone being told you could own it.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58It could be your future home.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02- Dan, if you want to lead through, we'll keep going.- Mind your head.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07Oh, wow!
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Look at the fire!
0:30:09 > 0:30:12- I want to see your faces. - Oh, my goodness!
0:30:12 > 0:30:16This is exactly what you expect from a country cottage or house.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20- It's just...stunning. - So, if you think the house is old,
0:30:20 > 0:30:24those beams are ships' beams, so they're going to be even older.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28They could be 150 years older than this house even.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32- Wow!- I feel like we're in some sort of National Trust property,
0:30:32 > 0:30:39not somewhere where you would be allowed to live, but it's still got a lovely feel to it. It's gorgeous.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42If I was to imagine any house, this would be it.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Just from the walk up the drive, everything.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48The beams, the fire...
0:30:48 > 0:30:51- It's absolutely amazing. - It's gorgeous.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56'The ground floor also offers an elegant dining room with another original fireplace,
0:30:56 > 0:30:59'a small office and wine cellar.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04'Upstairs, there are two floors.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09'At the top of the house is a bedroom and bathroom, ideal for visiting guests.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14'The first floor consists of a family bathroom and three more spacious bedrooms,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17'including a show-stopping en-suite master.'
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Oh, my God, it's enormous!
0:31:21 > 0:31:23I was expecting poky little bedrooms.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27Even enough room for a sofa in it, but there is more.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31It used to be a dressing room. It's now an en-suite.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34An en-suite in a medieval house? I don't believe it!
0:31:34 > 0:31:36- Shall we head outside?- Yeah.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43'Dan and Celia clearly love what they've seen so far
0:31:43 > 0:31:46'and I wonder what they'll make of the grounds?'
0:31:46 > 0:31:50So, you've got all this. I just want you to take another look.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53That is what you call a period property.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57Absolutely. It's idyllic. It really is.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02A couple of other things to mention - you've got a cottage here. It used to be the hayloft.
0:32:02 > 0:32:08It's got a massive bedroom with three beds in it, a kitchen, sitting area, self-contained.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12You've also got a double garage there and a studio flat.
0:32:12 > 0:32:18- And if that wasn't enough, you have three acres of land in total.- Goodness!
0:32:18 > 0:32:25- But how much is it on the market for? We've now got to get serious, haven't we?- You can go first.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29I would have thought this would be double our budget. Really!
0:32:29 > 0:32:35I'm puzzled as to why you've brought us here. I couldn't imagine that this would be less than £1 million.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39- Yeah.- Really.- What do you want to say? What's your figure? A million?
0:32:39 > 0:32:41- Yeah.- OK.
0:32:41 > 0:32:46I'd almost agree with her. Just slightly under. I don't think we can afford it.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49I think it's still just under a million.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51Are you ready...?
0:32:51 > 0:32:55The asking price for this amazing property...
0:32:56 > 0:32:59£895,000.
0:32:59 > 0:33:06- Wow!- I think it would be an honour to live somewhere like this. It's just beautiful.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10I'm absolutely gobsmacked that it's even within our grasp.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13Please go and explore. Take as long as you like.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16You've got a lot to see and an awful lot to think about.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20- We certainly have.- See you later. - Thanks.- Thanks very much.
0:33:21 > 0:33:27I can honestly say that has to be one of the most amazing house tours I have ever done.
0:33:27 > 0:33:32Houses like that just don't come on the market, certainly at that price, very often.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37I've just got my fingers crossed that they do think it's their future home together.
0:33:37 > 0:33:44At £895,000, this house is just inside Dan and Celia's maximum budget.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59But it would make a longer journey into work.
0:33:59 > 0:34:05I thought the bathroom would be crammed into a tiny, little dark room,
0:34:05 > 0:34:10but this is like a super, luxury, smart hotel bathroom. Isn't it gorgeous?
0:34:10 > 0:34:15But still in keeping with the oldness of the house. I love the black and white.
0:34:16 > 0:34:21Oh, this is like a little, tiny doll bedroom!
0:34:22 > 0:34:27This is beautiful. This is like my dream bedroom when I was a little girl.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29This is a really lovely house.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31It is really nice.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35Yeah, we've always said we like quirky buildings,
0:34:35 > 0:34:38we like houses without straight lines in them
0:34:38 > 0:34:41and this has got it in spades. It really has.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43It's absolutely beautiful.
0:34:43 > 0:34:49Because it's not in a location we've thought about before, I've got to get my head around that
0:34:49 > 0:34:52and wonder how to make that work with both of our jobs.
0:34:52 > 0:34:58You don't want your quality of life to drop because you've both got a two-hour commute.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02We're a little bit further out of London. Yes, I admit that.
0:35:02 > 0:35:08And I think I'm prepared to compromise the distance, the commute
0:35:08 > 0:35:12for this...amazing house.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17Dare I drag you both away?
0:35:17 > 0:35:21- I'd rather stay inside.- Would you? - Yeah.- That's a really good sign.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25- But don't give too much away. Shall we go and have that chat?- Yes.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28'We've shown Dan and Celia three amazing houses in Kent
0:35:28 > 0:35:34'and there are plenty more to choose from if you, like them, are looking to re-locate to the county.
0:35:34 > 0:35:40'17 miles south-east of Tonbridge is where the boarded house, a common sight in the Kentish countryside,
0:35:40 > 0:35:44'is a treat offering three bedrooms and exposed beams.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48'It's on the market for £450,000.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51'And for those property hunting on a lower budget,
0:35:51 > 0:35:57'this two-bedroom, Victorian cottage close to Tonbridge offers a large living and dining area
0:35:57 > 0:35:59'and contemporary kitchen.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03'It's on the market for £249,950.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11'One of Kent's most famous historic houses
0:36:11 > 0:36:15'is the stunning, 13th century Hever Castle near Edenbridge.
0:36:15 > 0:36:21'Best known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII,
0:36:21 > 0:36:25'it's now one of the county's most popular tourist attractions.
0:36:25 > 0:36:30'I'm meeting Chief Executive Duncan Leslie to delve into the castle's extraordinary history.'
0:36:30 > 0:36:32Duncan, great to meet you.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36I have a real passion for anything to do with the Tudor period.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40- Anne Boleyn's family had connections to Hever Castle.- Absolutely.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44This was their main home. They needed a home close to London
0:36:44 > 0:36:47and we're only 21 miles, as the crow flies, to London.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51She spent a lot of her formative years here before going to France.
0:36:51 > 0:36:56Then she came back and spent a lot of time here when Henry VIII was courting her.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59So, what happened to the castle after she left?
0:36:59 > 0:37:06Henry VIII actually gave Hever Castle to another of his ex-wives, to Anne of Cleves.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10- No?- As part of the divorce settlement. Anne of Cleves lived here for 16 years.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13- Two out of the six wives lived here? - That's right.
0:37:13 > 0:37:18'Over the years, the castle was owned by a number of prominent families,
0:37:18 > 0:37:25'but had fallen into disrepair when it was bought by wealthy American William Waldorf Astor in 1903.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29'He set about lovingly restoring it at enormous expense.'
0:37:29 > 0:37:31My word!
0:37:31 > 0:37:35This just gives you an idea of the sort of workmanship.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38We're talking hundreds... thousands of hours of work.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42- It's not just this room. It's the whole castle.- The gardens as well?
0:37:42 > 0:37:47There were 600 or 700 people working in here, but just for the lake, there were 800 people
0:37:47 > 0:37:52- and another 150 in the gardens, so come and have a look.- My goodness!
0:37:53 > 0:37:58'It's hard to believe the elaborate gardens around the castle were just marshland
0:37:58 > 0:38:02'before Astor embarked on his massive restoration project.'
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Now, that is what I call a view!
0:38:06 > 0:38:12This was just fields. He wanted a lake, so 800 men were employed for two and a half years,
0:38:12 > 0:38:14digging this lake by hand.
0:38:15 > 0:38:21This garden, the Italian Gardens, was built just for his statue collection.
0:38:21 > 0:38:26He had about 150 items and he needed somewhere to put it, so he built this garden for it.
0:38:26 > 0:38:32I wonder if he had any idea that we would be appreciating this huge investment 100 years later?
0:38:32 > 0:38:37I think he wanted to leave something behind that he would be remembered by
0:38:37 > 0:38:39and I suspect he's probably succeeded.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50'It's 110 years since Astor bought the castle
0:38:50 > 0:38:55'and to mark the anniversary, the Japanese Tea House on the lake is being rebuilt.
0:38:55 > 0:39:00'I'm meeting landscape designer Simon Scott who is overseeing the project.'
0:39:00 > 0:39:04So, these dragons, were they on the original building?
0:39:04 > 0:39:08They are hopefully something similar to what was on the original building.
0:39:08 > 0:39:13'The Tea House was taken down in the 1930s to make space for a pillbox,
0:39:13 > 0:39:18'the dug-in guard post, built as part of British anti-invasion preparations
0:39:18 > 0:39:20'during the Second World War.
0:39:20 > 0:39:25'Simon's job is to try and re-create it as accurately as possible.'
0:39:25 > 0:39:29A lot of the records and photos were lost during a flood in 1968.
0:39:29 > 0:39:35The only bit we have got is the existing roof, the original roof which is here on top of the pillbox.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38The only other bits we know about the Tea House...
0:39:38 > 0:39:44A pensioner who lives in the village remembers taking down the original Tea House to make way...
0:39:44 > 0:39:50And the only bits he actually remembers are the roof and the gold dragons.
0:39:51 > 0:39:57So, all you do here is just a nice, circular motion to get right into all the cracks,
0:39:57 > 0:39:59then just brush it out a little bit.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03The Tea House is nearly completed. Would the public have access to it?
0:40:03 > 0:40:09What the castle are trying to do is to take the essence of the original building
0:40:09 > 0:40:14and create something that everyone can enjoy the views of the lakes.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19I'm looking forward to seeing it complete in all its grandeur.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23I'll be wondering which of those dragons did I help paint?
0:40:23 > 0:40:29'If everything goes to plan, they should be finished here in a couple of weeks.
0:40:29 > 0:40:34'And I can't think of a more relaxing place to come and enjoy a cup of tea.'
0:40:34 > 0:40:37That's it, our house hunt here in Kent is over.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41I think Dan and Celia's reaction to our mystery house said it all,
0:40:41 > 0:40:44but is it enough for them to put in an offer?
0:40:44 > 0:40:47Let's find out.
0:40:54 > 0:41:00Out of the three houses we've shown you here in Kent, there is one that I want to talk about
0:41:00 > 0:41:03and it is our mystery house.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07- Mm-hm.- And my goodness, did we get fantastic reactions...
0:41:07 > 0:41:10- Fireworks.- We did. We got everything, didn't we?
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Yeah, it's incredible.
0:41:12 > 0:41:19If you'd told us a couple of weeks ago that we'd be going to see a place like that within our budget...
0:41:19 > 0:41:23I didn't expect you to be able to find somewhere like that for us.
0:41:23 > 0:41:28You can almost imagine yourself here already, but you've got to think about it.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30What happens next?
0:41:30 > 0:41:36Definitely want to go back to see the mystery house again, have a look round,
0:41:36 > 0:41:38then have a total chat about it.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41I'm pretty much sold, but you need a bit more convincing.
0:41:41 > 0:41:47I need to shift my mind-set a bit further east in Kent, but I couldn't ask for more from the house.
0:41:47 > 0:41:52You do have to think about work, locations and commutes. I totally agree.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57But from a family point of view, if it is the house for you, I wouldn't sit on your hands.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01- Thank you so much. It's been great. - Thanks.- Thank YOU.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07Well, that's it.
0:42:07 > 0:42:13For a couple desperate to leave the capital behind and bring up their family in the Kent countryside,
0:42:13 > 0:42:17I think we may have found them their dream, first owned home together.
0:42:17 > 0:42:22I think Dan and Celia's reaction to our mystery house... Well, it said it all, didn't it?
0:42:22 > 0:42:24Great house, great garden.
0:42:24 > 0:42:29I just hope Celia's nerves about the location and commute to work can be settled.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33For me, that house is a journey worth making.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37From the Kent countryside, goodbye. See you next time.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42Dan and Celia fell in love with our mystery house,
0:42:42 > 0:42:47but have reluctantly concluded that the extra commute would prove too far for them.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51They're continuing their search in the Tonbridge area.
0:42:51 > 0:42:57If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
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