0:00:02 > 0:00:06This stretch of the Thames is home to one of the most famous regattas in the world.
0:00:06 > 0:00:11Nathan and Mike both take part. And we'll give them a little push off. There you go, guys.
0:00:11 > 0:00:12HE GROANS
0:00:12 > 0:00:17It's also royal, it was given royal status in 1851, that's another clue.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Find out where we are in just a moment.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38In today's show I'll be helping a couple
0:00:38 > 0:00:42from Germany find their very own corner of the English countryside.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47After having rented for ten months, they're ready to make their first property purchase in the UK.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51I love the thatched house, really I love it.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54I'll be testing their knowledge on must-have country accoutrements.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55What kind of sink is it?
0:00:55 > 0:00:57- Belfast sink.- Well done.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01And I'll introduce them to something they've never experienced before.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Airing cupboard!
0:01:07 > 0:01:12Today Escape To The Country has come to Oxfordshire, and here in Henley
0:01:12 > 0:01:18every summer the crews battle it out at the Royal Regatta to get their hands on the Grand Challenge Cup.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Now, Henley is all about rowing, but Oxfordshire has lots more to offer.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29The county's probably most famous for its university, founded over 900 years ago.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Its courtyards and colleges have frequently been used
0:01:32 > 0:01:35as a backdrop for TV dramas and films,
0:01:35 > 0:01:40but it's also the most rural county in the south east of England.
0:01:41 > 0:01:48Both the Chiltern Hills and the Cotswolds have been designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:01:48 > 0:01:54And, within easy reach of London and Heathrow, it's become a very popular place to live and work.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03Oxfordshire has some cracking property, especially along the Thames, like here at Wallingford,
0:02:03 > 0:02:05but it isn't cheap.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08an average detached house here costs £385,000,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12which is 40% above the national average.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16So I'm hoping that our house-buyers today are ready to compromise.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21Ninka and Andreas have recently moved from Germany to the UK because of their jobs.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24They're currently in rented accommodation, and this will be
0:02:24 > 0:02:27their first experience of buying a property in England.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31The reason why we want to move to the country is we have a dog,
0:02:31 > 0:02:36we have two cats, and we look for a nice rural setting.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40And we both have very busy jobs, Andreas works in downtown London,
0:02:40 > 0:02:44I travel a lot, we really want to come home and crash
0:02:44 > 0:02:47in a really quiet and peaceful setting.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52For both of them, it's the quirkiness of English country houses
0:02:52 > 0:02:54that they've fallen in love with.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59We look for a sort of period cottage. Open fireplace would be
0:02:59 > 0:03:04very nice. I would love to have a large kitchen with an Aga.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08It's a very British thing, and we don't have that on the Continent.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11A table in there as well, to sit and chat.
0:03:11 > 0:03:18We're looking for space in the living room, we've got loads of furniture.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21That's a pretty hefty list of requirements,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24and we haven't even got to Andreas's plans for the garden.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27I'm very keen on cooking, so having my own vegetables,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31being more self-sufficient, would be very nice.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35And for Ninka old-fashioned tranquillity is top of the list.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39This is really busy here, and we'd really like to get out somewhere
0:03:39 > 0:03:41without this traffic and the buildings.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44And we mustn't forget about their Weimaraner -
0:03:44 > 0:03:48it's going to need exercise, so a good dog-walking spot is a must.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55So they know what they're looking for, but will they be able to agree?
0:03:55 > 0:03:59I think we're both very decisive, so when we met, after two weeks,
0:03:59 > 0:04:04we decided to get married, and still we are, after seven years now.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08And I think if property is what we're really looking for,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11we make our decision quite quickly.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14'Yes, we have the same tastes, so we tend to always up agreeing.'
0:04:14 > 0:04:18There's never an issue with wanting totally different things,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20cos we look for the same things.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Speedy decisions are good, and in a buyers' market
0:04:22 > 0:04:25they'll be able to move quickly if they find the right property.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29We're lucky that we don't have to worry about selling a property,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32cos we're living in rented accommodation at the moment.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36So if we find a house that we're looking for, three or four bedrooms,
0:04:36 > 0:04:43large kitchen, large garden, rural setting, we'd be looking at a budget of £600,000.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Ninka and Andreas are looking for something that's quite ambitious -
0:04:51 > 0:04:54they want a lovely rural property that's close to London,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57but still has all that countryside tranquillity, and of course
0:04:57 > 0:04:59the Thames Valley does have those properties,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03but they're very expensive. I think our couple's German sensibilities
0:05:03 > 0:05:06are about to get a shock from British prices.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14With Andreas commuting to London, and Ninka working in Maidenhead,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18transport links are vital, so we're going to focus our property search
0:05:18 > 0:05:20around Henley on Thames.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25In today's show, I'll be taking Andreas and Ninka to view
0:05:25 > 0:05:28three properties that I hope will meet their expectations
0:05:28 > 0:05:29of an ideal English retreat,
0:05:29 > 0:05:33but I'll only reveal the price after they've seen each house.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36And the final of the three, the mystery property,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39will offer them a unique take on country living.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Along the Thames Valley there's always the option of a houseboat,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48but if you're more of a landlubber, don't panic,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51there are plenty of beautiful properties on the market.
0:05:51 > 0:05:52Take a look at these.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57If you've got just shy of £2 million to spend,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00then how about this Edwardian pile just outside Henley.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04It has five reception rooms, a large open-plan kitchen-diner,
0:06:04 > 0:06:10and, if that's not enough, you've even got your own private mooring on the River Thames.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15If you're looking for the quintessential English cottage,
0:06:15 > 0:06:20this property near Sonning Common is on the market for £730,000.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23It has three bedrooms and a wealth of period features,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26including open fireplaces and beamed ceilings.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32And west into the Cotswolds, there's this three-bedroom terraced cottage
0:06:32 > 0:06:34in the village of Kingham.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37This house will set you back just under £400,000,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40and has a modern kitchen and a good-sized sitting room.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Welcome to the Thames Valley. Well, you already live here.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- Yes, we do.- But you're going to put down roots, properly live here.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- That's right, in our own place, not rented.- In lovely sunny England?
0:06:53 > 0:06:56For a change! THEY LAUGH
0:06:56 > 0:06:57Why this bit of England?
0:06:57 > 0:07:00We love the countryside,
0:07:00 > 0:07:05and it's not too far from London, where I work,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08and it's not too far from Maidenhead, where Ninka works,
0:07:08 > 0:07:13so that's a part of England we'd really like to live.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15How much money have we got to spend?
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Well, we have £600,000 to spend.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Are you shocked you have to spend that much?
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Yes, it's quite different to the house market in Germany.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26What could you get for £600,000 in Germany?
0:07:26 > 0:07:28- You'd get a castle.- A schloss?- Yes!
0:07:28 > 0:07:30THEY LAUGH
0:07:30 > 0:07:33We've got some nice properties lined up, including a mystery house,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36which as the name suggests is slightly mysterious,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- but, before the flood waters rise, let's go.- All right.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45So we've got a budget of up to £600,000 to play with.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48They're looking for a three- to four-bedroom period property
0:07:48 > 0:07:53with a large farmhouse-style kitchen where Andreas can get experimental with his cooking.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57A good sized garden is also important, so they can grow their own vegetables,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59and the house needs to be pet-friendly.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10You've got a very specific wish list about what you want in a property.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13What are you expecting to get from the show?
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Well, we certainly expect to learn a lot. Some things in English houses
0:08:16 > 0:08:20that you don't have on the Continent, like, er...
0:08:20 > 0:08:23We'd never heard about a Belfast sink, so what's that?
0:08:23 > 0:08:26We're bound to come across some of those.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Yes, so do you also have a Dublin toilet lid, or something?
0:08:30 > 0:08:33I think this'll be a steep learning curve for Andreas and Ninka.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38Our first stop is the rather unusual sounding village of Nettlebed,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40just five miles west of Henley.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44Historically, the clay pits nearby meant it was an important place
0:08:44 > 0:08:49for brick making, and today you can still see one of the remaining pottery kilns.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52As well as a village post office, Nettlebed also has a pub
0:08:52 > 0:08:55for meeting the locals. So let's see what they make of the house.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- Step on in.- Thank you.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01- Thank you.- If you step over here...
0:09:01 > 0:09:06this is the first property, clearly it doesn't tick all the boxes,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10I know you don't want to be by a road, and we are by a road,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12but I wanted to show you this cos it's the closest
0:09:12 > 0:09:16we can get to Henley to get some of the things that you want,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18so there's a bit of compromise.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22We're 25 minutes from Maidenhead, good links into London, very good road links...
0:09:22 > 0:09:23THEY LAUGH
0:09:23 > 0:09:26- And this is the property I want to show you.- Cute.- Cute?
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Yes, I like the diamond windows.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33You like the leaded windows?
0:09:33 > 0:09:36- Don't like to clean them, but they look nice.- They're a pain.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40The property dates from about 1800, it's not massively old.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44It was extended in two steps in the Victorian period, which we'll see.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48- Most of it is at the back of the property.- Yes, it's cute, it's nice
0:09:48 > 0:09:52from the outside. As you said, well, the road might be an issue,
0:09:52 > 0:09:54but let's have a look inside.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Let's be honest, the road is definitely an issue!
0:09:56 > 0:10:00It's a busy road, you have animals, but these people have animals too.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- So shall we have a look inside?- Yes!
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Come through into the office.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15This is the office?
0:10:15 > 0:10:17This could be your office.
0:10:17 > 0:10:23This was the oldest part of the house. It would have been a very simple, two-up-two-down cottage,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25and so there's a lot of original features,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29including this inglenook fireplace, we call it an inglenook.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Why...does that have a meaning?
0:10:31 > 0:10:36Inglenook... It's nice showing you round, cos I have to explain all the things.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39An inglenook is one of these sit-in fireplaces, it's basically where you
0:10:39 > 0:10:43have a very deep hearth, and there would have been a fire and a flue,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46with places to sit on either side, technically that's an inglenook.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Ah, yes.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50What do we feel about the ceilings?
0:10:50 > 0:10:52- Well, we're not so tall. - Yes, this is good.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55My father would probably knock his head.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57I like it, it's cosy.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Yes, absolutely, it's cosy, I like it.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05- I would change, maybe, put the carpet out and tile it.- Yes.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11This is the main staircase in the house, it's actually not original,
0:11:11 > 0:11:15it's been put in later, but it's this lovely kind of awled wood,
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- this hewn wood. Shall we go through?- Yes.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Now we're moving into the Victorian part of the house,
0:11:27 > 0:11:301800 to 1830s, it's not actually such a big leap,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34but you can see some nice details, all sort of mix and match.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37This is a very sort of typical later Victorian detail in the door,
0:11:37 > 0:11:41- it matches in the door sill. - The door sill, yes.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44And the ceilings are a little bit higher.
0:11:44 > 0:11:49Yes, it's nice, but it's a bit tiny for a living room, isn't it?
0:11:49 > 0:11:52This house is strange, there's a lot of space downstairs.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55In fact just across the hallway there are another two rooms,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57currently being used as bedrooms.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01And don't panic, Andreas, this isn't the only sitting room.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05This is great.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- Yes.- Is this more what you were expecting?- Oh, yes.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12It's a lovely space, where the family spend most of their time.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Lots of light coming in from this side, lots of storage,
0:12:15 > 0:12:19lots of the original features which have been kind of brought out.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21You can still see what we call wattle and daub,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25the oldest way of building. You've got brick, and reclaimed beams,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28and then there's this panelling, so they're all from different periods.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Yes, it's nice.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33All sort of brought together in the last 20 years.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- That's a normal open fireplace, right?- A normal open fire.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39But this is what I think you want to look at, isn't it?
0:12:39 > 0:12:42- Yes.- Oh, yes!- Absolutely.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- This is fantastic, this is really nice.- And it's got an Aga.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49- Yes, a big one.- A lovely colour as well, I like that colour.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Now, this is a country kitchen.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54- Oh, yes, this is fantastic.- Yes.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57The floor is very nice, I love the wooden floor.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01I think I could spend hours in there, hours.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05- You're a big cook, aren't you? - Yes.- Well, yes, I love cooking.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- He'll do five hours just making the sauce.- Really?
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- Yes.- And don't get bored, while I can sit there and watch TV.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Well, I have a bottle of wine with me.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18- It goes in the sauce, and in the cook.- Yes!
0:13:19 > 0:13:22- So this would be lovely for you? - Oh, yeah.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26And in keeping with expectations, there's even a Belfast sink.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I think downstairs is winning them over, but what about upstairs?
0:13:38 > 0:13:39This is the master bedroom.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45It's in the old part of the house, and you see the real bones of the old property.
0:13:45 > 0:13:46You can hear the road.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Yes.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Which is a drawback, but the size is quite good.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56We wouldn't fit our wardrobes in here, and we've got loads of stuff,
0:13:56 > 0:14:01so we'd probably use one bedroom as a dressing room and ironing room.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Which might be ideal through here.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12OK, yeah, this might work,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14sort of a big walk-in wardrobe!
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Also upstairs, there's another good-sized bedroom,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22and a family bathroom.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25I think this needs some refurbishment, to be honest.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27This has got tiles, and not carpet.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29And not carpet, yes.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31There's no carpets, yes.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32And no mixer taps.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35So you're particular about bathrooms?
0:14:35 > 0:14:41I mean, it's very unpractical to have separate taps, because one is too hot and the other is just too cold.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- That's how you mix them. - Yes, well...
0:14:43 > 0:14:45I'd prefer it to be one!
0:14:47 > 0:14:50'Aha! I'm starting to learn more about their German sensibilities.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55'Mixer taps are an obvious must and carpets a big no-no.'
0:14:55 > 0:14:58- Ah, the sun shines on the house by us.- Oh, yes.
0:14:58 > 0:15:03The one nice thing about this property is, or many nice things about this property, is that
0:15:03 > 0:15:07you have a garden that's not massive, so you don't have to do lots of upkeep,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11but with these incredible views, so it looks like they belong to you,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13but it doesn't. And also because,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16just through this little path here, you come onto a public footpath
0:15:16 > 0:15:20which takes you into a walk all the way through these woods,
0:15:20 > 0:15:22so it's a great dog-walking locale.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Fantastic for the dog, yes.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27You've got a space out there to eat outside during the summer.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- There's room for a veggie patch. - Yes, plenty of room to do that.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34And we don't have the time really
0:15:34 > 0:15:37to do extensive gardening, so this is fine.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42I'm sure you've thought about prices in England, and how expensive things are?
0:15:42 > 0:15:43Oh, yes.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46We're still recovering from the shock!
0:15:46 > 0:15:50Still recovering. Here we go. What do you think this property's on the market for?
0:15:50 > 0:15:55Bearing in mind that we're quite close to Henley, which is very expensive.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58I think it would be at the top end of our budget,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01about £550,000 to £600,000?
0:16:01 > 0:16:04- Probably even over £600,000.- Yes.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07- It's 595. OK.- Oh, right.
0:16:07 > 0:16:13So just a shade under. But they've just dropped it from 650, so they're not going to go any under that.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16So why don't you have a look around the house,
0:16:16 > 0:16:20particularly the kitchen, then I'll meet you at the front and then we can push on.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22All right, thank you.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27That was good. I think they seemed to like the garden space,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30and the kitchen is fantastic, and clearly, Andreas is a great cook.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34It's just whether they can live with that road.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42So for the asking price of £595,000 you get five bedrooms,
0:16:42 > 0:16:46two reception rooms and a fantastic kitchen-diner with a range cooker.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50There's plenty of space outside for Andreas's vegetable garden,
0:16:50 > 0:16:52and views overlooking the fields,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55but will that busy road be the stumbling block?
0:16:55 > 0:16:58What concerns me most is the road.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Having a look at it more close inside,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07That's a really nice fireplace.
0:17:07 > 0:17:12- Yes.- The kitchen is really just what I dreamed of.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16- So we know now what a Belfast sink is.- Yes!
0:17:16 > 0:17:19I have to say, this is a real encouraging start,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22and I'm looking forward to seeing the other houses.
0:17:24 > 0:17:29Ah! Come on, guys, hate to bring you out to the road, but it's nice and quiet.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30Let's move on.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45When Andreas and Ninka find their rural retreat,
0:17:45 > 0:17:47there's going to be plenty for them to discover,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50and they haven't wasted any time exploring Wallingford,
0:17:50 > 0:17:54a small market town between Oxford and Henley.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Because of its position on the Thames, it's rich in history.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01William the Conqueror passed through in 1066, and a year later,
0:18:01 > 0:18:03commissioned a castle.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07However, today, not much remains as Henry VIII shipped the timbers
0:18:07 > 0:18:11down river when he was busy expanding Windsor Castle.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Now all you can see is the ruins of St Nicholas's Priory
0:18:14 > 0:18:16set in the old castle gardens.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18It's beautiful, isn't it?
0:18:18 > 0:18:19Quite impressive.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22So Henry took all the timber, but he forgot that one.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Yeah.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Just downstream is the rowing museum at Henley on Thames.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32It's a celebration of international rowing, housing the boats that
0:18:32 > 0:18:37Steven Redgrave and Matthew Pinsett won gold in at the Sydney Olympics.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Amazing, look how narrow it is.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- It says they're all so big. - Yeah, unbelievable.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48We all know Germany is famous for its beer gardens, beer cellars
0:18:48 > 0:18:52and festivals, so here in Britain, what better way to relax
0:18:52 > 0:18:55than sampling a traditional Oxfordshire bitter?
0:18:56 > 0:18:59I'm not really a fan of British beer, but this is quite nice.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Yeah, and I don't normally drink beer at all, this is actually quite good.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Being new to the housing game here,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Andreas and Ninka are getting used to the peculiarities
0:19:12 > 0:19:14of buying property in the UK.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Have you been having fun with English estate-agent speak?
0:19:18 > 0:19:22Oh yes. We have to learn the language, really.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25So when it's got loads of potential,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27you know you've got a lot of work ahead of you.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30It's a derelict wreck.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32It's got loads of character, it's small.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Character, yes, very good.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36- Ripe for redevelopment.- Yes.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Falling down.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Our next property is in the village of Streatley, just over
0:19:47 > 0:19:49the border in West Berkshire.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52On the opposite side of the river is its larger neighbour, Goring.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Here, there are plenty of shops and restaurants,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58but its real appeal is in its riverside setting.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Every year, it hosts the popular Goring and Streatley Regatta.
0:20:02 > 0:20:07More importantly for Andreas are the easy rail links into London.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11This is the property I want to show you.
0:20:11 > 0:20:17As you can see, it's semi-detached, but it's a substantial property.
0:20:17 > 0:20:18It looks nice.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22The original cottage would have been these two frontages here,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25and this is all an extension on both sides.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29You're only looking at this part here.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31It's a sort of Edwardian property.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33I can recognise Georgian but that's about it.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Other than that, I do just likes and dislikes.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39This style with the hung tiles
0:20:39 > 0:20:42and the eaves is very typical Edwardian.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Nicely done. Shall we look inside?
0:20:44 > 0:20:45Yes, please.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50'This is shaping up to be an historical adventure.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54'Let's see what they make of the Edwardian era.'
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Nice. Lovely tiles.
0:20:59 > 0:21:00The tiles are lovely.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Very roomy with the high ceilings everywhere.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07It is unusual to have such a big hall these days, because remember,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10this is the modern part of the house,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13so it was very luxuriously planned, to have all the space.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20Lots of light, you've got this very striking three-turn staircase.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22It's not cottagey, it's not lacy.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Let's go into the sitting room,
0:21:27 > 0:21:29this is the original part of the house
0:21:29 > 0:21:32although it's a testament to how well it was extended
0:21:32 > 0:21:35that you don't ever feel one part is old, one part is new.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40It is a bit dark with just the French windows there.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44But it is a bit overgrown, so maybe that takes away the light.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46Is this fireplace working?
0:21:46 > 0:21:50It's an original fireplace, an original Edwardian fireplace.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53It is working, all the fireplaces work throughout the house.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58They might require a bit of sweeping. But they do work.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Then you have lots of storage, lots of bookcases.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03That's good, we've got loads of books.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06This is sort of a winter room, I'd imagine.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Sort of snuggle up and warm room.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11The room where you'll be doing most of your living and cooking
0:22:11 > 0:22:14- is on the other side.- All right.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20This is a lovely country kitchen.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22It is. With a range cooker.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25A much more modern surround,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28a Victorian Edwardian surround.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30I like the tiles on the floor.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34Quarry tiles, typical, these are new but these are exactly the kind
0:22:34 > 0:22:35you'd have in an Edwardian kitchen.
0:22:35 > 0:22:41Eating space here, they've used a pew from a church.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46That is a really good size for a dining table.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51It's a really nice size, you won't get this in Germany.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53It's really nice.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55A Belfast sink.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57- Standard issue.- We're learning.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Yes. So many things to learn in this house.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Another great quirky English thing that we have here
0:23:03 > 0:23:06and a very fine specimen, is the utility room.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08- Shall we have a look at that? - Oh yes.
0:23:10 > 0:23:15There you go. Do you not have utility rooms in Germany?
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Er, in farmhouses, you would have them, but not in all houses.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22But you don't have back doors in Germany either.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24That's really handy to have.
0:23:24 > 0:23:25How do you get in the garden?
0:23:25 > 0:23:29You may have French windows, but you don't have a back door.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Everything comes in the front door.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Everything comes in the back door in English houses.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Yeah. We noticed.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39There's one more room downstairs that could be used as a study,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43but I wanted to take you upstairs, as there's quite a bit of room.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48'They're liking all the quirks in this house.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51'Let's see what they make of the bedrooms.'
0:23:56 > 0:23:58This is the master bedroom.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01- It's a good size. - It's a good size, yes.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06Built-in wardrobe there. Lots of nice light coming in.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Yes, big windows.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12There are four bedrooms upstairs, and the family bathroom.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14- Shall we check on that?- Yes.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22What do you think?
0:24:22 > 0:24:24The bathtub's got claws.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Ball and claw, have you not come across that before?
0:24:29 > 0:24:34I've seen one in a hotel in Berlin once, but not seen it in a house.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37It was very popular in the Victorian and Edwardian period, that style,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40and this is a cast-iron enamel bath, it's extremely heavy.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- And look!- Mixer tap.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Here we come to another brilliantly idiosyncratic bit of England.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53- Airing cupboard!- Airing cupboard.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56- You don't get those in Germany? - No, no.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01Germans would say it's not well done, and bad insulation.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04- It's to dry your clothes! - Absolutely.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Genius. Genius. That's how we got our empire.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10I wanted to show you this little room.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13- It is little.- Yes.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15It's like a closet.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19See, in British estate agent speak, this is a small double.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21Bunkbed.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Next door is another child's room, a more reasonably sized double.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27You could certainly get a double bed in here.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29- Yes.- Oh yes.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30Could be a guest room.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Yeah, I guess so.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35There's another almost the same size on the other size, a bit bigger.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37You get a lovely view here.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- Yes, beautiful view.- Beautiful.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Talking of views, there's a great view from the garden,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46- which I think we should look at next.- OK.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Very brave having the Ming vases on the staircase.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Well, if the airing cupboard isn't enough to win them over,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57I think the best is still to come.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01- Again, you've got free views. - Wonderful.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Isn't that great?
0:26:03 > 0:26:06- It's quite a slopey garden.- Yes.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10But that does give you the lovely elevated views over the hills on the other side.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11You'll have to mow uphill.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13You'll have to mow uphill.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16- No danger of flooding.- That's true.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Beautiful setting.
0:26:18 > 0:26:19Absolutely. Very nice.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Very quiet. It's not a vast garden.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Obviously, it's got lots of children's equipment in
0:26:24 > 0:26:27but you could easily get a veggie patch going here.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Yes. Yeah, absolutely.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32What do you think its market value is?
0:26:32 > 0:26:37Well, I think it might be on the market for 550 to 570.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38Uh huh.
0:26:38 > 0:26:44I would think, it's a lot further away from London
0:26:44 > 0:26:48or Henley, and also it's semi-detached.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52So I'd reckon about 530.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Well, you might be surprised to find out that it's 595.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56Right.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00Could be a challenge for the owner, I think.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02- To sell at that price?- Mmm.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Well, why don't you have a look around, it might grow on you,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08it might not. And then we can compare notes.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10OK, thank you.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14It's funny, I thought they'd love this house, but it's quite English
0:27:14 > 0:27:16on reflection, it's very Edwardian,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19so perhaps that doesn't go down for the Germans quite as well.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26This Edwardian house is priced at £595,000.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29For that you get four bedrooms and a large kitchen diner.
0:27:29 > 0:27:35The garden is south facing and has stunning views over rolling countryside.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37All right. Nice patio.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40- Yeah. Sheds.- Yeah.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44Big one. Lots of storage space there.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45The kitchen is wonderful.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48It's really beautiful, I love the tiles,
0:27:48 > 0:27:50I love the tiles in the entrance hall.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55It's not as cuddly, it's more formal.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58It speaks to me less individual.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02I'm not so sure about the style of the house,
0:28:02 > 0:28:07and I'm not so sure about buying a property where a similar one
0:28:07 > 0:28:09is to the right and left.
0:28:11 > 0:28:16It's nice, but it's not quite our style.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Ah, so not so enthusiastic about this one.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Not really.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Never mind, onwards and upwards.
0:28:29 > 0:28:34Meet Mulligan, Robin and Pepsi.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Ninka can't wait to take up riding again, so we've taken some time out
0:28:37 > 0:28:40to come down to the Bradfield Riding Centre,
0:28:40 > 0:28:43where Sarah McNicoll's busy saddling up the mounts.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Sarah, so whose horse is this going to be?
0:28:46 > 0:28:48- This will be yours!- Yay!
0:28:48 > 0:28:50- What's the horse called? - This is Tequila.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Hello, Tequila. Lucky girl. Or boy?
0:28:53 > 0:28:54- No, girl.- Girl.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58So Andreas and Ninka are coming to Oxfordshire,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00and...you're a keen rider, aren't you?
0:29:00 > 0:29:04Yes, I haven't ridden for a bit now, but I've ridden since I was a child.
0:29:04 > 0:29:09- Really?- Yes.- Andreas? - I've ridden once, which wasn't very successful.
0:29:10 > 0:29:14We're putting Andreas on the nervous filly, the skittish stallion.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18No, we have our old carthorse for you, Andreas, you'll be quite safe!
0:29:18 > 0:29:21- Very good.- I always wonder what they're thinking, horses.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23- Yes.- They look like they're thinking a lot.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26It would be fabulous to know that. It really would.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29- I'm sure they're thinking, "Get off!"- "That's enough!"
0:29:29 > 0:29:33- Shall we do it?- Yes, absolutely, let's crack on.- Tequila, it's your lucky day.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37'Andreas is looking pretty nervous, but I'm sure Sarah's schooling
0:29:37 > 0:29:40'will put him at his ease, and I've got some tips as well.'
0:29:40 > 0:29:45Fashion is always important when you're riding.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49- One, two, three... and gently on his back, super job. Walk on.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53'Andreas looks like he's got over his initial anxiety, and is sitting comfortably.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57'A few laps round the school yard and, as it's known in horsey circles,
0:29:57 > 0:29:59'I think we're ready to "hack out".
0:30:03 > 0:30:07'The great thing about riding round here is that the Englefield Estate
0:30:07 > 0:30:11'offers miles of traffic-free routes where you can trot away.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19'How come I got the really short horse?
0:30:19 > 0:30:25'All very leisurely, but now that Ninka's back in the saddle, I'm sure she'll be keen to step up the pace.'
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Andreas has decided he's not going to join us for our trot today.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31- He's not trot-worthy? - So we'll just walk up there,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34turn round, when you're happy we'll move forward to the working trot.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38- If you just think to yourself, up, down.- Keep your bum back?
0:30:38 > 0:30:44Yes, just watch the arch at the front of the saddle, apparently. I don't know - but apparently!
0:30:44 > 0:30:47'Poor Ninka, it looks like she got the skittish filly after all.'
0:30:47 > 0:30:49Just look forwards, Ninka!
0:30:49 > 0:30:53- It's all right!- That's super!- She just wanted to go for a canter there!
0:30:53 > 0:30:56'Still, she's managed to get the hang of it.'
0:30:56 > 0:31:00Good! Up, down, up, down, up, down.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Trot-tastic!
0:31:08 > 0:31:11It's been a busy start, and with the day drawing to a close, it's time
0:31:11 > 0:31:14for Andreas and Ninka to head back to the hotel and discuss the
0:31:14 > 0:31:16properties they've seen so far.
0:31:16 > 0:31:23What do you think? The white cottage? I think it's quite nice.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27The kitchen and the living room, it looked like the Balkan version.
0:31:27 > 0:31:28Yeah, with the high ceilings.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30It was really, really nice.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32Lovely views out of the back,
0:31:32 > 0:31:36with the footpath to the fields there.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38It was quite noisy in the garden.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40You do hear the traffic, yeah.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44So what about the Edwardian one?
0:31:44 > 0:31:46I think the setting's perfect.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49Very remote, and cat proof.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51The size of the garden...
0:31:51 > 0:31:56The mowing uphill, or downhill might be a challenge.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58That would be my job!
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Technically, it had a lot of good things,
0:32:00 > 0:32:03but it wasn't really cosy enough.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Let's see what we see tomorrow.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Yes, fingers crossed.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24'Andreas and Ninka have recently moved from Germany
0:32:24 > 0:32:28'and are about to buy their first ever house in the UK.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30'They have a budget of up to £600,000,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33'and so far have seen two very different properties.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35'Coming up, we manage to impress Andreas.'
0:32:35 > 0:32:37The whole place, the fireplace is really amazing!
0:32:37 > 0:32:39'But he can't have everything.'
0:32:39 > 0:32:40The range cooker is missing.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43That's what's missing, yes, I knew you'd spot that!
0:32:43 > 0:32:45'And the mystery house catches them off-guard.'
0:32:45 > 0:32:47I love a surprise!
0:32:57 > 0:33:01Yesterday, I quite was surprised you didn't like the Edwardian farmhouse.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04What are you looking forward to today?
0:33:04 > 0:33:05Not an Edwardian farmhouse!
0:33:05 > 0:33:09- Er, no.- Hopefully some more cottagey...
0:33:09 > 0:33:12- Yeah, some nice cottage. - Something like that would be nice.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15- So, old.- More beams.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18- More beams?- Yes.- Very good.
0:33:18 > 0:33:23'I don't think our house hunters are going to be disappointed.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26'Our next property is in the village of Cumnor.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29'We've come a little bit further from Henley on Thames,
0:33:29 > 0:33:30'approximately 28 miles.
0:33:30 > 0:33:35'It's further from transport links, but being off the beaten track means that this village
0:33:35 > 0:33:40'has a charm and tranquillity that Ninka and Andreas are after.
0:33:40 > 0:33:46'The village is well served by two pubs and a local shop, so let's see what they make of the house.'
0:33:46 > 0:33:48And this is the property I want to show you.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51- Thatched!- It's thatched.- Lovely.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54- It's lovely.- We like thatched.- Yes.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58- Are you pleased?- Absolutely. - It looks really nice. - If you step onto the lawn,
0:33:58 > 0:34:01we get a better view of the actual history of the house.
0:34:01 > 0:34:06It's a very old property, probably... I'm not entirely sure,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09- but probably about more than 300 years old at base.- Wow!
0:34:09 > 0:34:14It was three workers' cottages, you can see from the three eyebrows of the thatch,
0:34:14 > 0:34:19and each of those would have been a single one-up, one-down cottage unit for workers.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24- This big bulging thing that you see in the side is a bread oven.- OK.
0:34:24 > 0:34:30- Oh, right.- So we suspect that the worker who lived in the middle was probably a baker.
0:34:30 > 0:34:31- Shall we go?- Yes.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45So straight into the dining hall.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49- Yes, lovely.- Lovely.- That's the bread oven that we saw from outside?
0:34:49 > 0:34:53Absolutely, you can see this is the original hearth,
0:34:53 > 0:34:58with this incredible beam that goes across, which is probably 300-plus years old.
0:34:58 > 0:35:05All the brickwork has been... A little bit of restoration, but is genuinely original,
0:35:05 > 0:35:09and then that's the bread oven that you see at the back in the corner.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11The whole place, the fireplace is amazing!
0:35:11 > 0:35:14- I like the brickwork. - Yes, the brickwork.- Beautiful tiles.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17- Yes.- Very much our style. - Very much our style.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20- And practical?- Yes.- Absolutely.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24Good, this house, there's some things that you might want to do,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26- particularly in the kitchen. - Do you think?
0:35:29 > 0:35:31What do you think?
0:35:31 > 0:35:34It's fairly small.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38- The range cooker is missing. - That's what's missing, yes, I knew you'd spot that!
0:35:38 > 0:35:44We're missing the range cooker. The kitchen is not as great as some of the others I've shown you.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48I'd say it's a project, something where you could make your mark
0:35:48 > 0:35:50and get exactly what you wanted.
0:35:50 > 0:35:55Yes, I think this would be a project for me to do some changes here.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58Great, let's look at the rest of the downstairs.
0:35:58 > 0:36:05- You come next door, this is a transition room really, but it's a good space.- It is.- It is, yes.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Nice and light, the doors out into the garden.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11Is it too small to use it as a living room?
0:36:11 > 0:36:15- Ah, you don't need to use it as a living room...- Ah, right.
0:36:15 > 0:36:20Don't need a living room, here's your living room!
0:36:20 > 0:36:23- Wow!- This is enormous! Very nice.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25- Very nice.- Isn't it great?
0:36:25 > 0:36:27- Yes, lovely.- Absolutely.
0:36:27 > 0:36:32So this is the new extension that they put on in the '80s, but as you can see they've taken the cue
0:36:32 > 0:36:36from this lovely recovered beam, and then they've put these, which are obviously not old,
0:36:36 > 0:36:40beams right across all the way down the room.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44- You've got double doors that take you out into the patio. - Yes, very nice.- Very nice.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47- There's beams over the doors as well.- Yes.
0:36:47 > 0:36:53- I think this room would be very good to fit a lot of our stuff in.- Yes, absolutely, I agree.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57Good. You've got a little downstairs toilet and shower there. Let's take a look at upstairs.
0:36:58 > 0:37:03'I think this cottage is really in tune with the English feeling they've been searching for.
0:37:03 > 0:37:08'Time to get a little bit closer to that thatch, and check out the bedrooms.'
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Here we have the master bedroom.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15- Very nice.- It's a good size.
0:37:15 > 0:37:20- Yes, it is.- It's a good size, again you can see through the thickness of the walls, probably wattle and daub.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25But it will be difficult to put a wardrobe in. But...
0:37:25 > 0:37:30Well, there are three bedrooms up here, so let's take a look at the one next to us, smaller.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37Have a little peak in here, it's not a huge room, but certainly big enough for a guest room.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- Yes, it's a really nice dressing room, maybe?- Yes.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44And this is going to be the answer to your study worries.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47- Oh, lovely.- This is lovely.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50- That is nice.- You could use it as a study or a guest room.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54- Or a guest bedroom, but that means we'd have to put the study downstairs.- Yes.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57So do you think the inside space of the property works for you?
0:37:57 > 0:38:00- Yes.- Yes, absolutely. - It's very roomy, plenty of room.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02Plenty of room, that's really good.
0:38:02 > 0:38:08- And all the wooden floors and the tiles... - The tiles.- ..that's really good.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12- And there's not too much carpet!- Oh, no!- I know you don't like carpeting!
0:38:12 > 0:38:14- Let's take a look outside.- OK.
0:38:14 > 0:38:20'This house is meeting almost all their requirements, but will the garden measure up?'
0:38:22 > 0:38:25It's a pretty self-explanatory garden
0:38:25 > 0:38:30in the sense that it's just this nice big square garden,
0:38:30 > 0:38:33- a bit like the house really, it's quite easy to understand...- Yes.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36..it's not terribly complicated or higgledy-piggledy.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39- No. I think the size is... - The size is plenty.- Yep.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42There's a nice sort of corner for a veggie patch.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44- Absolutely.- Yes, absolutely.
0:38:44 > 0:38:49Looking back at the house, the big question is, how much is it going to cost?
0:38:49 > 0:38:53Well, I guess it might be slightly over budget.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56My guess is between 620 and 640.
0:38:56 > 0:39:02- Right.- Yes, I would think probably maybe even 650, because it's very roomy, and with the thatch.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04Well, this property is...
0:39:04 > 0:39:07on at 595!
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Oh, the standard price around here!
0:39:09 > 0:39:11It's the standard price around here.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13So just a little bit under budget.
0:39:13 > 0:39:18- Yes.- And of course, in the present climate, you might be able to make an offer
0:39:18 > 0:39:22- to reflect what you might want to change, in terms of the kitchen, for example.- Yes.
0:39:23 > 0:39:30It's very, very nice. I love the thatched house, really I love it.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32It's very, very English.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36Yes, well, you see it in Germany, but mainly in the north of Germany.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38Right, they've probably nicked it from us.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40THEY LAUGH
0:39:40 > 0:39:44Have a look round the garden, particularly the patio, cos it's quite spacious,
0:39:44 > 0:39:48- and inside the house, and we'll regroup afterwards.- All right.
0:39:49 > 0:39:54This thatched cottage is on the market for £595,000.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57It has three bedrooms, a large living room,
0:39:57 > 0:40:01a dining room with original beams and an inglenook fireplace,
0:40:01 > 0:40:06but is this going to be the one for Andreas, Ninka and their animals?
0:40:07 > 0:40:08I'd like a door there.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12- Yes, would be ideal for the dog. - A doggy one?- Yes.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15When I saw the house first, I said, "Wow!"
0:40:15 > 0:40:18From the outside, it's really, really nice.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22The living room is really impressive, because it's much bigger than you'd expect.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26I love the tiles and the beams and everything,
0:40:26 > 0:40:28so it's really impressive.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32It's got loads of space, and we have loads of stuff, so this will work very nicely.
0:40:32 > 0:40:37- Hmm, we could be onto a winner here! Hello, guys.- Hi.- Hello.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40I'm going to have to whisk you away, but big smiles, we like that!
0:40:46 > 0:40:50One of the big attractions for Andreas moving to Oxfordshire
0:40:50 > 0:40:54is the opportunity to indulge in his passion for fly fishing.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59Ninka's a complete novice, but he's hoping she's going to catch the bug as well,
0:40:59 > 0:41:05so they've come to Westlake to meet Ian Hockley, who's going to show them the ropes.
0:41:05 > 0:41:10Right, we're just going to get you started today doing some very basic casting, on the grass,
0:41:10 > 0:41:13just to get you started before we go fishing.
0:41:13 > 0:41:18'Good on Ninka, she's got stuck in straight away. Let's see how she gets on.'
0:41:18 > 0:41:22Pause, now we need to pause to allow that line to straighten out behind us, OK?
0:41:22 > 0:41:26So, for someone that's not done it before, that's very good.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28It seems she's a bit of a natural.
0:41:28 > 0:41:33Now time for Andreas to show us how it's really done.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35Whoops! You're stuck.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37You've hit the fence.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39You're stuck!
0:41:39 > 0:41:40SHE LAUGHS
0:41:41 > 0:41:47- Boy, I thought my motor skills were bad, but you caught the fence!- Yes... - I didn't.- It's the catch of the day!
0:41:47 > 0:41:51So that's enough practice, it's time to try and catch some fish.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54Fashion first - they've got their safety specs on.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59Ian's tied his artificial fly onto the hook, so what happens next?
0:41:59 > 0:42:03We cast it out, and then we retrieve it in little twitchy movements,
0:42:03 > 0:42:05so it looks like a bug in the water,
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- and attracts things like it's something to eat.- OK.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12To avoid catching another fence, Ian casts off,
0:42:12 > 0:42:16and then it's all about patience, timing, and a bit of luck.
0:42:16 > 0:42:21Sometimes they just grab it and you feel it, normally if they take it and just swim away a bit...
0:42:21 > 0:42:26- That's it, we're in. - Ooh, ah...- Right?
0:42:27 > 0:42:29- Wow, it pulls really hard!- Yeah.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35That's it, there you go.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37Wow, wooh!
0:42:37 > 0:42:38There's your fish.
0:42:38 > 0:42:43Well done, Ninka. What a catch, a beautiful rainbow trout!
0:42:43 > 0:42:46OK, so you're not going to take him home, so we'll put him back.
0:42:48 > 0:42:53- That was very good for a first attempt.- Thank you. I didn't realise they were so strong,
0:42:53 > 0:42:58it was pulling really hard, but I'm really proud, my first fish, it was really good.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07I get this very strong impression that what Ninka and Andreas loved
0:43:07 > 0:43:14about that last property was its simplicity and functionality, which makes me really intrigued
0:43:14 > 0:43:20to find out what they think of the mystery house, because simple and functional...it's not.
0:43:24 > 0:43:29So what have you learnt about English property in the last day and a half?
0:43:29 > 0:43:32- A lot about different styles.- Yeah.
0:43:32 > 0:43:34Which came first, Victorian or Edwardian?
0:43:34 > 0:43:38- Victorian.- Victorian.- See!
0:43:38 > 0:43:40We learnt our lesson!
0:43:45 > 0:43:49Our mystery property is just outside the village of Longworth,
0:43:49 > 0:43:5150 minutes' drive from Henley.
0:43:51 > 0:43:53The streets are lined with stone houses,
0:43:53 > 0:43:58and the village pub is the main attraction, serving traditional ales and food.
0:43:58 > 0:44:01Apart from the local church, that's about it.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03Come and take a look.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06My God, what's that?
0:44:06 > 0:44:08Yes!
0:44:09 > 0:44:11Mobile home?
0:44:11 > 0:44:16- Now, you wanted charming, English property?- Yes!
0:44:16 > 0:44:19- We've pulled out all the stops for you here.- All right!
0:44:19 > 0:44:23This really is as charming and English as it gets.
0:44:23 > 0:44:28- Look at the view! - But it is fantastic!- It's fantastic. - Lovely village, very quiet.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31- Yes.- And this is an extraordinary property.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34We'll come to the caravan later...!
0:44:34 > 0:44:37What do you think of the actual cottage?
0:44:37 > 0:44:40- It looks nice, it looks old. - Yes.- It is old, isn't it?
0:44:40 > 0:44:44It's not the oldest property I've shown you, it's probably around 1800.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47- It's sort of a bit crooked. - It's nice, it's really nice, yeah.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50- I like it!- Let's go in.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02Straight ahead.
0:45:02 > 0:45:03It looks a bit like a museum.
0:45:03 > 0:45:05A museum?!
0:45:05 > 0:45:09Like a gift shop, with a range cooker.
0:45:09 > 0:45:13Yes, let me just talk you through this property. It's a mystery house,
0:45:13 > 0:45:16so it's unusual. It belongs to an interior designer,
0:45:16 > 0:45:21and it's full of her creations and her ideas, so it might not all be
0:45:21 > 0:45:24to your taste, but you have to think through what's here
0:45:24 > 0:45:29and look at the actual structure of the building, which, as you can see, is white.
0:45:29 > 0:45:31Hmm, yes.
0:45:31 > 0:45:33- It's actually quite nice, we like white.- Yes.
0:45:33 > 0:45:37You've got a range in white, you've got a very deep recess there
0:45:37 > 0:45:39with a huge fridge.
0:45:39 > 0:45:42Throughout you've got this lovely white limestone tiling.
0:45:42 > 0:45:49- Yes, they're pretty, actually, very nice.- And a nice new ceramic sink, and a mixer tap!
0:45:49 > 0:45:53- Hey!- A mixer tap!- Oh, we're thrilled!
0:45:53 > 0:45:55I like the kitchen.
0:45:55 > 0:45:56It's a bit tiny.
0:45:56 > 0:46:02And everything is so clean in here. Did anybody ever cooked in here,
0:46:02 > 0:46:05because it looks different when I've finished with cooking!
0:46:05 > 0:46:09- Absolutely, yes. Shall we look at the living room?- Yes.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18- White.- White? Did you say white?
0:46:18 > 0:46:21- Quite white.- Quite white, yes.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24- A few original features here, the original ceilings.- Is that...
0:46:24 > 0:46:30- wood?- Wood panelling. And the original fireplace, which was opened up and made deeper.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33- And it does work.- It does work.- OK.
0:46:33 > 0:46:37- But it hasn't worked recently. - Hasn't worked recently, yes. - It doesn't look that off-and-on.
0:46:37 > 0:46:42With dogs, that's really practical. You'll have noses all over.
0:46:42 > 0:46:45That's true, in the mirror they'd be looking and barking at themselves.
0:46:45 > 0:46:47The room itself's nice.
0:46:47 > 0:46:50- Let's look at the rest of the ground floor.- Yes.
0:46:52 > 0:46:57- So you see, the limestone goes throughout.- It's beautiful, yes. - This is the downstairs bathroom.
0:46:57 > 0:47:01- Ah.- This is a characteristic of many English properties,
0:47:01 > 0:47:06they have their bathrooms outside or downstairs.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08Step that way a little...
0:47:08 > 0:47:10Look at this!
0:47:10 > 0:47:13- Oh, wow!- Wow!
0:47:13 > 0:47:15That is great.
0:47:15 > 0:47:20- That's pretty good? - That is lovely, nice.- Good for washing the dog?- Yes!
0:47:20 > 0:47:22I don't think she'll like that.
0:47:22 > 0:47:27And, through here, I think you might like this feature. This is what we call the boot room,
0:47:27 > 0:47:30for obvious reasons, because it's full of boots.
0:47:30 > 0:47:35This actually was the laundry of the old building, because you see here, we've got a little fire here,
0:47:35 > 0:47:40- and you would have had a copper which heated up the water, and you did all the washing.- Oh, OK.
0:47:40 > 0:47:41But that's closed off now, I suppose.
0:47:41 > 0:47:45- But you do have...- Nice sink. - You do.- What kind of sink is it?
0:47:45 > 0:47:48- Belfast sink!- Well done!
0:47:53 > 0:47:57Quite low ceilings, I can just about stand up.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00Yes, well, we have no issue with that.
0:48:00 > 0:48:05- This is nice. - You've got this nice little feature fireplace, doesn't work...
0:48:05 > 0:48:09- Some storage.- That's good. - And beautiful views over the fields.
0:48:09 > 0:48:12- Absolutely. - Yeah, that's fantastic, yes.
0:48:12 > 0:48:17Because you don't have an extra reception room downstairs, they've put the study upstairs.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20- OK.- So it's next door.
0:48:24 > 0:48:28- So they've turned this into another sitting room, but it could be a study.- Yeah.
0:48:28 > 0:48:34How do you think about the layout of the rooms? Cos obviously they're not huge, and nor are they numerous.
0:48:34 > 0:48:41Yes, that might be critical, because obviously even if you said, OK, we'll combine office and guest room,
0:48:41 > 0:48:45- there wouldn't be room to fit everything in that we have. - Yes, that's right, yeah.
0:48:45 > 0:48:50- But would you be happy with that size for your master bedroom?- Yes.
0:48:50 > 0:48:54Yes, the size is quite good, but that's what you get in a cottage.
0:48:54 > 0:48:55But it isn't, Andreas...
0:48:55 > 0:48:57take a look behind you.
0:48:57 > 0:48:58Is that more stairs?
0:48:58 > 0:49:00Another surprise.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07Oh, wow!
0:49:07 > 0:49:10This is a master bedroom suite.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12Really, really beautiful.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16No messing around going down to the shower downstairs, you've got your bathtub...
0:49:16 > 0:49:20- What a bathtub is that? - It's beautiful, it's really a designer piece.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23And then the long, high... It's high and narrow,
0:49:23 > 0:49:27- but it's still a beautifully snug master suite.- It's very, very cosy.
0:49:27 > 0:49:30Beautiful.
0:49:30 > 0:49:36Well, but from a practical point of view, there's no door in here,
0:49:36 > 0:49:40and it's carpet...in the bathroom!
0:49:42 > 0:49:45Oh me, oh my, yes, but this is the genteel bathroom, you see,
0:49:45 > 0:49:49- this is more the sort of like... scented flowers bathroom.- Yes.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52- You'd go downstairs to do your dirty work.- Yes...
0:49:52 > 0:49:53THEY LAUGH
0:49:53 > 0:49:56- Shall we take a look outside?- Yes.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00'I suspect the designer chic is not winning them over.
0:50:00 > 0:50:02'Let's check out the garden.'
0:50:02 > 0:50:08If you're worried about where to put your guests, you can always billet them in the Romany caravan.
0:50:08 > 0:50:10Hmm, I thought it was a hearse.
0:50:10 > 0:50:15A hearse?! Everybody has to... This is the must-have country accoutrement.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19- All right, OK.- Andreas, where have you been?- Mmm, yes. - It's got a log burner inside.
0:50:19 > 0:50:23- Oh, you're kidding? - No, no, go and look.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26SHE GIGGLES
0:50:26 > 0:50:31- Look, it's literally got one in it. I wonder if it's working? - I can't believe it.
0:50:31 > 0:50:36Maybe we can have broadband in here... Checking e-mails, yeah?
0:50:38 > 0:50:40- Interesting!- Yes.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46The garden is pretty immaculate, like everything else about this property,
0:50:46 > 0:50:51even the tread of the lawn, and you've got space here, formal lawn,
0:50:51 > 0:50:56- and then around the side there's a sort of pergola seating area, so you could sit out.- OK.
0:50:56 > 0:51:00You know, it'd be a brave man to dig this up and put a veggie patch here...
0:51:00 > 0:51:03- You might do it, Andreas, you just might.- Yeah.
0:51:03 > 0:51:07So obviously, it's an unusual property, it is the mystery house,
0:51:07 > 0:51:12and I can see that you've had ambivalent feelings about it as we've gone round it,
0:51:12 > 0:51:16but what do you think this sort of property is on the market for?
0:51:16 > 0:51:19- Well...- It's difficult to say,
0:51:19 > 0:51:26because obviously it's very high end, the way it's been done, so around 620?
0:51:26 > 0:51:32I would guess more than that, I would say between 650 and 680.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37Right, well...
0:51:37 > 0:51:42you're not going to be surprised, this is in the market for 595!
0:51:42 > 0:51:43THEY LAUGH
0:51:43 > 0:51:45That's a joke!
0:51:45 > 0:51:49- It's just a fluke that all the properties are the same price. - How funny!
0:51:49 > 0:51:56- 595.- OK, that surprises me pleasantly.- Yes.
0:51:56 > 0:52:01What's interesting is that all the extras could be yours for an extra 55 grand,
0:52:01 > 0:52:07- so if you wanted to pay 650, you could get the house and everything including the caravan.- The cart.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11Cart? How dare you!
0:52:11 > 0:52:15I know you want to explore, can you just put your sunglasses back on,
0:52:15 > 0:52:22- and go back into the white house, and I'll see you on the steps of the caravan.- OK. See you.
0:52:22 > 0:52:27It is an extraordinary property, and I have to say the location is stunning, and you know,
0:52:27 > 0:52:33them with their dogs and cats, in a while it would become all scuffed up and nice and comfy.
0:52:33 > 0:52:37So I think by now you know the price - £595,000.
0:52:37 > 0:52:41For that, you get three bedrooms, including a master en-suite in the attic.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44Downstairs there's a kitchen with a range cooker,
0:52:44 > 0:52:46and this house has stunning views,
0:52:46 > 0:52:50but will Andreas and Ninka be able to see past the designer styling?
0:52:52 > 0:52:56I'm a bit...worrying about the space,
0:52:56 > 0:53:01it's nicely done, but the size of the kitchen, it's quite tiny.
0:53:01 > 0:53:06It's beautiful, I like the layout, but it's not very practical.
0:53:06 > 0:53:12Yes, the flooring is nice, but you would see paw prints everywhere.
0:53:12 > 0:53:17It's all sort of very nicely done. I'm not sure that it is us.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19The outside's probably more us than the inside.
0:53:19 > 0:53:25- This is a nice room. It's probably a bit too immaculate for us. - Yes, I agree.
0:53:25 > 0:53:29- Here we are, so you've seen all the properties now?- Yes.
0:53:29 > 0:53:34- Time for a little reflection, regrouping, maybe even some decisions?- Hmm.
0:53:45 > 0:53:49Andreas and Ninka have now viewed all the properties,
0:53:49 > 0:53:52and this could be the first house they buy in the UK,
0:53:52 > 0:53:55so I'll give them some time to mull over all they've seen.
0:53:56 > 0:54:01It's quite difficult to gauge which one Ninka and Andreas are going to go for.
0:54:01 > 0:54:03If I had to put my money on any of them,
0:54:03 > 0:54:08I think it would probably be the thatched cottage, but let's find out.
0:54:21 > 0:54:24It's been very illuminating, showing you around
0:54:24 > 0:54:28the magical British world of airing cupboards and Belfast sinks.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31- Has it been as illuminating for you? - Absolutely.- Absolutely, yes.
0:54:31 > 0:54:35- Yes, learnt a lot. - The first property I showed you was the cottage close to Henley,
0:54:35 > 0:54:37but also close to the road.
0:54:37 > 0:54:42- What were your thoughts about that property now? - I think it's grown on us.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46It's got this fantastic layout with the sitting room and the kitchen,
0:54:46 > 0:54:52and you literally don't have to go on the road if you want to walk the dog, just go out the garden gate.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55The next house we looked at was the Edwardian property,
0:54:55 > 0:54:58the red brick property. What are your thoughts on that?
0:54:58 > 0:55:03I think it was not our style, not quite our thing.
0:55:03 > 0:55:06Obviously, the location was brilliant with all the fields around.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08It was beautiful.
0:55:08 > 0:55:13What about the house this morning? It was thatched, it couldn't have been more authentic.
0:55:13 > 0:55:18- Beautiful.- I have to say, when we stood outside, I said, "Wow."
0:55:18 > 0:55:21The fireplace obviously is just breathtaking.
0:55:21 > 0:55:25Kitchen, obviously not quite the size that we'd like.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27In England, we like a project. I got the impression that
0:55:27 > 0:55:30you just want to move in and have a house all ready?
0:55:30 > 0:55:36Well, we're very busy, absolutely hopeless in manual work. I can change a light bulb, and that's about it.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39- Oh, really?!- Mmm.- Aah!
0:55:39 > 0:55:43How about the mystery house? No project there, you could move straight in.
0:55:43 > 0:55:49Absolutely. Very nice, cosy rooms, but I'm afraid it's too small.
0:55:49 > 0:55:55So, if you look overall at all the properties that we've looked at, is there a clear front runner?
0:55:55 > 0:56:00You won't believe it, but we might revisit the first one.
0:56:00 > 0:56:02Wow, that's a surprise!
0:56:02 > 0:56:06- It ticks almost all the boxes. - Really?
0:56:06 > 0:56:09There would be projects, but not major ones.
0:56:09 > 0:56:14It's been a real pleasure showing you round, and I hope that you find the English house of your dreams,
0:56:14 > 0:56:16and may it have mixer taps!
0:56:16 > 0:56:17THEY LAUGH
0:56:17 > 0:56:19- Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:56:22 > 0:56:26Well, look at that, Ninka and Andreas confounded my expectations
0:56:26 > 0:56:29and went for the cottage by the main road.
0:56:29 > 0:56:34Well, this show's always full of surprises, and if you'd like more adventures in rural Britain,
0:56:34 > 0:56:39then join us again next time for another Escape To The Country.
0:56:39 > 0:56:43And remember, if you want to escape to the country and need our help,
0:56:43 > 0:56:50please contact us through our website -
0:57:08 > 0:57:11Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:57:11 > 0:57:15E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk