Surrey and Northamptonshire Home Away from Home

-Wow!

-We're going to live on a ship!

Families from across Britain are about to try home-swapping.

We'll leave that on the dining room table.

Who's driving?

They don't know each other and have no idea yet

where they will be calling home for the next three days.

-God, it looks lovely.

-Oh, this is amazing! Ha-ha-ha!

At least it's not a tent.

Each family will have to suggest local places

for their home-swappers to visit, as well as a favourite restaurant.

-Cheers.

-Cheers!

-I'm absolutely speechless.

And they will be scoring each other on the location, the day out

and their temporary home.

I'd say eight out of ten is fair.

Only on their return, will they get to see who has

been living in their house...

-Are you feeling a bit outraged?

-I'm... Yeah.

The hackles are rising.

..and find out who has provided the best home-swapping experience.

Argh!

-Oh, wow!

-Oh! Ha-ha!

We are starting off by the river today, in the village of Shepperton

in Surrey.

Our first home-swappers are Lisa and Michael.

They have been together for three years and are trying to have

a slice of The Good Life, growing veg and even sharing their garden

with some feathered friends.

-Here are our wonderful chickens!

-Here they are.

-They have all got names.

-Speckles, Monty,

-Bluebell, John and Keith.

-We do get foxes in our garden here,

so that is why we have it looking a bit like Stalag Luft 44.

So, where do our amateur farmers call home sweet home?

A cosy smallholding or a rustic farmhouse, perhaps?

It's a classical, three-storey,

Georgian detached home. It was originally built

back in Tudor times.

It has got Georgian additions.

Yes, you heard right.

They bought this modest little six-bedroom manor house in Shepperton

a year and a half ago and have painstakingly restored it

-to its former glory.

-I think the style of the house

is country-classic, with a modern twist.

It may have luxuries, like a pool,

but the house also has period features at every turn,

steeped in history. It is even said to have been a love-nest

for Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton.

Our modern lovebirds have their favourite corners.

All my mates up in Yorkshire, they really do take the mickey out of me,

cos they have got sheds that they call their man-cave

and I have got a library, which is very unusual, obviously,

for anybody, let alone a boy from Barnsley.

Yorkshiremen are like, erm, the British version of a Texan, OK?!

So, we are bigger, better, brasher, louder. We eat more, we drink more.

So, I am very proud of my Yorkshire roots.

And while businessman Michael is in his man-cave,

professional musician Lisa has her very own space to perform.

It's like a mini Albert Hall.

But this historic Georgian pad

also has a dark side.

-We had several apparitions.

-Yeah.

We had poltergeists moving things about.

We got a proper exorcist in and he came and he got rid of them.

So, we have still got, now,

a crucifix above this door.

-Nothing has happened since...

-No.

-..we're delighted to say.

Spooky! Let's hope their guests don't have any unwanted visitors.

Lisa and Michael have never home-swapped before,

but having travelled around the world with their careers,

they are keen to explore some new places in Britain.

Any guesses? Erm...a windmill in Norfolk.

I'm thinking

uber-contemporary, very white,

Kent coast?

Are you going to tell us? Please? I'm dying to know.

Patience, patience!

Our next home-swappers are Mark and Yvonne,

who live in a thatched cottage in the pretty canal-side village

of Crick in Northamptonshire.

Both now retired, they have been married for nearly 35 years

and have spent 20 of those living in this Grade II listed home.

Well, the quirks of this house are low ceilings and low walkways.

This one has caught many people over the years,

with its low beams. We are OK with it now,

but most people have cracked their head on this many, many times,

especially after an evening's entertaining, shall we say!

Yvonne is a keen seamstress

and Mark used to work in the construction industry,

so they both had a very hands-on role in creating this family home.

We love our home. It is a bit quirky, it is a bit different,

which is what we like. We like character properties.

It is all different levels. No wall is straight. You start to paint

and the plaster falls off, but that is the way it is, isn't it?

-It is unique.

-Apart from the one next door.

-Yes!

Yes, we'll gloss over that one.

When it comes to the decor, the couple has tried to keep it

light and bright, rather than chintzy or fussy.

This is one of our guest bedrooms. It is done out in...

-What would you call it, Yvonne?

-Eau de nil.

-Eau de nil.

But it is a nice comfortable bright room. Again, we have tried

-to keep it bright and airy, haven't we?

-Yeah.

-Light. Cobweb?

-That's it.

-Don't worry, Yvonne. No-one noticed.

The house also has plenty of outside space.

And what is no country cottage garden complete without?

A hot tub.

-On a day like today, wonderful.

-Beautiful.

You didn't want it, but I have to say, after you play tennis,

-you think it's fantastic.

-It is. You can sit on a very clear night

and watch the stars and feel very cocooned, don't you? So, it's nice.

Our hot-tubbers have never swapped homes before, but friends of theirs

are big fans, so they are keen to give it a try.

I'd like to go somewhere we could experience something different.

So, maybe, a castle or something, where you can dress up in armour

-or what have you and do a bit of jousting. That would be fun.

-Yes!

Well, all will soon be revealed.

-What about these jeans?

-They'll do.

Now, of course, most home-swappers would know where they were going

before they set off, but our very trusting couples

have left that up to us,

which makes for a magical mystery tour.

Quite difficult, especially for a lady. Don't know what to pack.

Now, if you are a pet owner, one of the benefits of home-swapping

can be having your furry or feathered friends cared for

-in their own home.

-Roxy's food and Roxy's water.

Just make sure you OK it with your guests first.

OK, now it's time to spill the beans.

Ooh-ooh-ooh!

For Mark and Yvonne,

it's a trip to sunny Surrey.

-Oh!

-Great. Surrey. Fantastic.

Yeah, that's great.

-The River Thames runs through Surrey, as well, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

Ah, the river!

That will be interesting to see if we are anywhere near the river.

Now it is Lisa and Michael's turn.

Actually, you know what, I am quite excited.

And they are off to Northamptonshire.

-Oh.

-Oh!

-There are some lovely places in Northamptonshire.

-I was going

to say, there are a lot of historic buildings in Northamptonshire.

So, with their destinations revealed, our eager swappers

hand over their homes and hit the road.

Michael and Lisa are heading 98 miles north,

to the pretty village of Crick, in west Northamptonshire.

It is set in the rolling countryside, offering a quiet, rural life,

but with great transport links, being just a stone's throw from the M1.

The county of Northamptonshire is in the heart of England.

Home to many historic churches and stately homes,

it is often known as "the county of spires and squires".

It has a rich heritage for boot and shoe making,

with more than 900 years in the industry.

And the county is also home to the famous Silverstone race circuit,

which has more than one million visitors a year.

So, if you are a petrolhead, be sure to pay it a visit.

If life in the slow lane is more your thing, then there are plenty

of pretty villages to explore,

filled with stone cottages and thatched roofs. The village of Crick

has a population of just 2,000 and now, Lisa and Michael

are about to get their first glimpse of their rural retreat.

Gosh, what a beautiful garden! Wow!

Oh, honey, honey, honey, honey. Look at that.

-Oh!

-God, it's fantastic. It's lovely stone, isn't it?

-It's beautiful.

-My expectations were set at a caravan in Scunthorpe.

-Yes!

-So, this is a really good result.

-Amazing.

100 miles south, Mark and Yvonne are winging their way to their new pad

in Shepperton, in the northern tip of Surrey.

This county lies to the southwest of London,

but its pretty villages, bustling market towns

and rolling countryside mean it feels a world away from city living.

It is home to the magnificent Hampton Court Palace,

historic gardens, at Kew and Wisley, and the lovely Surrey Hills,

officially one of England's 33 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

With a population of around 10,000, Shepperton is surrounded

by reservoirs and locks.

The world-famous Royal River Thames powers through the very heart

of the village, where Mark and Yvonne

are about to arrive at their home away from home.

-Wow!

-This looks good, doesn't it?

-Wow.

-Look at that.

-Look at this!

-This looks...

-Fantastic.

-Looks nice, doesn't it?

-It really does.

-Nice colour of brickwork, as well.

-I wonder how old it is.

-Georgian, I would guess.

-Yes, it looks like it probably is.

-Some lovely rooms, as well, by the looks of it.

-Is it?

-Ooh, let me have a look.

-Very smart.

-It's fabulous.

-Well, don't dally. Get inside!

Look at that!

-It is fabulous, isn't it?

-Useful, yep.

And where best to start their tour than the kitchen -

the heart of the home?

This is stunningly beautiful, isn't it? It's amazing.

-Look at that. A swimming pool, as well. Fantastic.

-Look at that!

Imagine when you open these doors overlooking the swimming pool, Mark.

-That's nice.

-Oh, look. "Welcome. We wish you a wonderful stay

"in our home. Champagne in the fridge door is for you."

-How wonderful.

-Very nice. That's very generous of them.

Thank you very much.

Oh, look, here, as well. Here is the home-swappers' manual.

Both our sets of home-owners have written a manual,

to help their guests find their way around the house.

It is an important part of home-swapping,

as it explains the quirks that most houses have,

as well as tips and recommendations on the local area.

"Hello, and we wish you a warm welcome to our home.

"Our house is brimming with history.

"Built in 1650, it has had some VIP guests over the centuries."

That's interesting. We'll have to find out who.

"We hope you have a lovely and comfortable stay here."

I think we will.

So, manual in hand, our couple sets off to explore the house.

Let's just hope they are not easily spooked.

"The house was haunted."

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Ooh.

"We saw apparitions and heard noises.

"We had to have the house exorcised three times, but we are pretty sure

-"it's not haunted any more."

-Let's hope not.

-Eugh!

Three times, though! By Jove, that's a lot.

-It is our favourite film, as well, Ghostbusters, so...

-Yours!

I have just noticed, look, there is a cross above the door, there.

-Yes, I did notice that, actually, on the way in.

-Did you?

-Yeah.

-Do you think it feels colder because it was haunted here?

-No.

-OK.

Up in Northamptonshire, Lisa and Michael

are entering their rural village house for the first time.

-Oh, it's SO beautiful!

-Oh, look at this!

Oh, it's gorgeous!

Darling, there is a bottle of wine.

-Oh, right, what's this?

-What's this?

"The Home-Swappers' Manual, Crick, Northamptonshire.

"Hello and welcome to our home.

"This is a Grade II listed..."

-Oh, yeah.

-"..17th-century thatched cottage, which we understand

"might have once been the cattle shed or maybe even the pig sty..."

SHE LAUGHS

-"..to the main farmhouse next door."

-Lucky pigs, eh?!

"Beware, there are low doorways.

"We hope you don't bang your head too often,

"especially if you have enjoyed a glass of our home-made damson gin"!

I can imagine myself settling in here with a glass of wine

and a book

in about...half an hour.

Well, this is sounding good.

In Shepperton, Mark and Yvonne are keen to see where

they will be sleeping tonight.

-Wow!

-Stunning, isn't it?

-It looks fabulous.

-Another reference to a violin.

-Definitely a musician. Somebody is.

Oh, they are good, these two.

Also looking for clues about their hosts,

Lisa and Michael are leaving no door unopened in Crick.

Oh! You can tell a lot about a man by his toilet.

Look at this. This is the original old wall, look.

-Oh, it's gorgeous.

-This is the original house wall.

Look at that.

I think Mark and Yvonne really,

-really care about historic buildings.

-Yeah.

-So, I think that we're kind of cut from the same cloth, really.

-Yeah.

It's fantastic.

-Yeah.

-Darling, come out of the toilet.

Yes, there's plenty more to see than the downstairs loo.

In Shepperton, Mark and Yvonne are checking out the grounds.

Wow, it's a big pool, isn't it?

-It is a big pool.

-It's huge.

-Shall we go and find the chickens, shall we?

-Yeah.

-There they are.

-Oh, there they are.

-See what we need to do.

-Have we got some instructions?

-We've got instructions.

"At night-time, ensure chicken hut door is closed

"and locked, and put the electric current on."

Here, chicky, chicky!

COCKEREL CROWS

Come on, chicky. In you go.

Feels like something out of The Good Life, here.

I told her to go in when they were all in.

Come on, in you go. That's it. All in now?

-Yeah, they're all here now.

-COCKEREL CROWS

Now, be good.

And now, to arm the coop against foxes.

"Simply clip on the red clip from the black battery."

Clip it on there.

It's got to be that, is it?

Yeah, there we go.

Up in Northamptonshire, Lisa and Michael have spotted the hot tub.

-Well, it's plugged in.

-Yeah.

-That's it.

-Oh, yes, in there later.

Can't wait for that.

-Oh, they've got a TV in here.

-Oh.

This is obviously his man-cave.

I think the lady of the house takes great pride,

just from a little, tiny bit I've seen, it looks,

it looks really loved and well cared for.

House tours over, our guests can make themselves at home.

Right, let's get unpacked.

-Whoa!

-Thank you.

It's bubbles on the terrace in Shepperton.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

-Salute.

-Salute.

And a different type of bubbles in Crick.

Next morning, the sun's shining,

and our swappers are waking up in their homes away from home.

Lisa and Michael are in the rural Northamptonshire cottage,

while for Mark and Yvonne, it's the Georgian manor house in Surrey,

but it seems they're struggling with life in the suburbs.

We do get traffic past our property,

but I think this was just a bit earlier than we normally hear it

in Crick, which is probably one of the reasons

why I woke a bit earlier.

The noise was quite loud, wasn't it?

Like now, you can hear it going past.

But the big question is,

whether they had any unexpected visitors in the night.

There were no poltergeists or apparitions, or...

They're probably a little bit tired after a long day themselves.

It would have been nice to have heard a clunk or something,

-wouldn't it? But...

-What are you trying to say?

We've not heard a clunk in the night for a long time, I tell you.

Moving swiftly on...

Up in Northamptonshire,

Lisa and Michael have been enjoying the peace and quiet.

-We slept brilliantly, didn't we?

-Yeah.

-It was lovely. No noise.

A very comfortable bed, so very cosy.

My head's slightly flatter than it was this time yesterday.

The doorways are quite low,

so that's where my point of impact has been, quite frankly.

Home swapping is a great way to suss out a new holiday spot,

or even test-drive a place to live.

Our hosts have each left their guests some special local info

to help them find their feet.

So, armed with their insider know-how,

our two sets of swappers head out to explore.

For Mark and Yvonne, it's the pretty village of Shepperton,

just 15 miles southwest of London.

It's right on the River Thames, and surrounded by water,

so a great place to visit if you fancy

trying your hand at sailing, windsurfing, or even lake swimming.

The locals are very proud of their area.

There's quite a lot of nice walks around by the canals,

and the rivers as well,

so that's a nice attraction for people to come to. It's very pretty.

There's lots of greenery. Even though you are in London,

you don't really feel like you're in London.

It's like a little village, really.

It's not all ducks and dinghies, though,

as Shepperton is also home to the famous film studios.

The village itself is jam-packed with historic buildings.

There's a bustling high street, and strong local spirit.

The community feel in Shepperton, I think, pure and simple,

is down to the way that people are around here.

They seem to be willing to help one another and get on with one another.

There's a lot of local businesses still.

There's still a few butchers in the area. There's no huge supermarkets.

Lots of little shops and convenience stores,

so I think it does have a more of a together feeling.

And one of those local shops is an award-winning family butcher's.

They champion local produce, so Mark and Yvonne are keen to take a look.

-Morning.

-Morning.

-We're looking for something for lunch.

-Lunch?

What can you recommend?

I've got some sausage rolls that I can get a sample for you.

-Sausage rolls, your favourite.

-Sausage rolls.

-How did he know that?

-Oh, look at that!

-There you go.

-This looks fantastic.

Thank you. Wow.

-The pastry's fantastic.

-Mmm, lovely, crispy pastry, yeah.

-Half a dozen of them.

-Half a dozen?

-Have you got friends coming round?

-That's right.

If we're looking for somewhere for a picnic, where would be nice to go?

If you head down to the river, so you can sit on the riverside.

-That'd be nice. Thanks for that. Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-You got everything there?

-Well, enjoy your afternoon in the sun.

-That's fantastic. Nice to meet you.

-Lovely to meet you.

-We will.

-Take care. Bye.

-Bye-bye.

While Mark and Yvonne head off in search of a perfect picnic spot,

Michael and Lisa are heading out and about in Crick.

This pretty village is 14 miles northwest of Northampton,

and is right by some of our most famous canals.

The Oxford Canal and the Grand Union Canal are

down at the bottom of the village.

There's a lovely pub there that you can go and have a meal,

and it's just delightful.

There are plenty of riverside walks and cycle paths to explore,

and Crick even has its own marina, which plays host to an annual

boat show and festival, drawing in thousands of visitors every year.

With monthly markets, the village has a thriving local community

which is passionate about this little corner of England.

Crick has a lot of local history. We are mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The local community - they're very friendly.

I mean, we take people as they come.

It's paradise.

St Margaret's Church in the heart of the village

dates back to the 12th century.

Reverend David Lake is always happy to show it off to visitors,

so it's the perfect place for Lisa and Michael to kick off

their tour of Northamptonshire's spires and squires.

We are in the oldest part of the church. This font here is Norman.

-Wow, it's fantastic, isn't it?

-Yeah.

I'll tell you something about the Normans,

they were terrible plumbers.

-Does it leak?

-It leaks.

Sounds like English plumbers.

And what's this thing behind you there?

That is the Victorian pedestal.

-Oh, it goes on top.

-That looks very...

-That simply goes on top.

-Oh, it's wood. Gosh, it looks metal.

-It's a statement. Yeah.

-Like a crown on it - it's fabulous.

-And is this your organ, there?

-It is. It's a royal organ.

It was built in 1819.

-Does it work?

-It does.

-Do you want to come and see it?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Covered in real gold leaf,

the organ started life at the Royal Chapel in St James's Palace,

and has been here for over 150 years.

Recent restoration cost around £200,000,

and of course, our musician can't resist having a go.

I'm looking for the on button.

How 21st century!

-You can almost feel the bass in it, can't you?

-You can.

That's a very, very rich sound.

Very good.

Amazing! Amazing!

I played a church organ. Yes! Yes!

Well, the area is certainly hitting all the right notes

for Lisa and Michael so far.

Down in Shepperton, Mark and Yvonne are on the hunt for a perfect

picnic spot to eat their sausage rolls.

Just a short stroll from the house is a river ferry that makes

the journey across the Thames to Weybridge every day,

summoned by the ring of a bell.

-Six. Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-This is nice, darling.

-Beautiful, isn't it?

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

-Yeah.

When you're on the river. It's lovely.

-Thank you. Thanks a lot.

-Thanks. Take care.

-Bye.

-Nice to meet you.

And now, it's picnic o'clock.

It is lovely, isn't it, down here?

I could see us living here, you know?

-Yeah?

-I could. I could see us here, boat on the river,

whiling away the weekends.

So, having had a morning exploring,

what will Mark and Yvonne give the area out of ten?

-The high street was nice.

-Yeah.

-Lots of nice shops.

Being so close to the river, that is fantastic.

Yeah, but there's one thing that we can't give it a ten for.

-We've not been to a local pub.

-Pub!

This is sounding good.

We are giving the area...

-nine out of ten.

-Nine out of ten, yeah.

So, Shepperton's really floating their boat so far.

Lisa and Michael have spent the morning having a nose around Crick,

so how do they rate the area?

-It's quintessentially English.

-Absolutely.

Wonderful villages, tremendously interesting architecture.

-And we've had a great day so far.

-Yeah.

And the only reason I don't give it a 10

is because I haven't seen any water yet.

Oh, how many points will they knock off?

We feel quite landlocked, so for that reason and that reason alone,

it's a 9/10.

That makes it even-stevens so far.

To help give our swappers a real experience of what's on offer

in the local area, they're both given an afternoon activity to try.

Having visited one of the county's spires,

guess where Lisa and Michael are heading next?

"Today, you'll be visiting one of Northamptonshire's famous

-"stately homes."

-Oh, fantastic.

-"To focus..."

-Wow.

OK, underlined, which obviously means zooming in and out.

"..on some of its feathered residents,

-"as you experience the art of photographing birds of prey."

-Wow!

-Very good.

-Have you ever done photography?

-Yeah, yeah,

-when I was younger.

-But, honey, all your pictures are blurred.

HE LAUGHS

A lesson sounds perfect then!

But what local Shepperton treats are in store for Mark and Yvonne?

-Right, so, where are we going?

-Come on, let's have a look.

What are we going to do? Let's see.

"Day out. Shepperton is surrounded by water,

"so this afternoon you'll be hoisting a sail

"on the local reservoir."

-Sail!

-Great, looking forward to it, it'll be fun.

So, Lisa and Michael are travelling just nine miles from Crick

to the historic Holdenby Hall.

Built in 1583, it was the largest private house in Elizabethan England.

It's believed they've been practising falconry here

for more than 400 years.

And Lisa and Michael are not only going to meet

some of the 40 birds of prey,

but have a lesson in capturing them on camera

with wildlife photographer Bob Brind-Surch.

Right, I'll take you through here

and introduce you to the first bird we'll work with today.

-Wow! Look at that!

-Which is a European eagle owl.

All right, now, what you want to do is frame him.

-You see he's looking across to the right at the moment?

-Yeah.

So frame it so he's slightly off to the left of your picture,

but keep that red dot on him. All right? That's it.

OK, and then press it. Does that make sense?

So you're getting the focus on him

and then composing the picture so that he's looking right.

CAMERAS CLICK

I took a picture of an owl!

-That's so cool, isn't it?

-Look, baby!

It's like the clutch of a car, it takes a bit of learning...

-But I drive an automatic.

-Oh, well, OK. All right!

While Lisa and Michael practise their shutter skills,

down in Surrey, Mark and Yvonne are preparing to get on the water.

Just 10 minutes outside Shepperton is the Queen Mary reservoir,

which has more than 700 acres of water,

making it the largest in the South East of England.

You can take lessons in windsurfing and sailing here,

and instructor Izzy Mitchell

is ready to put our couple through their paces.

-This is our lovely boat.

-OK.

So, when you're sailing along, you'll be holding two things.

The rope, in your front hand, and the tiller in your back hand.

For you guys up the front, you're going to be controlling the jib.

Where do we lock ourselves in to stop ourselves falling off?

Hopefully you won't be jumping out of the boat any time soon.

Before they hit the water, there is a lesson in dinghy steering skills.

-OK, ready to tack.

-Ready!

Watch out, back foot.

YVONNE LAUGHS

-It's hard, isn't it?

-Just go for it.

Well, that wasn't the most successful lesson.

And it seems Mark isn't sure of his sea legs.

We'll give it a go.

As long as we don't fall out, that's the key thing.

Fingers crossed! They prepare to set sail.

-Cast away.

-Look, we're sailing!

Fantastic.

They're looking like sailing pros already.

Up in Crick, Lisa and Michael have mastered snapping stationary birds,

and are about to take on the challenge of

a fast-moving Harris hawk.

Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes, here he comes.

-I can't even see him.

-He's coming towards you now.

Oh, God, he's low.

After a few outtakes, they hit the jackpot.

-Oh!

-That's fantastic. Yeah, I got him.

-Did you get that, darling?

Yeah, they won't be very good, but I got him.

They've taken to this like ducks to water.

And now they're about to see

if all that sitting on the ground has been worth it.

-Hey, look at that!

-I like that.

-Look at that, that is smashing. Isn't that special?

-Look at that.

Well done, Lisa. Look at that!

-Aww! That's incredible.

-Look at that. Look at that.

-Wow.

-Can you imagine that at home?

Thank you so much.

-Have a great rest of your weekend.

-Will do. Cheers.

This place was fantastic.

Bob, the birds, the photography, the house.

We would never in a million years

have thought of doing something like this.

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

-It's amazing.

So falconry was a big hit. But what of our Surrey sailors?

Things are going swimmingly.

But after a tricky tack...

..they end up in the drink!

-You all right?

-Yeah, go on.

But Izzy is on hand to save the day.

Three, two, one, kick, like a fish. Brilliant.

-And soon they're back on deck.

-There you go.

Thank goodness for life jackets!

They bid a hasty retreat to dry land, and after a warm shower,

reflect on what went wrong with the tacking.

-On dry land, it didn't work particularly well.

-No!

So on the water, it was a complete disaster. Primarily due to me.

The fact that Izzy was so calm was great,

and then she righted it and we got back in.

That was fine, wasn't it?

What we should've done is shout, "Iceberg!"

just as it was going over.

It's a dinghy, not the Titanic!

But it's good to see them feeling philosophical.

With their afternoon's activities over,

both our sets of swappers head home.

But on the way, they can't resist a look at the local estate agent's.

Well, who doesn't like to check out property prices

when they're in a new area?

Oh, I like that, look at that one.

Oh, that's beautiful. And it's Grade II.

Grade II listed, Georgian.

-Oh, it's beautiful.

-Five double bedrooms.

-Perfect.

595. That's not bad, is it?

If you fancy relocating to Northamptonshire,

you could bag yourself a terraced home for just over £108,000.

But that goes up to £136,000 for a semi

or a quarter of a million or more for a detached property.

Down in Surrey, you'll need a bigger wallet.

Three to four bedrooms, modern bathroom. Ooh, look at the garden.

It's 500,000, I thought it would be more expensive than that.

Here, you're looking at around £232,000 for a flat,

£344,000 for a semi,

and a whopping £658,000 or more for a detached house.

Now to round off the day and score some extra points,

our swappers have each pointed their guests in the direction

of a favourite place to eat.

Both couples are passionate about their little corners of the country,

and are keen to show off what the areas have to offer.

Mark and Yvonne have come just a couple of minutes down the road

to one of the oldest riverside pubs in Shepperton.

-Cheers, chin-chin.

-Chin-chin.

Nice to be out and enjoying ourselves, having a nice meal.

And they're wondering how things are going at home.

-Hopefully they're enjoying Crick.

-I mean, I like to think so.

It is different, and that's the whole point of this,

you don't go into it to be the same.

Up in Crick, Michael and Lisa have come

just half a mile from the cottage

to the canalside restaurant specially recommended by their hosts.

And it seems first impressions are good.

Oh, wow, look at that!

Oh! I love it! The light bulbs.

Happy to be back beside the water,

Lisa and Michael are in a celebratory mood.

-Here's to Crick and Northamptonshire.

-Brilliant.

-Cheers.

And they're keen to try the local produce.

What is local on this menu, then?

The steak's local, the belly pork's local, the asparagus is local,

the eggs are from Yelvertoft

-which is the next village down.

-Oh, fabulous.

-They are free-range eggs.

-We were thinking about the paella.

-Paella?

-Yeah, it's a good choice.

-Perfect.

-Good man.

-I'll take those for you.

Thank you so much.

Ah, paella. The famous Northamptonshire dish(!)

In Shepperton, Mark and Yvonne have been dining on steak and sea trout

and grab the chance to get to know the locals.

It's got a really nice feel, you know, a local feel.

-It's got a very village-y feel, here.

-It has, yeah.

Have you been down into the old town?

Shepperton Square, which is gorgeous.

The Victorians used to come to Shepperton,

when the train line was put in, this was an escape from London.

-It's a nice place to live, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is.

With the meals over, our couples turn their minds to scoring again.

Having already scored the local area, and both given 9/10,

this time they're rating their day out

including the afternoon activity and the restaurant.

-The evening out, 10 out of 10, for me.

-Yeah.

Fantastic food, great location, lovely staff, good wine,

-what more can you ask for?

-OK.

The sailing day, capsizing and being underwater in the 70 foot reservoir,

probably puts the score down a bit.

Oh, I've got that sinking feeling.

So overall, 8/10.

Probably wouldn't go quite as high as you,

-but if you want to push it to eight, I'll go with it.

-8/10 it is, then.

That's not bad, considering the dunking.

What about their guests in Crick?

We have had an amazing, amazing day out.

-Photographing those wild birds was incredible.

-It was brilliant.

We've now come to this wonderful restaurant, incredible food.

We found the water, yay!

-So we rate this day out as a 10.

-10.

So as day two draws to a close, Crick takes the lead by two points.

It's morning on the third and final day of our home-swappers' trips.

And as both our couples soak up the morning sun

in their borrowed gardens,

Yvonne's got kitchen envy.

If I'm taking one thing away from here, it's having a look

at that kitchen and seeing if we can do anything like it.

Kitchen room like that going into the garden

would be a fantastic room to entertain.

And Lisa is missing her Georgian ceilings.

Oh, dear! I can't play my violin in this house.

Well, she needn't worry, as this home swap is short and sweet.

And having spent a couple of days away,

our couples need to fly home to roost in their own home sweet homes.

-Perfect.

-Done. Ready to go.

-Let's go.

Home-swapping is not only a uniquely personal way

to get to know a new area,

but it also saves you money.

A good-quality B&B could set you back around £185

for two nights in Shepperton in Surrey

and £140 in Crick in Northamptonshire.

If you're planning a swap,

there are thousands of homes online in the UK and abroad.

Make sure you draw up a contract to agree what's included

when it comes to utilities, cars or bicycles, and basic kitchen supplies.

Clear guidelines make for happy swappers.

Home, sweet home. Here we are.

Our two couples are back on home turf.

Oh, lovely to be home.

And now they finally see their guests and hear their verdict.

First up, Mark and Yvonne.

It will be quite interesting to see who's been here.

-It will be very interesting.

-See what they say.

Hello, my name is Lisa and I'm 46.

Hello, I'm Mike, I'm 49.

I'm a professional violinist.

And I'm a director of one of the world's largest

talent management organisations.

-Spot on.

-We were bang on on the lady!

-Absolutely.

Maybe we'd make detectives!

Thank you so much for allowing us to stay in your beautiful home.

We'd never in a million years dream of coming to Northamptonshire,

-but we've loved every minute of it.

-Very nice indeed, actually.

I feel quite choked up about that. Yes, very nice.

Oh, honey, honey, look at that!

God, it's fantastic.

It's great to hear his enthusiasm.

This is really, really, super comfortable.

I can imagine myself settling in here

with a glass of wine and a book.

-In about half an hour!

-THEY LAUGH

He's definitely a Yorkshireman.

Oh! You can tell a lot about a man by his toilet.

-They both seem real fun, don't they?

-Yeah.

Mark and Yvonne really, really care about historic buildings.

So I think that we're kind of cut from the same cloth, really.

They've really appreciated what we've done here,

and that's lovely to hear, isn't it?

It is. Makes all this effort worthwhile.

Down in Shepperton, it's the moment of truth for Lisa and Michael.

-Let's do it.

-OK, let's press it, let's see who these people are.

Hi, I'm Yvonne, and I'm 58 years old and this is my gorgeous husband...

Mark, and I'm also 58 years old.

-I'm retired now.

-I'm also retired.

We've really enjoyed being in your wonderful home.

-We figured they were retired.

-Yeah, we did.

Oh! Look at that! Very nice.

It is fabulous, isn't it? Beautiful, yeah.

It's actually fascinating.

-Yeah, it is.

-Watching them go round the house and pick things out.

The house was haunted... when they moved in.

-Our favourite film as well, Ghostbusters.

-Yours!

Come on, chicky! In you go.

Come on, Mark!

Feel like something out of The Good Life, here.

-I feel like that every day.

-I know! We do, don't we, Margot?

Simply clip on the red clip from the black battery.

It's got to be that, has it?

-No, no!

-No, don't do that, you'll get electrocuted!

How terrible! I think I missed off, "To the green wire."

There we go.

God, I'm surprised we've got any chickens left!

I'm surprised... I'm surprised we've got any guests left!

Don't worry, Mark, they're all alive.

Yes, no chickens were harmed in the making of this house swap.

COCKEREL CROWS

So, having seen their guests having a good poke around the house,

they're keen to see how they scored the whole experience.

And which swap comes out on top.

First up, Lisa and Michael's verdict on Crick.

I would rate this area a 9/10.

And the only reason I don't give it a 10

is because I haven't seen any water yet.

They can walk from their home to the Thames.

It's beautiful there, I can understand why they would miss it.

And now for their thoughts on the day out.

We have had an amazing, amazing day out.

We found the water, yay!

-So we rate this day out as a 10.

-10.

Wow!

Again, that's lovely to hear, isn't it?

But what about the all-important score for the house?

It's got a wonderful feel about it, fabulous space.

But we did bang our heads a few times.

And for that reason, we're going to score your house a 9.

-Yeah.

-Yeah!

I'm glad they banged their head, that's part of living in this house.

Hope they didn't hurt themselves, of course!

So, that's 28/30 for Crick.

Now for Mark and Yvonne's scores on Shepperton.

The high street was nice.

-Yeah.

-Lots of nice shops.

There's one thing that we can't give it a 10 for,

-we've not been to a local pub.

-Pub!

-We're giving the area a 9/10.

-Yeah.

We rated them a 9/10 because we hadn't seen any water.

So, very similar.

And their day out?

The sailing day, up until we capsized.

Oh, no!

Eight, 9/10. The evening out, 10/10, for me.

So overall, 8/10.

Thank you so much to our local pub who saved the day, clearly.

Well done.

So, with Crick in the lead on the area and day out,

it all comes down to the score for the house.

It's a stunning house.

-Great location. You're very lucky people.

-However...

We marked it down slightly on the basis that you can hear

the aircraft noise quite regularly.

So the overall score for the house is a 9+.

-I think that's fair.

-Yeah, they loved the house.

I'm staggered they even mentioned aircraft noise,

-because we don't hear any.

-But when you're in Crick, you hear nothing.

And there's two cars every half an hour.

So that's a total of 26 for Shepperton.

Which means, with just two points in it,

today's Home Away From Home winner is Crick.

Oh, I think it's tremendous. I'm absolutely made up.

I'm thrilled for them, but also, in a way, for us.

-Watching their reaction to our home...

-Yeah.

It's actually quite emotional,

because I think it's a massive tick in the box for what we've done.

-Seriously...

-Hear hear.

Aww, honey!

Having made it through their first ever home swaps,

how do our couples feel about the whole experience?

You know what was very sweet and quite endearing,

was that Mark said, "You're very lucky people."

About us living here.

Home swapping is great fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

-I'd definitely do it again.

-I would definitely do it again.

-# Who you going to call?

-Ghostbusters!

-# Think you better call

-Ghostbusters!

-# Think you better call

-Ghostbusters!

-# Who you going to call?

-Ghostbusters!

-# Think you better call

-Ghostbusters!

-# Who you going to call?

-Ghostbusters! #