I've (not) got a little list

Take the pain out of planning with these unlisted delights

- James Fisher

Kent, £4.25 million

Surrounded as it is with park-like grounds, it is perhaps somewhat surprising to find out that not only does Downe Hall lie within the village of Downe, but also within the M25 and a mere 17 miles from London. The elegant six-bedroom home, built in the 19th century, offers a tremendous 6,600sq ft of living space, more than two acres of land, with a swimming pool and tennis court, and has been painstakingly restored and modernised by its current owners. Downe village itself is in a conservation area, within the Metropolitan Green Belt and was once considered for UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its links to Charles Darwin. These days, the village is awash with amenities, such as two pubs, a farm shop, church and village hall. Hamptons (01732 430290)

East Sussex, £1.395 million