We’ve seen a mass exodus from London and other UK cities as people search for a calmer, less crowded existence in response to the pandemic. So much so, the population of the UK’s capital could fall this year for the first time in over 30 years.
It’s not just about avoiding crowds. Moving further out also offers more bang for your buck and extra square footage for a smaller price tag. From Grade II-listed buildings to elevated eco-homes, here are some of our favourite architecturally significant homes on the market right now – all under £500,000.
Embassy Court by Wells Coates
Kings Road, Brighton
2 bedrooms; £375,000 by The Modern House
Located on the fourth floor of Brighton’s iconic Grade II-listed building, Embassy Court, this two-bedroom apartment was designed by architect Wells Coates and has a clean, mid-century feel thanks to the current owners’ extensive restoration. The 560-square foot space boasts a curved balcony that looks straight out onto the ocean, as well as herringbone parquet flooring throughout and a bespoke galley kitchen designed by furniture maker Matthew Burt.
Photography: The Modern House
Embassy Court by Wells Coates
Kings Road, Brighton
2 bedrooms; £375,000 by The Modern House
Located on the fourth floor of Brighton’s iconic Grade II-listed building, Embassy Court, this two-bedroom apartment was designed by architect Wells Coates and has a clean, mid-century feel thanks to the current owners’ extensive restoration. The 560-square foot space boasts a curved balcony that looks straight out onto the ocean, as well as herringbone parquet flooring throughout and a bespoke galley kitchen designed by furniture maker Matthew Burt.
Photography: The Modern House
West View in Norham, Northumberland
3 bedrooms; £375,000 by Inigo
West View is a stunning three-bedroom Georgian Grade-II listed house located in the middle of the rural village of Norham in Northumberland, which dates back to the medieval period and has an extensive Conservation Area owing to its architectural and archaeological significance. The Ashlar and welsh slate cottage was built in the early 1800s and extends to almost 1500 sq ft, featuring a garden room and a formal sitting room. The light-flooded open-plan kitchen/dining room stands out with its cabinetry painted to a dark-blue hue, off-set by stainless-steel countertops and a white brick-tile splashback.
Photography: Inigo
West View in Norham, Northumberland
3 bedrooms; £375,000 by Inigo
West View is a stunning three-bedroom Georgian Grade-II listed house located in the middle of the rural village of Norham in Northumberland, which dates back to the medieval period and has an extensive Conservation Area owing to its architectural and archaeological significance. The Ashlar and welsh slate cottage was built in the early 1800s and extends to almost 1500 sq ft, featuring a garden room and a formal sitting room. The light-flooded open-plan kitchen/dining room stands out with its cabinetry painted to a dark-blue hue, off-set by stainless-steel countertops and a white brick-tile splashback.
Photography: Inigo
Upper Brockley Road in Brockley, London
1 bedroom; £345,000 by Mundays
Situated in the South East London area of Brockley, this sleek yet straightforward one-bedroom, first-floor conversion offers leafy, laid-back living in proximity to the hustle and bustle of the city. Inside the elegant mid-to-late Victorian semi-detached house, you’ll find a hand-built kitchen in a crisp and clean white with wooden counters, cork flooring, a feature fireplace and twin sash windows.
Photography: Mundays
The Tower House by Malcolm McCall in Crewkerne, Somerset
4 bedrooms; 450,000 by Greenslade Taylor Hunt
In 2002, The Tower House won the New Building Award from the William Stansell/Somerset Building Preservation Trust, commending architect Malcolm McCall for its unique design and eco-credentials. The intriguing space is exceptionally thought out; the living space faces south to optimise the flow of natural light and far-reaching view. Meanwhile, the eastern side has a rectangular layout, centred around a double-height central lightwell.
Photography: Greenslade Taylor Hunt
The Tower House by Malcolm McCall in Crewkerne, Somerset
4 bedrooms; 450,000 by Greenslade Taylor Hunt
In 2002, The Tower House won the New Building Award from the William Stansell/Somerset Building Preservation Trust, commending architect Malcolm McCall for its unique design and eco-credentials. The intriguing space is exceptionally thought out; the living space faces south to optimise the flow of natural light and far-reaching view. Meanwhile, the eastern side has a rectangular layout, centred around a double-height central lightwell.
Photography: Greenslade Taylor Hunt
Quarry Hills Lane by Halliday Clark in Leyburn, North Yorkshire
2 bedrooms; 500,000 by The Modern House
Quarry Hills is the first energy-efficient house in Yorkshire accredited with Passivhaus Plus status. It features a timber frame, recycled construction materials and straw bale insulation, as well as 29 photovoltaic panels, plus water and heat recovery systems which make for an extremely low running cost – around £150 per year. The contemporary design of the three-story detached home stands apart from its neighbours’ thanks to its external cladding of lime render, zinc and Yorkshire stone.
Quarry Hills Lane by Halliday Clark in Leyburn, North Yorkshire
2 bedrooms; 500,000 by The Modern House
Quarry Hills is the first energy-efficient house in Yorkshire accredited with Passivhaus Plus status. It features a timber frame, recycled construction materials and straw bale insulation, as well as 29 photovoltaic panels, plus water and heat recovery systems which make for an extremely low running cost – around £150 per year. The contemporary design of the three-story detached home stands apart from its neighbours’ thanks to its external cladding of lime render, zinc and Yorkshire stone.
Burton’s Building in Sheffield, South Yorkshire
4 bedrooms; 500,000 by Purple Bricks
Burton’s Building in Sheffield offers the opportunity to enlist the architect of your choice and turn this unique space into a vast contemporary home or series of individual apartments. Built in 1932, the art deco store is brimming with period details throughout – note the parquet flooring, oak doors and original locks. It totals at 6500 sq ft and has a concrete and steel structure, tiled art deco entrance, basement, open-plan interiors, and two large skylights.
Image via Zoopla/Purple Bricks
