From ‘Downton Abbey’ to ‘The Gilded Age’: 15 Lavish Real-Life Mansions From Hit Period Dramas
Published on June 10, 2025
Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO More
England
Subterms
Latest story
More stories
- in Luxury
Tim Burton’s Whimsical 18th-Century English Country Home Lists for $6 Million
Tim Burton, the visionary director behind Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and Netflix’s Wednesday, is parting ways with his thoroughly cinematic English country retreat. The 18th-century Grade II-listed Mill House in Oxfordshire has hit the market for £4.5 million (approximately $6 million) listed with Savills.
Set on 17 lush acres along a peaceful stretch of the River Thames, the 6,000-square-foot estate is quintessentially British—with a whimsical twist that’s pure Burton. Originally purchased in 2006 for £2.9 million with then-partner Helena Bonham Carter, the home has long served as a tranquil creative refuge. The couple separated in 2014, but the property has remained part of Burton’s collection of residences in the U.K. and U.S.
RELATED: Rob Zombie’s Two-House Compound in L.A. Can Be Yours for $9 Million
The home’s original charm shows in its grand windows, ornate fireplaces, and detailed woodwork.
The Aspect Creative Ltd; Savills
Built in 1741 as the foreman’s residence for Sutton Mill—a once-prominent paper mill that produced the Bank of England’s earliest hard-to-forge banknotes—the property is now the last surviving remnant of the site. It was later acquired by British Prime Minister H.H. Asquith in the early 20th century to serve as a guest house for his country estate. Though the mill and its towering chimney are long gone, the house remains—gracious, elegant, and full of period charm.
Steeped in history, Mill House includes formal rose gardens, ancient trees, woodland paths, and a trio of islands connected by wooden and rope bridges. There’s even a jetty overlooking a lily-covered mill pond and a secluded summerhouse hidden among the trees—ideal for a quiet read or sketchbook session, à la Burton himself.
RELATED: Marvel Star Chris Evans Is Asking $7 Million for His Hollywood Hills Home
Wooden and rope bridges cross streams and tributaries on their way to the Thames.
The Aspect Creative Ltd; Savills
Inside, the house is a celebration of Georgian symmetry and craftsmanship. Think: full-height sash windows, intricate cornicing, wood-paneled walls, and carved marble fireplaces. The drawing room—spanning front to back—features views of the lawns and ancient cedars, while a cozy study, dining room, and sitting room round out the reception spaces. The kitchen, with its classic Aga and painted wood cabinetry, is charmingly rustic, yet highly functional, with a walk-in pantry, utility room, and even a Chubb walk-in safe.
Upstairs, the principal suite spans the depth of the house and comes with its own dressing room or nursery. Seven other bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a top-floor teen retreat ensure there’s space for guests, family, or an entire film crew.
“Mill House is the quintessential English country home,” says Hugh Maconochie of Savills, “with magical grounds that promise a lifestyle straight out of Swallows and Amazons.”
Enchanting, indeed.
Click here to see more photos of Mill House.
The Aspect Creative Ltd; Savills
Authors
Abby Montanez
Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…
Read More More
- in Luxury
£50 Million Mega Home In Surrey, England (PHOTOS)
Listed with Becky Fatemi of Sotheby’s International Realty LOCATION: Chestnut Lane, Chobham, Surrey, England, UK SQUARE FOOTAGE: 29,840 BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS: 13 bedrooms & 15 bathrooms PRICE: £50,000,000 This grand home is located on Chestnut Lane in Chobham, Surrey, England, UK and is situated on over 53 acres of land. It features over 29,000 square […] More
- in Luxury
English TV Chef Fanny Cradock’s Former U.K. Home Lists for $6.6 Million
Before Mary Berry and Prue Leith, there was Fanny Cradock…
The original grande dame of English cookery television, Cradock swept onto screens in the 1950s with theatrical flair. Draped in pearls and shoulder pads, she transformed the British kitchen into a stage—and her home into something of a set. That home, the Dower House, a Grade II-listed Georgian residence tucked into the lush edge of The Grove in Hertfordshire, is now making its return to the market for £5 million (or $6.6 million) with Knight Frank and Savills.
Dating back to the late 17th and 18th centuries, Dower House is no ordinary period property. In fact, it has quite a storied provenance. Cradock lived here during the height of her television fame, and Romantic composer Frederick Delius occupied it decades prior. And it was from this very kitchen that Cradock broadcast her BBC program. The kitchen remains green, as a nod to its iconic past, but the infamous 1970s tiles are gone.
RELATED: Herbert Hoover’s ‘White House’ in the U.K. Just Listed for $2.5 Million
Bay windows in the kitchen offer scenic views of the mill stream.
Ed Kingsford Photography; Knight Frank/Savills
The home itself was extensively updated by financier David Cowham in 2013, including new oak floors and a lavish library, The Times reported. Current owner Christopher Mackenzie has since invested over $1 million, adding security gates, air conditioning, and a separate cottage, while enhancing the grounds with maples, a golden birch, and cherry trees.
Today, the almost 5,200-square-foot home comprises seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a suite of reception rooms. Antique French oak flooring, handcrafted cabinetry, and walnut paneling by David Salmon of Arthur Brett & Sons lend an understated sense of grandeur. The principal suite overlooks the mill stream, with a dressing room and spa-like en suite; guest suites, including one entirely refurbished in 2024, provide ample space for entertaining on a Cradock scale.
RELATED: Inside a $35 Million Ultra-Modern Country Estate Near Windsor Castle
There are antique French oak floors throughout, along with several brick fireplaces.
Ed Kingsford Photography; Knight Frank/Savills
Beyond the interior lies over two acres of grounds bordered by the River Gade. A wooden bridge crosses the mill stream to a secondary lawn, while outbuildings—including a newly appointed studio annex, wine room, and gardener’s office—underscore the estate’s elegance.
“Wonderfully located in a peaceful rural setting, despite being just 17 minutes from London Euston by train, the Dower House features beautiful riverside gardens with hundreds of bulbs planted by the current owner that provide vibrant color in spring and summer,” says Edward Welton, partner in the country department North Thames and Chilterns team. “This exceptional family home presents a unique opportunity to live in a wonderful location.”
Click here to see more photos of the U.K. estate.
Ed Kingsford Photography; Knight Frank/Savills
Authors
Abby Montanez
Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…
Read More More
- in Luxury
Herbert Hoover’s ‘White House’ in the U.K. Just Listed for $2.5 Million
Nearly two decades before Herbert Hoover became the 31st President of the United States in 1929, he was living outside of London, in a private residence that’s now on the market for £1.99 million (or about $2.5 million). The stately spread was, ironically enough, known as The White House.
Hoover and his wife, Lou Henry Hoover, resided at the Georgian spread in Surrey, England, in 1902 while he worked for Bewick, Moreing & Co., a London-based mining firm. According to the listing, which is held by Knight Frank, Hoover wrote in his memoirs, “My wife searched out a small country house at Walton-on-Thames.” There was also a footnote that remarked, “Curiously, it was known as The White House.” Today, the building sports a commemorative blue plaque affixed to the front wall that denotes that it was once home to the former commander-in-chief.
Spacious reception rooms have elegant fireplaces and rounded bay windows.
GD Impact/Knight Frank
The approximately 3,000-square-foot home is positioned on the south bank of the River Thames and was last sold in 2009 for £1.08 million (or $1.3 million), property records show. If the next owner is both a history buff and an architecture aficionado, they’ll be delighted to find tons of original period details remain intact, from the parapet walls to the decorative bay windows, stately fireplaces, and friezes. There’s even a bell tower on the roof.
Spanning two floors, the ground level is entered via an open-plan entrance hall and features four reception spaces, including drawing and dining rooms. From here, you’ll have access to a generously sized outdoor garden. Opposite the dining room sits the bespoke Tomy Howley kitchen, complete with stylish marble counters, gray cabinets, and brass hardware. Upstairs, the first floor holds all four bedrooms, including the main bedroom, which has its own bath. Each of the bedrooms is adorned with bay windows and a cozy fireplace.
The Tom Howley kitchen is equipped with marble counters, brass fixtures, and a cushioned bench.
GD Impact/Knight Frank
“The White House offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of history,” says Matthew Scott, head of sales in Knight Frank’s Weybridge office. “Georgian houses in Elmbridge are rare, and the property’s historic significance has generated a huge amount of interest from both British and American buyers.” So far this year, the U.K. has clocked several super-prime sales, including the offloading of a $47 million estate in London’s posh Belgravia district and, more recently, The Holme, once the world’s priciest home, sold for $172 million after two years on the market.
Click here to see more photos of the British estate.
GD Impact/Knight Frank
Authors
Abby Montanez
Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…
Read More More
- in Luxury
This $13 Million U.K. Country House Was Once Home to a British Movie Star
Drummers Yard, formerly known as Birchens Spring, is among the U.K.’s most interesting country houses. Designed in 1938 by Arts and Crafts architect John Campbell, who lived in Germany for much of his career, the Grade II-listed property in Buckinghamshire graced the pages of Country Life before the once-glamorous estate fell into disrepair. Following years of neglect, the English manor notched another claim to fame when it was snapped up in 1960 by legendary British actor Dirk Bogarde, best known for his starring roles in Doctor in the House (1954), The Servant (1963), and The Night Porter (1974).
Modeled after the hillside villas of Italy combined with the stateliness of a Scottish castle, Bogarde remodeled Drummers Yard from top to bottom before offloading the place two years later to Peter Rogers, the producer of the wildly popular Carry On comedy film franchise, and his wife, Betty Box, who worked on the Doctor series that Bogarde appeared in. The sought-after spread traded hands once more in 1997 to the current owners, who, after nearly three decades in residence, have hoisted the property on the market for £10 million (or about $13 million).
A spacious reception room spills onto a large stone terrace.
Knight Frank; Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
“Campbell intended for each room to have at least two garden elevations, ensuring the house is light, bright, and airy with exceptional views of the gardens,” notes the listing, which is being represented by Knight Frank. “Whilst appealing to architectural purists, the house will equally suit families looking for a comfortable, well-laid-out home.”
Set on a whopping 12 wooded acres near Beaconsfield, the house itself has been adapted to contemporary living by award-winning interior and architectural studio, Tollgard Design. There are seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms across the main house’s 10,000 square feet. On the ground floor, potential buyers are welcomed by a grand entrance hall topped with a dramatic brick and stone arched ceiling. A corridor brings you to a sunroom that overlooks the garden, a circular-shaped formal dining area, a drawing room with a fireplace, and a thoroughly modern Scandinavian-inspired kitchen by Sola. The bedrooms are located on the home’s upper levels.
The updated minimalist kitchen is by Swedish design brand Sola.
Knight Frank; Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
Despite the many modern updates, rest assured you’ll find plenty of period details reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement, including its whitened brick arches and Cornish slate roof. In addition, the digs contain a private gym, complete with a sauna and a steam room, while the grounds are decked out with a two-car garage, a tennis court, and a separate two-bedroom cottage with its own entrance.
Click here to see more photos of Drummers Yard.
Knight Frank; Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
Authors
Abby Montanez
Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…
Read More More
- in Luxury
Jane Seymour’s Former Country Estate in the U.K. Hits the Market for $15.9 Million
Back in the ’80s, when Jane Seymour was filming the British TV movie Jamaica Inn, the actress stumbled upon St. Catherine’s Court—a historic mansion in Bath dating back to the 1500s. Shortly after, the former Bond girl and her then-husband, David Flynn, purchased the palatial pad together and put the place through an extensive renovation. Later, when Seymour remarried director James Keach, the couple rented the residence out as a film set, recording studio, and wedding venue. Since coming into new ownership in 2007, the estate has recently been put up for sale with Savills for a cool £12.5 million (or about $15.9 million).
“Now restored to its former glory, St. Catherine’s Court not only represents a wonderfully idiosyncratic family home, but one that is equipped to entertain on a truly grand scale,” says Ed Sugden with Savills Country Department. And the home has more celeb ties than just Seymour. In the ‘90s, the abode was occupied by The Cure, and, in fact, it’s where the cult-favorite gothic rock band recorded their albums Wild Mood Swings and Bloodflowers. The studio was also a creative hub for Radiohead, who recorded most of their album OK Computer here.
RELATED: A Historic UK Palace That Starred in James Bond Just Listed for $93.4 Million
St. Catherine’s Court in Bath, the former home of British actress Jane Seymour, is up for sale.
Savills
Originally constructed for the monks of Bath Abbey, the compound comprises a Grade II-listed manor house, a three-bedroom cottage, a five-bedroom lodge house, and a 15th-century tithe barn. Set on 14 acres, the protected grounds are listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens and have even been praised by acclaimed English landscape architect Gertrude Jekyll. In addition to a 20th-century orangery, there’s a tennis court and two stabling blocks.
Altogether, the main house comprises 11 bedrooms and seven bathrooms in a whopping 19,000 square feet of living space. The decadent digs are decked out with ornate plasterwork ceilings, Jacobean woodwork, ancient oak floors, and stately stone fireplaces. Some of the standout spaces include a formal dining room with an impressive carved frieze and a drawing room that doubles as a movie theater, as well as a wine room and a library.
RELATED: A Restored U.K. Townhouse on Bath’s Most Prized Street Lists for $6.2 Million
The centuries-old home has been restored and updated throughout the years.
Savills
“Both charming and imposing, St. Catherine’s Court and its gardens are set within a stunningly beautiful hidden valley that leaves one spellbound,” says Ed Sugden with Savills Country Department. “Offering the chance to own a fascinating slice of history, this creative and truly exceptional manor house provides a sense of privacy, peace, and seclusion that belies its location within such easy reach of Bath.”
Click here to see more photos of St. Catherine’s Court.
Savills
Authors
Abby Montanez
Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…
Read More More
