Ever dreamt of becoming lord or lady of the manor? Well if you have big aspirations and plenty in the bank, now's your chance to snap up an estate worthy of Downton Abbey. From winding driveways, rolling acres and ornate architecture to regal interiors steeped in history, we've brought together the world's grandest properties and stately homes on the market right now. Click or scroll on for more...
A splendid palatial manor with royal links, the original bones of Vihterpalu Manor date back to 1586 when it was built on the orders of the King of Sweden. Located in Estonia, the mansion has undergone extensions and alterations over the centuries, with a new neo-classical main building added in the 1820s. Showcasing this grand architectural genre, the house's beautiful white exterior features columns and three eye-catching triangular pediments.
Splendid floor-to-ceiling windows let light flood into this bedroom, which benefits from a picturesque balcony. It was aristocratic Baltic-German businessman Gustav von Knorring who had the manor rebuilt in the neo-classical style during the 19th century, and his architectural tastes are still visible throughout the house today.
Just a one-hour drive from Tallinn airport, the 74-acre estate has 20 bedrooms and a helicopter landing pad. It’s located on the north-west side of the Vihterpalu River in majestic parkland. Inside, the main banquet hall of the royal building, with its huge marble columns and decorative plasterwork, can host more than 100 guests.
The refreshing outdoor pool is the perfect spot to take a dip amongst the Swiss pines and spruces, while the property also includes a spa and sauna. The estate has an array of outbuildings and about 49 acres of idyllic parkland, ideal for big outdoor events. It’s a mere three-minute drive to the sea and to the area's beautiful historic forests. Having been on the market for more than a year, this sprawling estate is currently listed for £2.9 million ($3.9m) with Sotheby's International Realty, down from its previous asking price of £3.1 million ($4.2m), so you could snap up a bargain.
The 18th-century mansion, which was remodelled around 1814, has recently been restored to its former grandeur. The regal floor plan includes 12 bedrooms and four generous reception rooms, along with a wealth of spectacular period features. In this dining room, the exquisite red and gold statement ceiling is the star of the show, while the marble fireplace and sash windows have also been beautifully preserved.
On the market with Savills for £6.5 million ($8.8m), the pristine grounds leave a lasting impression. Picturesque terraces and landscaped lawns peppered with horse chestnut, oak and ash trees give way to a stocked carp lake, fenced paddocks and equestrian facilities. Clocking in at more than 68 acres, it offers a verdant slice of rural paradise.
Steeped in history, Laurel Hill is one of the last Gold Coast estates in Long Island, but its 57 acres of secluded woodland guarantee privacy from the sparkling lights and hustle and bustle of this star-studded neighbourhood. Stately wrought-iron gates introduce an almost mile-long driveway, which is lined with beech trees and thick leafy canopies. A court of cobblestone fronts the main house, decorated with azalea and magnolia bushes.
This historic Tudor manor house dates back to 1928, and is currently for sale for $18.5 million (£14m) with Christie’s International Real Estate. Most of the property’s reception rooms lead out onto flagstone patios, some covered, some open-air. Large Palladian windows allow sunlight to stream in and flood the delicate interiors, such as the pastel pinks in this charming sunken living salon.
Beyond the 14,252 square feet of living space, Laurel Hill comprises woodlands, ponds, creeks and twisting country roads. Two walking trails and spotless gardens neighbour the pool house, which measures 1,904 square feet and features a roomy gunite pool. A large wood-burning fireplace brings a cosiness to the pavilion, while its three bedrooms and kitchen make it ideal for entertaining.
Della Crocina is listed for £14.1 million ($18.7m) with Sotheby’s International Realty and it sprawls across almost 100 acres. The property itself spans 48,000 square feet and features 35 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms. Fine interiors balance the property’s grandeur with comfort and homeliness, and gables on the doors are carved by the same artists who put together the lavish furniture.
Even the staircases exude magnificence at Della Crocina, with wrought iron railing crafted around the marble steps. The neo-classical villa dates back to the late 19th century and some of Italy’s finest artists have put their stamp on this million-dollar estate, including Bernardino Pocetti and Giorgio Vasari, who painted the intricate vault artwork. Pietro Baldoncoli, Francesco Morini and Mariano Coppedè were also among the throng of art masters who worked to create this property’s astonishing interiors.
The plot on which Della Crocina sits is made up of parkland, olive groves and woodland. Nestled among the grounds is a swimming pool, while a former sports field below the driveway can be used as a tennis court. Two private springs serve the villa’s water supply.
This H-shaped property sits among 741 acres of farm and woodland and is situated among the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in South Oxfordshire. Built in 1913, this beautiful Lutyens-style property is a combination of timber framing and sweeping slate roofs, and is awaiting offers in excess of £23 million ($30.4m) through Savills. The house comprises 13,260 square feet of living space, including eight bedrooms, six bathrooms and four reception rooms. A clock tower marks the entrance to the mile-long driveway, which is punctuated with horse chestnut, cherry and Norwegian maple trees.
The oak-panelled hall is the spine of Ewelme Park Estate, and its windows provide snapshots of the wonderful gardens outside. Extending from the hall are a cloakroom, flower-room and bar. It trails all the way to the main stairs at the western end of the property, leading to the first floor of the home and the master bedroom suite, which stretches over more than 800 square feet. Adjacent to the main suite are three principal ensuite bedrooms, four further bedrooms and two additional bathrooms.
The west end of the ground floor hall also leads into a sumptuous drawing room, which has a double-height barrel-vaulted ceiling and mullion and transom windows, allowing the space to be bathed in bright interiors and sunlight. The room centres around an inglenook fireplace at its heart, and also features a balcony that is accessed from the first floor.
Elegant borders separate the manicured flower beds of Ewelme, with formal gardens extending to around five acres around the house. A paved terrace, including a dining area, opens onto the East Lawn, which boasts a peacock house and a heated greenhouse. Blue wisteria scales external walls of the house, looking down on the fish pond and sunken garden coming off of the South Lawn. Additional properties on the estate include a well-proportioned, four-bedroom farmhouse, a pump house, two pairs of semi-detached cottages and a stable yard.
As first impressions go, Saint George Manor certainly packs a punch. This French chateau-inspired home sits amid two and a half acres of lush Canadian greenery and was built with meticulous craftsmanship. Limestone walls and a slate roof paint a picture of timelessness in the exteriors, while a sweeping driveway leads to garages spacious enough to house 15 vehicles.
Currently listed for £27 million ($35.7m) with Sotheby’s International Realty, Saint George Manor is decked out with Italian marble flooring with inlay details throughout much of the property. Many of the ceilings are nothing short of plaster masterpieces, and they feature glittering chandeliers that light up the gold-gilded furniture below.
The expansive great hall opens out to the second storey of the house and showcases a domed ceiling and skylight. The second floor features all six of the property’s bedrooms, all with private ensuites, while seven additional bathrooms can be found dotted around the house.
While the chateau’s design harks back to classic French architecture, Saint George Manor is also kitted out with all of today’s mod-cons, including a steam room, a theatre with custom Lamborghini seating and a fitness facility with flooring made from recycled Nike shoe soles. You won't find that in the Crawleys' residence! There is even a barbershop and nanny suite on the lower level of the property.
Offering nine bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and seven reception rooms, it’s safe to say this Thorncombe Street Estate in Surrey has ample space for guests. This fine country house stretches across 19,000 square feet and sits among 319 acres of land. No sale price has been published for this particular property with Knight Frank, but given its stunning location on the undulating Surrey Hills countryside, it’s safe to say the price tag will be in the millions, if not tens of millions.
A galleried entrance hall greets visitors in this exquisite home and is completed with wooden panelling and a feature table. The green-carpeted stairs lead the way to a principal bedroom suite with two bathrooms and two dressing rooms. The property also boasts a further six bedroom suites and two annexed guest or staff bedrooms.
Thorncombe’s exteriors are as attractive and meticulously manicured as the inside of the building. Beautiful formal gardens rich with flora and fauna decorate the expansive acreage, along with a walled garden, carriage drive, streams, ponds and a number of lakes. Mature woodland, a deer park and pastures previously used to run sheep make up the rolling landscape as far as the eye can see. Additional outhouses include three cottages with garages, a garden cottage, four farm cottages and a farmyard with considerably sized agricultural buildings.
Steeped in history, this property has been home, and even refuge, to notable names over previous centuries. Reportedly, the Duke of Bolton lived in the property until 1850, while the Belgian royal family moved in during the First World War. In the Second World War, the mansion was given to the Royal Canadian Army for use as a hospital.
The estate stretches across 260 acres and features Grade II-listed stables and a coach house, four estate cottages, and Grade I-listed ancient woodland. While the price of Hackwood is not publicly available through Christie’s International Real Estate, the estate was last up for sale in 2016, with a reported guide price of £65 million ($86m), making it, at the time, Britain's most expensive estate ever to be sold on the public market.
Love this? Like and follow us on Facebook for more incredible homes for sale