m+ property Homes of the Week in the City, Country and Coast for £500,000
Same budget, three completely different ways to spend it. This week, £500,000 buys a Grade II*-listed garden apartment in Clifton Village, a period cottage with a home office in Prestbury, or a Georgian house just yards from the quay in Wells-next-the-Sea.
City: West Mall, Clifton, Bristol
Guide Price £500,000 | 2 bedrooms
A garden apartment in Clifton Village for £500,000 immediately gets our attention. This one sits within a handsome Grade II*-listed building on West Mall, putting the shops, restaurants and bars of Clifton within walking distance while still giving you that increasingly elusive city luxury: your own outside space.
Inside, it’s a well-proportioned two-bedroom home with a semi-open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting space. Sash windows and an open fireplace bring the period character, while the principal bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and plenty of built-in storage. There’s also a WC/utility room that was previously configured as a shower room.
And there’s more downstairs. Three standing-height cellar areas provide substantial additional space and previously had planning permission for conversion, although that permission has now lapsed. Outside, a private courtyard leads up to a 42ft rear garden with room for dining and entertaining. For Clifton, that combination of location, storage and garden is a compelling one.
Country: Mill Street, Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Guide Price £500,000 | 2 bedrooms
If the move-to-the-country fantasy involves a period cottage, a good pub within walking distance and somewhere separate to work from home, this Prestbury property makes a persuasive case. Set on Mill Street in the heart of the village, it mixes original character with a cleaner, more contemporary interior.
The main sitting and dining room has exposed stone, ceiling timbers and a wood-burning stove, with enough space for both sofas and a dining table. To the rear, the modern kitchen overlooks the garden towards St Mary’s Church. Upstairs are two bedrooms and a recently fitted bathroom, plus useful landing storage and a laundry cupboard.
Outside is where it really earns its place on the list. The south-facing walled garden is filled with established planting and roses, with a powered garden office tucked away at the end. Prestbury itself has three pubs, village shops, a butcher, coffee shop and bakery within walking distance, while Cheltenham is around three miles away.
Coast: Staithe Street, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
Guide Price £500,000 | 3 bedrooms
Just yards from the quay, this Georgian brick-and-flint house has all the ingredients of a very good North Norfolk escape. It sits right in the centre of Wells-next-the-Sea and, unusually for such a central property, comes with private parking.
The house is arranged over three floors and has retained plenty of character, including sash windows, exposed beams, panelling and fireplaces. Downstairs is an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, while two bedrooms and the family bathroom occupy the first floor. The principal bedroom gets the entire top floor, complete with dual-aspect windows, a vaulted ceiling and original oak beams. The kitchen and bathroom would benefit from updating, but we rather like the opportunity to put your own stamp on it.
Outside, there’s a small courtyard, two useful outbuildings and a low-maintenance gravelled garden with space for seating and a barbecue. More importantly, you can leave the car at home: the harbour, independent shops, restaurants and galleries are all close by, with Wells’ famous beach beyond. Weekend house or permanent move, this one has plenty going for it.