House of the Month

Marlborough Manor, Sleeps 20, Essex

What more could you ask for close to Essex’s sunshine coast than a gorgeous, tenbedroom Queen Anne mansion house with 200 acres, a lake, a flock of Hebridean sheep and lots of toys? How about free entry to the enchanted lost kingdom next door? As unique selling points go, that’s a pretty good one.

We’ll come back to that one. In the meantime, you’ll want to check out Marlborough Manor’s ornate furnishings and cook on the four-oven Aga. You’ll want to play grasscourt tennis in the manicured grounds, work up a sweat in the gym and swim in the heated outdoor pool. And take your gin and tonic out to the croquet lawn, naturally.

Eat beneath the chandelier in the decadent dining room, or out on the sunshine terrace with the gas barbecue working its magic on the burgers. Stay out at night around the firepit to congregate beneath the constellations. Come back inside for family nights around the piano, or for Sky, Netflix, Now or Amazon Prime on the drawing-room TV.

Desperate to change channel? Snuggle up in the snug or breakfast room for alternative viewing. Stream on the BT superfast broadband. Raid the library for books, sing along with the Sonos. Oh, and take younger kids next door to Wyvernwood for a magical play area laced with stories about sea captains, wizards, dragons and princesses.

EXPLORE »