The Chelsea Flower Show may not be going ahead this year, but we’ve hand-picked some attractive properties for sale with outdoor space that could easily be described as best in show.
The five-day Royal Horticultural Society show has been cancelled for the first time since the Second World War and will instead be held as a ‘virtual’ event online, which will run from today to 23 May.
It was revealed last week that news reader Sophie Haworth and Gardeners’ World presenter Joe Swift will be among the BBC TV stars hosting shows for viewers from their own gardens, along with archive highlights of great Chelsea gardens from years gone by and more.
But for those whose spring won’t be the same without the pictures of fine and fantastic gardens that the Chelsea Flower Show brings, these properties prove that from a family home, to a London townhouse, or mansion, you can create a show-stopping outdoor space.
This garden at a £2.45m townhouse in London’s Fulham has a paved courtyard with trees, via Savills estate agents
From the front, there is no hint of the smart garden at the rear of the terrace property in Fulham
The garden at this £4.25m home in Hitchin, Hertfordshire has a topiary garden and a Koi pond and is for sale via Savills
The stunning Hertfordshire home has seven bedrooms and an extensive garden that wraps around the property
Well-presented gardens with areas to sit and relax are not only sought-after, but can add value to your home.
Before the coronavirus outbreak, research published last summer by property website Zoopla, suggested that 86 per cent of people thought that having outside space is either ‘very or extremely important’.
It said that homeowners would be willing to spend an extra £14,448 to buy a home with a garden.
With people having experienced the restrictions of having to stay at home during the past, demand for attractive private spaces is likely to be even higher.
Only last week, estate agents Savills published research suggesting that 71 per cent of younger buyers crave more outdoor space.
Charlie Bubear, of Savills estate agents, said: ‘Ordinarily as we move into summer, having some sort of outside space to enjoy good weather usually climbs our buyers’ list of must-haves for their new home.
‘But with the current lockdown, outside space has become even more important to home-hunters.’
He added: ‘Gardens of all shapes and sizes can be designed to make the most of the summer – both in the countryside and in the city.
‘Even a courtyard or terrace has the potential to be best in show as long as you understand how best the space should function, and as a result plant it accordingly.
‘But for those who don’t want to build a garden from scratch, there are plenty of homes currently available that would satisfy even the most discerning of amateur gardeners.’
This pretty garden at a £260,000 family home in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, is for sale via Yopa estate agents
The house in Stoke-On-Trent also has a good sized lawn and patio area at the rear within an nclosed walled garden
This townhouse in Clapham, London, has a landscaped garden, and is on the market for £6.95million via Savills. If you tire of the garden, the common is just outside
A family home in a prime London location: The Clapham property has an impressive eight bedrooms and is seven bays wide
Zoopla’s survey of 2,000 people found that the desire for good design is not exclusively limited to interiors. Half of respondents said a well-designed garden was as important or more important than a well-designed bathroom or kitchen.
At the same time, 40 per cent said they would consider employing a professional designer to transform their garden, suggesting landscape architects are no longer the preserve of country estates.
Zoopla’s Tom Parker said: ‘Having a garden adds a healthy premium to the value of a home and the enforced lockdown will only have caused this to increase.
‘For those with a garden it’s worth having it professionally designed, something that will not only bring you more joy, giving you the perfect place to rest and relax, but also acting as a real selling point if you decide to put the property on the market.
‘For many city dwellers living in flats the lack of garden during this time will have caused them to give food for thought as to where they want to live, with many thinking a move to the suburbs or further afield could be on the cards.’
This three-bed flat in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight has a large balcony and is for sale for £800,000 via Spence Willard
The flat on the Isle of Wight is part of this imposing house and comes with landscaped communal gardens
This detached home in Sherborne, Dorset, has a pretty cottage-style garden and is for sale for £650,000 via Savills
The Sherborne house is a former gate house that’s Grade II listed and comes with a conical thatched roof
This garden is at a townhouse in London’s Knightsbridge home, which is for sale for £15.95m via Savills
Gardens in the heart of London can be well designed even if space is limited as at the townhouse in Knightsbridge
Zoopla’s research also found that 47 per cent had put off renting or buying a property due to the condition of its outside space.
At the same time, 74 per cent said that they already had – or would consider -spending money on their garden to increase the value of their property.
With garden centres being allowed to open from May 13 – as long as they comply with social distancing measures – following the coronavirus lockdown, there’s an opportunity for gardeners to get their outdoor spaces into shape.
This house in Stoke Goldington, Buckinghamshire, has a brook running the length of the garden and is for sale for £550,000 via Fine & Country
The architect-designed timber frame house in Buckinghamshire has plenty of space outdoors for entertaining