Country manor house

The English manor house, called Rookwoods, comes with a pool, equestrian facilities and a tennis court

On the market for those seeking the most authentic of English country house experiences is Manston House, the eight-bedroom manor first built in the 17th century and today of the Grade II listing.

Many things can shape a city—its culture, history, social life, or food scene. But perhaps the most distinctive feature would be architecture. Some buildings can completely fascinate you with their astonishing design and pure aesthetics. Through careful urban planning and understanding of the cultural background, the structure of a city can carry you through time while still leaving you in a very particular place.

Errant peacocks and playful gargoyles are just some of the former inhabitants of seven-bedroom Folkington Manor

Live like your favorite TV characters (but with better heating and plumbing)

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Reddish House, in the Wiltshire countryside, was bought by Beaton for £10,000 in the 1940s

Longstowe Hall, Cambridgeshire — the home of William and Mercedes Bevan — is an Elizabethan house that was remodelled by an Edwardian industrialist who created superb interiors in the aesthetic of 17th-century Dutch art. Jeremy Musson takes a look; photographs by Will Pryce for Country Life.