Arts & Crafts-style houses in Henley: modern five-bedroom homes an hour's commute from Paddington, with flexible interiors and media rooms

In the Thamesside town of Henley, world-famous for its yearly Royal Regatta, modern five-bedroom houses are for sale — priced from £2.2 million.
From £2.7 million: Farnehurst five-bedroom homes by Millgate in Henley
David Spittles11 July 2017

Henley Royal Regatta is over for another summer, so the Thamesside town is relaxing again after the shock of the blazer-and-boater crowd descending to drink Pimm's in the pink-and-white marquees during this highlight of the social calendar.

For the rest of the year it is a settled place, home to a prosperous community, many of whom commute to Paddington on the train in just over an hour.

The view from the pretty stone bridge that straddles the river is of long lawns with boat moorings.

Local planners have resisted flashy Docklands-style apartment blocks overlooking the water, preferring reassuringly traditional-looking new builds on infill plots ringing the town centre — such as Farnehurst, a scheme of three impressive Arts & Crafts-style houses in large plots.

Millgate, the developer, has carved a niche for these outwardly conventional trophy homes by designing the spacious and flexible interiors that modern families crave, notably a vast open-plan ground floor hub — a combined kitchen, dining and relaxation space that opens on to a garden designed by a Chelsea Flower Show Gold medal winner.

Each house has five bedrooms plus a formal dining room, study, media room and triple garage. Prices from £2.7 million. Call 01491 412345.

Two new townhouses at Auton Place are a five-minute walk from the train station and river. From £2.2 million. Call Knight Frank on 01491 817830.

Arts & Crafts-style: the homes have spacious and flexible interiors throughout, with an open-plan kitchen/dining area