From a 17th-century country house to a small but idyllic clifftop retreat, Amy McPherson compiles some of the best coastal properties currently for sale

Houses with good railway connections Kent: Palm Cottage, ...

Bucklesham Hall, Bucklesham, Ipswich, Suffolk. A renovated, 15th-century hall set in formal gardens with spring-fed lakes, including one with a Japanese-style bridge and an island. It has beamed ceili

Dray House, Dyrham, near Bath, Gloucestershire. A detached family home next to the historic grounds of Dyrham Park. It has a terrace with pizza oven, an electric-car charging point, and a wooded area

Brimming with character, an inimitable Aga inevitably rules the roost and each of these houses boasts one–perfect for gathering and gossiping around and devouring whatever magic emerges from its cavernous ovens

Owning listed properties means stepping into centuries of craftsmanship and character, plus, perhaps, a few quirks, but buyers who truly love history wouldn’t have it any other way