If your dream home has a backstory worthy of a Netflix special, you've landed in the right place: we’ve found 9 truly unique properties for sale in July 2025.
From a house that inspired one of the UK’s most famous authors to converted castles with more secrets than a spy novel, these homes are for anyone bored of beige brick boxes.
1. Jacobean castle for sale in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria: £1.75m guide price
Take the full tour of Augill Castle
Ever dreamed of trading your suburban semi for moats, towers and gatehouses? Or maybe just having a really grand hallway?
Step into a fairytale at Augill Castle, a magnificent 14-bedroom, 14-bathroom period property nestled within 10 acres of stunning Cumbrian countryside.
Currently operating as a successful boutique hotel, the extraordinary Grade II Listed castle dates back to the mid-17th century and boasts original Jacobean oak panelling, grand stone fireplaces and actual turrets.
There’s a reception room for every activity - drawing, music, reading, sitting - plus commercial kitchens, a conservatory/bar, tennis courts and 10 acres of impressive grounds.
Beyond the main castle, the estate even has standalone accommodation in ‘Little Castle’ and ‘Stable House’. The ideal place to host your royal entourage and esteemed guests, or particularly long visits from the in-laws.
You’d have to get the necessary consents to convert Augill Castle into a residential home, but think of the dinner parties.
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2. 1950s architectural house for sale in Reedley, Lancashire: £1.1m
Take the full tour of this 4-bed detached house ‘Domus’
Designed by Alan Chambers, Domus is a 1950s modern masterpiece, seamlessly set into its five-and-a-half acre gardens within secluded woodland in Reedley.
The unique home was designed for entertaining, with fluid open-plan living spaces honouring Chambers’ design ingenuity.
Our favourite bit has got to be the glass dance floor with underfloor lighting in the brilliantly named 'Party / Lounge'. We’re picturing jitterbugs, jukeboxes, Jailhouse Rock - just imagine the Golden Age parties it saw back in the day.
With a striking profile of glazed geometric forms, contrasting dark brick, white render and red ribbon glazing, this home is a rare architectural gem harking back to the ‘50s.
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3. Beatrix Potter cottage for sale in Keswick, Cumbria: £1.2m
Take the full tour of Skelgill Farm
Does this house look familiar?
If you read Beatrix Potter growing up, it’s sure to jog a memory. Skelgill Farm is the inspiration behind ‘Little Town Farm’ in ‘The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’.
The 6-bedroom Lake District farmhouse is nestled in the idyllic Newlands Valley beneath the iconic Catbells.
The spacious farmhouse boasts postcard-perfect views across the stunning fells and lakes surrounding Keswick. Inside, you'll find charming traditional features like a woodburning stove, flagged floors and an Aga cooker.
It’s a rare home steeped in timeless charm and Lake District history with a direct connection to one of Britain’s most beloved authors.
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4. 11-bed lakeside property next to Lake Windermere: offers in region of £6m
Take the full tour of Wansfell Holme
It’s not every day that homes on the edge of the Lake District’s largest and most famous lake come up for sale, so we had to do some digging into this incredible Windermere property.
Turns out, William Wordsworth, the famous 18th century romantic poet, was so infatuated with this house that he wrote a sonnet about it (‘Wansfell! This Household Has a Favoured Lot’, if you want to look it up.)
He wasn’t the property's only admirer - it has also been home to Reverend Hornby, grandson of the 11th Earl of Derby, and Sir Thomas Wrigley, the owner of the British Empire’s largest paper mill in the mid-19th century.
Even without its famous links, Wansfell Holme is so grand it practically has its own postcode. The 11-bedroom property is split into 3 luxurious homes and enjoys panoramic views of Windermere and the surrounding mountainous fells. Perfect if you like your morning coffee with a side of breathtaking natural beauty.
It’s been meticulously renovated over the last 6 years with no expense spared, so the new owner can enjoy all the period grandeur (hello, ornate French windows and rare Westmorland fireplace) without lifting a finger. Unless it’s to admire your 2.7 acres of private paradise or decide which of your three houses to sleep in tonight.
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5. Restored water mill for sale in Carlisle, Cumbria: £950,000 guide price
Take the full tour of The Mill House
Nestled in an idyllic countryside setting, The Mill House isn't your average home. It's an extraordinary Grade II Listed former water corn mill, reimagined into a one-of-a-kind family home by its architect and garden designer owners.
Forget feature walls: this Carlisle property showcases original mill machinery, a working water wheel and ancient timber screens as part of the decor.
The working sack hoist and a central sandstone millstone give undeniable character, while exposed oak beams and stone walls frame beautifully lit spaces.
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Outside, you’ll find a south-facing garden featuring a winding millstream and a natural pond. And it gets even better: they lead to a sprawling wildflower meadow and your very own secluded gravel beach.
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6. 2 bed-flat for sale in the world’s oldest steam-powered cotton mill, Manchester: £350,000
Take the full tour of this Murrays’ Mills apartment
How about living somewhere that basically kicked off the entire Industrial Revolution?
This apartment for sale sits within Murrays’ Mills, a development so historic it's centred around the world’s oldest surviving steam-powered cotton mill in Ancoats.
Today, residents here get to experience total modern comfort wrapped up in incredibly cool, historic buildings. This particular two-bedroom apartment offers spacious, open-plan living with high ceilings and exposed brickwork, blending original features with sleek, modern finishes.
Large windows flood the space with natural light and the contemporary kitchen and stylish bathrooms are designed for sophisticated urban living within a truly historic setting.
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7. Flat for sale in a rare “calendar” mansion in Warwick Bridge, Carlisle: £350,000
Take the full tour of this Carlisle apartment
This three bedroom flat sits within a rare piece of architectural history: Holme Eden Hall is one of only a handful of “calendar” properties in the UK.
Wondering what on earth a calendar property is?
It’s a style that emerged during the Elizabethan era to match architectural features to the calendar, rooted in a new-found fascination with horology, astronomy and mathematics.
The mansion has 4 floors to represent the seasons, 7 entrances for the days of the week, 12 corridors for the months of the year and 365 windows to reflect the days of the year.
You might’ve seen Holme Eden Hall on the 'Great Interior Design Challenge', and it was previously owned by Peter Dixon, a famous shipping and paper manufacturer.
The apartment itself is accessed via an original spiral stone staircase and features well-proportioned rooms, breathtaking views over the River Eden and a charming Juliette balcony overlooking the courtyard.
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8. 4-bed lodge house in Liverpool: offers over £850k
Take the full tour of this Liverpool lodge house
Next up we have a charismatic Grade II Listed lodge house located in the sought-after Mossley Hill.
Part historic lodge, part ski chalet, a pinch of art deco vibes - this home is a tardis of individual design within a characterful exterior and unusual dimensions.
Our favourite features include that stunning round stone fireplace in the main reception room, the terrace for al-fresco dining and the master suite with an inbuilt stone headboard, floor-to-ceiling windows and freestanding bath.
With every room meticulously designed for the lodge’s original proportions, you have heaps of in-built storage and a real cosy retreat that’s anything but boring.
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9. Triplex for sale in historic mill conversion in Bolton: offers over £275,000
Take the full tour of this mill conversion flat in Bolton
Next up is another home that harks back to the beginnings of the North West’s cotton mill industry in the 19th century.
The former mill in the aptly-named Cottonfields area of Bolton dates back to 1881, although there’s no denying you’re in 2025 with the cutting-edge design and seriously stylish interior at this three-floor, four-bed property.
The open-plan living space brings the wow-factor, with huge arch windows, double height ceilings and exposed brick walls. It flows outside to a private and walled wraparound courtyard that’s screaming out for barbecue parties all summer long.
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