On the latest episode of Escape to the Country, presenter Ginny Buckley assisted Mark and Sue, a couple from Bow in east London, in their search for the perfect countryside retreat in Somerset.
Their first viewing took place at a detached L-shaped home on a quiet cul-de-sac on Yeovil’s western edge. From the outset, the house impressed with its character and spacious interior. “Impressive, nice looking house. It looks like it has lots of character, done really nicely,” Sue remarked, while Mark agreed.
Built in 1975 with reconstituted stone, the property features an extension that opens up the kitchen space, boasting a high ceiling and panoramic garden views. “This kitchen is about six times the size of your current one,” Ginny noted. Sue added, “I can imagine sitting here—it’s a space where we can do different things but be in the same room.”
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Despite the attractive ground floor, the master bedroom upstairs felt clinical and lacked the warmth found below. Sue likened it to a hotel room, and Mark commented, “It seems a bit small compared to downstairs.”
Ginny enthusiastically guided the couple to the garden, describing the integral garage and multiple garden areas—including a large decking off the kitchen extension. However, when asked about the garden size, Mark hesitated before saying, “It’s a tad small.” Sue was more blunt: “Quite a lot. We’re looking for a reasonable amount more than this.”
Ginny explained that the extension had taken up significant outdoor space and encouraged the couple to fully commit if they found what they wanted. When discussing the property’s value, Mark guessed £425,000 and Sue £410,000, both under the asking price of £450,000, which matched their budget.
Ultimately, the couple loved the downstairs space but wished for a larger garden. “Put that in another house with a bigger garden—that’s lovely,” they concluded.
Escape to the Country airs weekdays at 3pm on BBC One.