25 homes that broke the internet
We’re 25! So we’re celebrating the properties that stopped people mid-scroll, sparked plenty of shares, and became internet sensations in their own right.
From a house with its own Tardis, to a home with a sculptural shark crashing through its roof, we’ve picked 25 homes that have made quite the splash over the years. With the UK’s largest choice of homes and billions of visits to Rightmove each year, these homes demonstrate the uniqueness of the properties you can find while scrolling.
Our property expert Colleen Babcock says: “Over the past 25 years, we’ve truly seen it all, from castles to caves, lighthouses to lunar-themed lounges. With millions of homes listed and billions of visits each year, these viral properties show just how wonderfully diverse the UK housing market can be. Whether you’re looking for a pink palace or a private island, chances are it’s been on Rightmove.”
1. The Shark House
With a giant fibreglass shark nose-diving through its roof, this property has become one of Britain’s most iconic homes, not to mention an enduring symbol of British eccentricity.
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2. The Private Island in Wales
The chance to own an entire Welsh island offering complete isolation and sweeping coastal panoramas sparked daydreams of escape for Rightmove users.
Take a look
Strutt & Parker, National Country House Department
3. The Stiletto Bath House
When history meets haute couture, you get a medieval Welsh townhouse featuring a bathtub shaped like a high-heeled shoe that had the internet doing a double take.
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4. The Space Home
This property proves that some fans don’t just love Star Wars, they live it, with interiors that transport you to a galaxy far, far away – including a cinema room themed around the Millennium Falcon.
5. The Tardis House
“It’s like a Tardis” is probably said of many homes on Rightmove that’re more spacious than they might first seem. Except, inside this house in Exeter, there actually is a full-size replica of the Tardis. Cue social media buzz from Doctor Who fans.
6. The 7-Foot-Wide House
Proving that London living really can be a squeeze, this slinky Kensington property on Peel Street shows how creativity and clever design can transform even the slimmest of spaces.
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7. The Skate Bowl House
When a former youth hall complete with its own 4m vert wall, indoor skate bowl and mini skate park hit Rightmove, skaters and property hunters alike were left speechless – especially after it starred on Netflix’s Amazing Interiors.
8. The Purple House
Every single room in this property embraces the same violet vision, creating an all-encompassing purple experience that certainly didn’t go unnoticed online.
9. The Dolls House
This pint-sized Cornish property captured hearts with its coastal charm and compact footprint. Sometimes the tiniest homes make the biggest impressions.
10. The Essex Island
This exclusive Essex island retreat, complete with private jetty and endless water views, had viewers imagining life away from it all in style.
11. The Carnival House
A Victorian bathhouse transformed into an eccentric family home. Featuring a bowling alley living room, submarine-style utility room and a six-person triple bunk bed setup that left viewers amazed.
12. The Model Village
Ever dreamed of owning an entire village? This intricate model village of Polperro in Cornwall includes dozens of houses, shops, its own harbour and even a mini model village within the model village.
13. The Scottish Lighthouse
This uninhabited Orkney island with its own lighthouse became the ultimate escape fantasy for those dreaming of total solitude, with social media users debating whether they could really handle life this remote.
14. The Station House
This Grade II-listed former station house sparked nostalgia for Britain’s railway heritage, with viewers captivated by the idea of living in a piece of transport history while still enjoying direct links to London from your doorstep.
15. The Cave Apartment
The idea of living inside Nottingham’s historic rock, in a building that started life as the French Consulate in 1849, had history buffs and urban explorers captivated by its unusual origins.
16. The Concrete Tower
This brutalist tower boasts some of the best views in the whole of the South of England. Taking in the panoramic Solent and the Isle of Wight from a rarely seen elevated perspective, this property caused a lot of interaction online.
17. The Windmill Complex
When a Grade II-listed windmill meets award-winning modern architecture, the internet takes notice – this RIBA award-winning conversion had design enthusiasts swooning over its blend of heritage and contemporary style.
18. The Water Tower Conversion
This stunning conversion of a water tower constructed in the 1850s captured attention as a masterclass in sensitive heritage conversion that didn’t shy away from bold modern additions.
19. The “Hobbit” House
Britain’s first modern earth-sheltered home had Tolkien fans and architecture lovers enchanted, with its turf roof and hillside integration making it look like something straight out of the Shire.
20. The Graveyard Home
Living in a converted Methodist Chapel surrounded by historic headstones wasn’t for everyone according to the social media swirl, but this stunning renovation caught many eyes.
21. The Restored 1846 Church
Gothic grandeur meets family living in this church conversion, with viewers marvelling at how original features like vaulted ceilings and arched windows can create surprisingly cosy modern homes.
22. The Ripley Castle Estate
When an entire 14th century castle estate came to market complete with hotel, wedding venue, village shop and 1,800 acres, social media went into overdrive.
23. The Gazebo Tower
This Grade II listed Victorian folly tower became an instant favourite with its romantic spiral staircases, original arched windows and a battery-operated sky hatch leading to a roof terrace offering panoramic views across Ross-on-Wye.
Take a look inside
24. The Cave Conversion
What looks like an ordinary terraced house from the street conceals an extraordinary secret basement carved from sandstone with 24 pillars, previously belonging to an eccentric artist who clearly knew how to make an impression.
25. The Grade II-Listed Windmill
This 1839 windmill that lost its sails over a century ago became an internet favourite for its quirky charm and the romantic notion of waking up in a piece of industrial heritage.
