Oatlands Road, Botley, SO32

Set on Oatlands Road on the outskirts of Botley, this double-fronted detached house makes an immediate impression: a symmetrical red-brick facade, elegant sash windows and a classic canopied entrance that gives a real sense of what's waiting inside. This is a home with original character that has been genuinely loved, and the period detail it retains is something you simply can't replicate in a modern build.

Step through the front door and the entrance hall sets the tone straight away. Dark hardwood flooring runs underfoot, the staircase rises ahead with its dark wood banister and white painted spindles, and original cornicing lines the ceiling above. The layout downstairs works brilliantly for family life, with two separate reception rooms sitting either side of the hallway in true double-fronted fashion. The living room is a genuinely impressive space, stretching over twenty-two feet in length. Deep cornicing, a ceiling rose and a period fireplace with a wood-burner give it real warmth and character, and there is easily enough room to create separate living and relaxing zones without the room feeling crowded. Doors open towards the rear garden at the far end, connecting the space to the outdoors in the warmer months. On the other side of the hallway, the formal dining room is equally striking. Another original fireplace, beautiful panelling and an ornate ceiling rose make for a room with real atmosphere, comfortably seating a large dining table with space to spare.

The kitchen continues the theme of character meeting practicality. Painted shaker-style cabinetry, a classic Belfast sink with a chrome bridge mixer tap and a black range cooker set into an exposed brick chimney breast alcove give it a warm, country feel. Open shelving adds to the relaxed atmosphere, and the window above the sink looks straight out over the rear garden, a lovely backdrop to the start of any day. A separate laundry room sits just off the kitchen, with a door leading to a ground floor cloakroom.

Upstairs, all three bedrooms carry the same period hallmarks that make this house so special. The main bedroom is a calm and spacious room with panelled walls, a ceiling rose and generous space for wardrobes. The second bedroom has its own original cast iron fireplace flanked by built-in shelving in the chimney alcoves, and sash windows that look out over the garden below. The third bedroom is well proportioned and leads through to a further study, a versatile space that would work well as a home office, dressing room or, with some adjustment, a fourth bedroom for a growing family. A large family bathroom serves the first floor throughout.

The rear garden is one of the property's greatest assets. There is a patio seating area near the house with plenty of room for outdoor furniture, and a large, well-kept lawn stretching away, flanked by mature hedged borders that provide an excellent degree of privacy. An outbuilding towards the rear is currently used as a home salon and would lend itself equally well to a home office, studio or workshop. To the front, a driveway provides off-road parking, and the front lawn offers clear scope to extend parking further if needed.

Oatlands Road sits within easy reach of everything Botley has to offer. One of Hampshire's most characterful villages, Botley sits alongside the River Hamble with a history stretching back to a market charter granted in 1267, and a village square that retains a genuinely independent, community feel. Local primary schools including Botley C of E and Boorley Park are well regarded, with Deer Park School and Wildern School serving secondary-age pupils. Botley station offers direct services to Southampton and Fareham with connections towards London Waterloo, and the M27 is a short drive away for those who commute by car.