Most people visiting online property portals are there hunting for a new home, but a significant amount of visitors to these sites are also just there to have a great time nosing around expensive dream homes.
Rightmove's top five most-viewed homes in Britain on their site during April are five such dream homes - all are unique, all are located somewhere special, and all will set you back a lot of money, but rummaging around online to see inside them costs nothing.
From a sea view character cottage on a cliff in Cornwall that costs a staggering £5m to a sprawling mansion in the heart of England for £4m, the standard is set high to be included in this famous five, but a modern home in the posh village of Marford just outside Wrexham has managed to muscle its way in.
READ MORE: Couple renovated valleys church into their dream home and almost ruined their lives
Maybe it's due to the rumour that spread at supersonic speed across social media that Hollywood movie star Ryan Reynolds, now part owner of Wrexham Football Club with best mate Rob McElhenney, was looking to buy a property in the village of Marford, find out more about that here.
It created a buzz about the area and maybe more people decided to have a good look around at the possible houses Ryan could be viewing as his potential Welsh pad? Ryan has since said during a media interview that there was no truth in the rumour at all, read more about that here.
Of the five stunners that have peaked the most interest on the property site during April, Rightmove's property expert, Tim Bannister, says: "Homes from Wales, Scotland and England feature in this month's most-viewed properties, highlighting the many magnificent homes for sale in lots of different areas across Great Britain." Plus the Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Wrexham FC effect too, of course.
1. Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire: £4m
The most-viewed home online in April was a modern six-bed mansion in the wonderfully named village of Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire for sale for £4m that is so substantial it is described as an estate. The main core of the house was built in 1885, and has been continuously refurbished and developed by its current owners.
Highlights include a hand-crafted open-plan kitchen that is the ultimate entertainment and social space, and its own garden house with a spa, hot tub, games room and cinema room. The house is for sale with estate agent Blatch Fine Homes, Coventry for £4m.
2. Marford, Wrexham: £999,000
Not Ryan's new home in Wales but a stunning property just the same, this handsome home is located on the sought-after residential road of Wynnstay Lane, in this posh and popular village a few miles north of Wrexham.
The house is described as a striking contemporary detached home by the agent, after it was completely renovated and extended in 2018.
There's ample parking, a beautifully private and peaceful rear garden with a massive terrace accessed via bifold doors from the kitchen breakfast room and also from the connected dining room. A very special extra feature is the gate at the end of the garden which opens into a woodland area for residents' exclusive use.
Inside, the ground floor is a social space cocooned in contemporary, luxury interiors that flows from a sitting room at the front into the well-equipped, cook's dream kitchen with massive island unit, then through an open doorway to the dining room that then flows into a more intimate living room.
There's a utility room bigger than some Cardiff city centre flat's main kitchen, plus a cloakroom and integrated garage that could become further accommodation if required, and if planning allows.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms and a family bathroom, but it's the principal bedroom suite that is the star of this property show on this level, optimising the design of this end of the house that incorporates the apex of the roof into the space below.
In the ensuite bathroom the wall of glass that mimics the shape of the end wall up to the triangular point at the top is the perfect place for a statement bath, bathed in cascades of light and interesting views to enjoy as you relax in the bubbles, just remember to close the blinds before stepping out.
At the other end of this wing of the house dedicated to the principal bedroom uses the double height space to create a stunning, integrated balcony that has its own roof, making sipping a cocktail at the end of the day a moment to look forward to whatever the weather. The house is for sale for £999,000 with Monopoly Estate Agents, Rossett.
3. Near Wadebridge, Cornwall: £5m
The most expensive dream home on the list has arguably the best position, on the cliff-top above the rugged north Cornish coastline with sweeping views that easily take your breath away, as will the £5m price tag.
For this budget the lucky new owner can boast one of the most picturesque locations in the county, surrounded by plenty of space for total privacy as well as sandy beaches ideal for swimming and surfing.
Called Bishop's Rock, it was built in 1937 and the home still retains many of its authentic period features including beams, flooring, and a stone and slate fireplace plus, of course, mesmerising and panoramic sea views from every-coast facing window and the sun-drenched garden terrace.
The house on the fringe of the coastal village of Trebetherick is for sale with a guide price of £5m with Savills, Truro branch.
4. Nunthorpe, near Middlesborough : £895,000
This stylish detached home is part of a development on the sought-after location of Gypsy Lane, which is accessed via electric gates and security system.
Inside there are five spacious bedrooms, three ensuites and two walk-in wardrobes and a 28ft open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, with a separate study, and a 30 foot lounge, so lack of space is certainly not an issue here.
Tech to impress includes its own air source heat pump, underfloor heating, CCTV and integrated Sonos entertainment system. The house is for sale for £895,000 with Michael Poole, Nunthorpe.
5. Whitecraigs, Glasgow: £1,795,000
This statement home occupies a prime location in the suburb of Whitecraigs in Glasgow and boasts a very eye-catching, unique design that combines an original 1930s Art Deco style with carefully chosen contemporary finishes.
The six-bed house of glass can boast oodles of light of course, but also a massive open-plan sitting and dining room that opens out onto the garden terrace and a spacious kitchen diner on the first floor, plus a study, sauna, gym and a one-bed apartment too.
Described by the agent as one of Whitecraigs' most iconic, landmark villas, it was painstakingly remodelled and redesigned by Keith Hobbs of United Designers and can boast a wonderful setting too, combining panoramic, uninterrupted views over the city with being located in a private setting, surrounded by greenery and space. The house is for sale for offers over £1,795,000 with Corum, Newton Mearns.
For more dream homes, renovation stories, interiors advice and property celebrity interviews, competitions and discounts too, get your copy of the NEW Amazing Welsh Homes glossy magazine - it's all Welsh, and it's all about people like you. Order the magazine here.
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