Waterloo and London's South Bank: 2,000 new homes
The South Bank's residential population is about to get a significant boost with nearly 2,000 new homes underway on the doorstep of Waterloo station - including 877 flats with spectacular views next to the London Eye at the iconic Shell Centre.
New riverside homes along London's historic Embankments
London’s riverside embankments — Victoria, Albert and Chelsea — are to be transformed in a regeneration scheme that will replace existing post-Blitz office blocks with contemporary new apartments, curvy skyscrapers, parks and promenades.
Rochester spotlight
Rochester sits close to the river Medway in Kent, 30 miles south-east of London. The cobbled streets of this ancient city have set the scene for some of Dickens's most famous works, while its mix of period homes and riverside flats attract Londoners.
Welwyn Garden City spotlight
Welwyn Garden City first sprang up in the Twenties with long, wide grassy boulevards and charming red-brick homes. Today this Hertfordshire town has a good choice of new-build flats and neo-Georgian houses within a 30-minute commute to London.
Home aboard the Mary Rose
Henry VIII's famous Tudor warship capsized more than 500 years ago. Now, the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth is a time capsule that reveals the elegant simplicity of this astonishingly well-preserved early English oak furniture.
Find a rated tradesman
Want to add value to your property, make your house a home, or sell your place fast? With 1,000s of tradesmen nationwide, rated and recommended by previous customers, this is the smart way to find a reputable tradesman.
Buy of the week: Earls Court, SW5
This neat little Earls Court number has polished concrete floors, exposed brick walls and a glossy, aubergine kitchen alongside stairs up to a mezzanine sleeping area.
Out of town: Alcester, Warwickshire
This former manor house in Warwickshire's rolling countryside has two en-suite bedrooms, a kitchen/dining room for entertaining, a cellar and a large garage.
Life-changer: Corwen, Denbighshire
This five-bedroom beauty comes with two holiday-let cottages. Plenty of beams, open fires and exposed stone can be found in the main house, along with bags of family space.
Banbury spotlight
The small town of Banbury in Oxfordshire is a home-hunter's dream, with good-value elegant family houses and charming cottages surrounded by attractive countryside villages - all within an hour's commute to London.-
Buy of the week: Earls Court, SW5
This neat little Earls Court number has polished concrete floors, exposed brick walls and a glossy, aubergine kitchen alongside stairs up to a mezzanine sleeping area. -
Out of town: Alcester, Warwickshire
This former manor house in Warwickshire's rolling countryside has two en-suite bedrooms, a kitchen/dining room for entertaining, a cellar and a large garage. -
Life-changer: Corwen, Denbighshire
This five-bedroom beauty comes with two holiday-let cottages. Plenty of beams, open fires and exposed stone can be found in the main house, along with bags of family space.
Property search
Heritage homes: winter walks
A breezy walk in the country is so much nicer if it includes wandering around someone else's large beautiful garden or fine old estate. National Trust houses are largely closed at this time of year, but you can still visit many of the grounds - and their welcoming tearooms, says Barbara Chandler
© National Trust
Claremont Landscape Garden
Claremont Landscape Garden, Esher, Surrey
You can admire a stunning lake, complete with an island with a romantic pavilion. Other delights include a grotto and a turf amphitheatre, as well as many wonderful views.
* Open all year, closes at dusk. Shop and tearoom closed until 13 January. Call 01372 467806.
Box Hill, Surrey
This area offers a tramp through woods and across chalk downs, following nature trails, and spectacular views towards the South Downs.
* Open all year. Shop, tearoom and information centre are also open but close at dusk, and are closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January. Call 01306 742809 or 01306 888793.
© National Trust / John Miller
Walks at Polesden Lacey
Leith Hill, Dorking, Surrey
A rambling, rugged patch of land offers exhilarating walks through woods and heaths, and around extensive farmland. There is even a tower, which is open on Saturdays and Sundays. You can buy a guide detailing two circular trails from a dispenser for a modest £1.
* Wood and estate are open all year. Call 01306 711777.
Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham, near Dorking, Surrey
On a leisurely visit, you can take a variety of gentle walks around elegant well-kept gardens and tidily landscaped park. At various points, you will catch your breath at sweeping valley views across the North Downs.
* Garden, shop and tearoom re-open on 3 January, closing each day at dusk. Call 01372 452048.
© National Trust / John Miller
River Wey
River Wey Navigations and Dapdune Wharf, Guildford, Surrey
For a soothing watery wander, take this friendly towpath for a superb walk through some of the most beautiful countryside in Surrey. It is easily accessible - and if you are particularly tenacious, you can complete 20 miles of flat, easy walking from Godalming to Weybridge (but possibly not all in one go). The more ambitious explorer can buy a book of circular walks around the Navigations from the Navigations Office at Dapdune Wharf and Thames Lock in Weybridge.
* Open during daylight all year round. Call 01483 561389.
© National Trust
Winkworth Arboretum
Hindhead Commons and The Devil's Punch Bowl, Surrey
Take in the stunning views of the famous Devil's Punch Bowl and Hindhead Common - within just 50 yards of the café (which is conveniently open all year except for 25 and 26 December and 1 January.) The more persistent - and energetic - visitor can buy leaflets featuring maps and local walks.
* Open all year. Call 01428 608771.
© National Trust
The Witley Centre
Winkworth Arboretum, Godalming, Surrey
Winkworth boasts a lake, wetland area, boat-house and extensive woodland spreading over the side of a hill. Its award-winning collection of more than 1,000 different shrubs and trees includes many rare ones. These shelter a charming abundance of wildlife. The shop and tearoom re-open on 6 January, but only on Saturday and Sunday. Buy a walks leaflet and become a serious tree-spotter.
* Open all year. Call 01483 208477.
The Witley Centre, Godalming
This much-loved common is a fascinating mix of woodland and heath. Discover new territory through one of the walks leaflets available at the shop.
* Open all year. Call 01428 683207.
For more outdoor options, and to check details of dates and times, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
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