Professional couple Zeb Kaylique and Manisha Aatkar moved from Muswell Hill in North London to escape the bustle of suburban London for rural idyll, and found the ideal solution at Millgate Homes’ Essendon Park development in Hertfordshire:

“We wanted to get away from the London suburbs to somewhere that will offer a more serene environment to come home to, with a greater sense of community. Our first objective was a rural location surrounded by plenty of wide open space, a good distance from busy towns and large estates.

“Secondly, we wanted a home with character but one that offered spacious and light interiors – this ruled out typical country cottages with their cramped interiors and low ceilings, and many new-build projects which we found simply too modern. And to add to the challenge, we both need to remain within a commutable distance of London for work.

“Essendon Park ticks all the boxes – its location surrounded by golf courses provides the beautiful, green open space and also means that future large-scale development nearby is highly unlikely. In terms of the house itself, ‘The Courtyard’ oozes character, yet internally the accommodation is spacious and well designed for relaxing and entertaining – plus it’s finished to a fantastic specification.”