Dr Marios Kyriazis, a U.S. ageing expert suggests that seven out of ten of the longest-living communities in the U.S. are mountain-based, and in the tiny Sardinian mountain town of Ovodda, as many men as women live to be 100 years old.

• You could pay up to 55% more for a ‘hill’ address (Zoopla 2010)
•  7 out of 10 of the longest living communities in the US live on the side of a mountain
• Surrey’s Hills – addresses to aspire to say Barton Wyatt
• Only a third of adults in England do the recommended 2.5 hours or more of moderate-intensity activity

Whether it’s the fresh air or the fact you’re doing a lot of walking uphill (using major muscle groups and giving your heart a good workout), moving up in the world could extend your life.

And with that in mind consider some on the more “famous” hills located in the South East of England:

– Notting Hill – best known for the annual spectacular carnival and the fact that super chef Jamie Oliver resides there.

– Box Hill – the best extreme uphill road, just 25 miles from London that featured prominently in the 2012 Summer Olympic cycling road race routes.

– Parliament Hill is an area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath in north-west London. The hill, which is 98 metres (322 ft) high, is notable for its excellent views of the Capital´s skyline. Many famous landmarks can be seen from its summit such as Canary Wharf, the Gherkin, the Shard and St Paul´s Cathedral.

– Richmond Hill – another hugely desirable address in West London

– Tower Hill and Shooters in Greenwich – all top spots to live with an albeit only slightly elevated positionreplica iwc

Consider New York which is essentially flat and you will find upmarket Forrest Hill, in Paris, Montmartre extends 130 metres into the sky and is a well-heeled nightclub district. Hong Kong calls its much loved hill The Peak where success is measured on how high up the hill you live. Moscow is built on seven hills, Mexico City sits in the basin of surrounding mountains, LA has Beverley Hills and Shanghai, not to be beaten due to a lack of hills, named their World Trade Centre the Shanghai Hills.

So why the prestige of hill living?
There are some excellent geographical reasons for being hillside. Firstly if global warming really does raise sea levels then you are already well placed to stay dry and secondly flooding has become a regular issue in the UK and it is becoming harder to insure valley properties.

James Wyatt, partner of Barton Wyatt, award-winning estate agent in Surrey has this to say:
“The Surrey Hills have become a real draw to our county, at the weekend our hills are deluged with cyclists and our parklands are full of locals and Londoners alike desperate for some clean healthy fun outside. Many of our clients moving into the area are attracted by the open spaces, gently rolling hills and once they have wandered around the lake at Virginia Water they are normally convinced.

“Just recently we have noticed a high number of new build country mansions in the area being named something ‘Hill’. A local developer has just put Hill House on the market at £11,000,000 and this majestic mansion really suits its name. It is a very magnificent house and deserved an equally grand name.

“There are many streets close to Virginia Water and the exclusive Wentworth Estate that have ‘Hill’ in the name – Callow Hill, Knowle Hill, Gorse Hill Road and Badgers Hill, which all boast the very finest properties in the area.”

Living on a hill side has many benefits and a major factor is the potential advantages to your health – providing you occasionally leave the car at home. The American Heart Association carried out two studies, one group of people were tasked to walk uphill and the other group downhill. The results varied dependent on the group but in either group improvements in sugar levels and levels of fat were seen.

The researchers did note however that you don´t have to live in a mountainous area to benefit; smaller inclines will still do the trick. Research shows that walking uphill burns twice the calories to walking on the flat so moving to an area that means you have an incline to tackle to get to the shops or the station is a terrific way of keeping you and the family in tip top condition.

Indeed with the number of obese people in the UK trebling in just 25 years and only a third of adults in England doing the recommended 2.5 hours or more of moderate-intensity activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week, these extra steps will be welcomed.

Back in 2010 property portal Zoopla looked at house prices comparing those situated on a hill compared to those not. They showed a surprising premium on hillside homes; properties with ´hill’ in the address, at that time, cost an average of £341,466 whilst the equivalent figure for homes on bog-standard streets was just £155,515.

James Wyatt comments:
“I am not sure that in Virginia Water we would see the discrepancies in pricing that the Zoopla figures showed, but many of the houses in our area are linked to names that are rural – such as Wood, Copse, Field, Brook and of course Hill. There is perhaps something very English about using your locality to name your home – quite different to our friends in America who are likely to live at 21489 Main Street. Perhaps that is why so many people from overseas like to settle in England’s green and pleasant lands?” replica breitling

Hill House, Wentworth £11,000,000
An exceptional brand new home in the very heart of the Wentworth Estate, siding onto the East Course. The property is situated in beautifully landscaped and private gardens of well over an acre at the rear.

The house has been designed with ample room for a large family. Five receptions on the ground floor, five bedroom suites in the main house and a large entertainment/games room in the roof. The basement houses an indoor pool complex with steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi, changing and shower rooms. A one bedroom staff apartment perches above the garaging for three cars.

For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Winter arrived a couple of weeks ago in the UK and this year it arrived with a bang. The worst storm since 1987 with howling 100 mph winds, torrential rain and frightening conditions for most of southern England and Wales.

The dark evenings, drawing in ever earlier now that the clocks have gone back, provide idyllic conditions for unwanted burglars.  Halifax Home Insurance suggests that the average cost of a claim for winter burglary was £1,746 per incident in 2012 with the insurer paying out almost £13 million in winter burglary claims, 21% rise compared to the summer months.

• 21% more burglaries during the winter months says Halifax 
• Bonfire night brings 22% increased likelihood of theft compared to an average day  (Aviva)
• Women are more security savvy then men according to Aviva home insurance

Interestingly Aviva has completed some research on what happens on one particular day – Bonfire night traditionally on the 5th November. The insurance provider reveals that those holding firework parties at home risk providing a spark of opportunity to thieves by leaving their doors unlocked and windows unchecked on what is the worst day of the year for burglary.

Collating 10 years of research, Aviva data reveals that you are 22% more likely to have a theft on Bonfire Night compared to the average day. In fact their survey of 2,500 UK homeowners revealed that one in five (19%) households holding a party in their garden admit to leaving the back door unlocked to make it easier for friends and neighbours to come and go as they please. And over one in ten (13%) even go as far as leaving the front door unlocked.

James Wyatt, partner of the award-winning Barton Wyatt estate agency in Virginia Water, North Surrey comments:

“The cover of darkness can create the perfect environment for petty thieves looking for an easy target. Some of the homes here in leafy Surrey have large wooded areas adjoining them with plenty of evergreen bushes to hide in and as the houses do not overlook each other you are less protected by your neighbours twitching their curtains and keeping a vigilant eye on your house.”

However despite these potential opportunities to get up to no good, Virginia Water in Surrey saw declining burglary figures between the years ending June 2011 and June 2012 according to official Police Crime Figures with burglary rates across North Surrey well below the national average.

James Wyatt, himself a North Surrey resident, suggests:
“Savvy owners in the area have been installing a plethora of equipment to beat the burglars and it appears to be working. The equipment ranges from CCTV, external lights, keyless gated entry and one house we are selling has a finger recognition keypad so that keys are surplus to requirement completely.”

Also in the area, luxury homes developer Millgate are close to completing two new developments – a luxury apartment complex in Ascot and a collection of detached country homes in Sunninghill.

Jonathan Cranley, Sales and Marketing Director for Millgate talks about the standard security equipment they supply in their new homes,

“The level of security required varies from site to site but as a general rule of thumb we install an approved hardwired security system and external lighting to the front and rear of the property.

“We are building houses that many people will envy and therefore they could be considered a target which is why we supply good quality equipment as standard although some of our home owners go onto install further equipment such as CCTV etc. Our houses are pre-wired for this installation so it is readily upgraded for those that want the extra security measure.”

Research from Aviva home insurance shows that women are more security savvy than men, with 82% making sure all doors are locked before leaving the house (compared to 72% of men). Women are also more likely to ensure that valuables are stored safely out of sight and not visible from the outside (60% compared to 47% of men).

Top 10 tips to beat the burglars this Bonfire Night

1. Give the impression that someone is home by leaving the radio on a talk-back station and a few lights on.
2. Use a timer switch to ensure your lights will come on as it goes dark and use eco-bulbs to save money on bills.
3. Avoid telling strangers who know your address, such as delivery men or salespeople, that your house is likely to be empty at any particular time.
4. Don´t leave any valuables in your car. If belongings are too big to carry, make sure to conceal them well or leave them at home, safely out of sight.
5. If you´re holding a party at home, don’t leave a sign on your front door telling guests to meet you in the garden or ´come around the back´.
6. Make sure all front doors and windows are locked.
7. Try not to have the music too loud if you´re having a party – burglars might think that makes your house an easy target.
8. Put the car or bikes in the garage and don´t leave your keys in an obvious place.
9. Use all the locks and bolts on your doors – they´re there for a reason!
10. Don´t put spare keys in obvious places like under the doormat or a flower pot

Examples of houses that are on the market and have security already installed:

Strawberry Field, Wentworth, Surrey £2,695,000
A double award nominated home, Strawberry Fields is an elegant Cotswold manor home which has been built by the current owner with much flair and design for their own occupation.

The house has CCTV installed already. There are large ornate mirrors in the sitting, dining and master bedroom which double as plasma screens; with a quick toggle you can turn your TV into a monitor which displays the CTV. Perfect to see who is knocking on your door before you run downstairs to open it.

The house offers the latest in technology, appliances and bathroom suites and is well-suited to entertaining on a grand scale with the magnificent kitchen/breakfast/family room with doors leading out to the landscaped garden.

The first floor has four bedrooms and three bathrooms as well as a useful kitchenette/utility room with appliances. On the top floor there is a superb games room which has steps leading to the fully fitted out cinema room (items available separately). There are two further bedrooms on this floor and a bathroom with steam shower.

For more information please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

Holland Place, Sunninghill Launching November 2013
Three stunning 6 bedroom residences located in the heart of the Home Counties just 2 miles from Ascot racecourse

Each home at Holland Place sits within substantial landscaped grounds, reflecting meticulous attention to detail in design, specification and architectural integrity – again setting the benchmark for building excellence.

The houses have all been completed with an approved hardwired security system. External lighting is provided to the front and rear of the property for security.

Guide prices from £3.5 to £4.2 million. Contact the sales team for further information or to arrange a viewing on 0118 934 3344or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk.

•  House prices in London have grown by 8.1 per cent year on year
• Opulence is in and shabby chic out
•  Wentworth plot sizes protected by covenants

With property prices in London continuing to grow, more and more people are considering their options to retreat to the country.  London house prices soared by 8.1 per cent in a year to record highs, official figures revealed in August and many are finding London property prices unacceptable.  Another report on the London property market delivered by CBRE, providers of global commercial real estate services, announced that annual growth in prime central London has reached 9.6 per cent.  Undoubtedly it depends where you draw the line for central London but either way these are hugely significant increases.

Areas of upmarket Surrey have been seeing a rise in the number of buyers considering the move to the country as a knock on effect.   Barton Wyatt, the leading estate agency in Virginia Water, which sits on the North Surrey/South Berkshire border, has seen a 20 per cent rise in applicants with London postcodes over the past 12 months.

Estate agents such as Barton Wyatt are noticing an influx of families who are loath to purchase an overpriced house in central London when they can opt for country style living with an acre of land.  Savvy developers in up-market Surrey have jumped on this band wagon and have been buying up tired, older-style houses in their droves, with the aim of knocking them down and replacing them with luxury modern mansions.  And these homes are teeming with all the luxury mod cons that you might expect from 21^st century living.

“Opulence is definitely in and shabby chic out,” according to James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt. “Our mid 40’s client base are international jetsetters and they recognise the quality of 5* living in Manhattan, Hong Kong and Dubai.  Quite rightly they want the same level of quality in their homes.  Developers build houses fit for kings in Wentworth, as it is not unknown for royalty to be living side by side with the rest of us.”

With house prices in Surrey more reasonable than in central London, it makes complete sense for these buyers to consider their options in the Home Counties.

Newly built mansions on Wentworth come in varying shapes and sizes.  But one thing is guaranteed in this luxury slice of Surrey.  The size of the plots are cast in stone – in-fills are not allowed in Wentworth due to a covenant on the land, which means there is no overcrowding and your neighbours will never be able to peer over the fence.  Space and seclusion do come at a cost and the price tags on some of these new build homes can be eye-watering.

Hill House has just come to the market at £11,000,000.  This house, according to Barton Wyatt, is likely to be snapped up by a Russian or Khazak, who are very partial to this area, as Wentworth offers privacy in bundles.  This 5 bedroom house (all with en-suites) also has excellent staff accommodation.  The house has been created with the most incredible basement, which includes an indoor pool complex with steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi, changing and shower rooms, gymnasium and fabulous entertainment room.  The house sits in a plot of 1.25 acres and has spacious garaging for three cars.

Hill House would be a dream home for a keen golfer.  The house butts up to the East Course on Wentworth and has been designed with a golf buggy gate which leads straight out onto this highly acclaimed course, which was designed by Harry Colt.

For buyers on a tighter budget James Wyatt suggests Somerset House, at just £6,495,000.  Again opulence is in abundance in this newly built home.  Set over 4 floors the accommodation is vast (9500 sq ft) and this house would suit someone who loves to entertain.

Surrey has, in the main, very strict planning regulations so developers are often loath to look at greenfield sites, which invariably take longer to gain planning permission for, often at a greater cost.  Knocking a property down and regenerating it has become the norm in a handful of Surrey areas.   In Kingswood and St Georges Hill this rebirth of homes has become a blight on the leafy roads: reputedly St Georges Hill had 20 building sites and Kingswood had over 30 just last year.  Construction lorries, vans and workers’ vehicles clog up the small roads, which were not designed to take this load of traffic.

James Wyatt comments:

“It is a modern day affliction sadly.  Thankfully in Wentworth we have not seen the high numbers of rebuilds that St Georges Hill or Kingswood have been subjected too.  And of course in Wentworth the plots are really substantial, so there is little need for work vehicles to be parked outside these sites.  But this is modern day living and it will continue to occur.  The trick is to be nice to your neighbours.  It takes little time every week to check that the neighbours are happy and to pay for their windows to be cleaned occasionally!”

For more information on Hill House, Somerset House or construction in Wentworth call Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Savills, in their Prime Central London report Autumn 2013, state that this sector of the UK residential market has few real competitors with Lucian Cook, Director Residential Research commenting that “the closest comparison in terms of value and the ability to attract international wealth are the private estates in the Home Counties – St. George’s Hill and Wentworth Estate being the best examples.”

•  Wentworth & St George’s Hill only places keeping up with London property boost
• Savvy developers buy plots for up to £10 million and sell rebuilt homes for £30 million
• Super wealthy looking outside London as prime mansions hard to find in London

The identification of these exclusive areas of North Surrey is off little surprise to James Wyatt, Partner of leading estate agency Barton Wyatt, who has been working on the Wentworth Estate for over 25 years. James says,

“Wentworth and St George’s Hill attract a different crowd to most of Surrey and indeed the Home Counties.  I am not saying that there are not pockets of wealth outside these two enclaves but these are on a different scale with thousands of highly successful businesspeople, politicians, diplomats, celebrities and even royalty choosing to live upon these golden acres.”

Both the Wentworth Estate and St George’s Hill private estates were created in the early 1900’s. Brain child of local builder, W.G. Tarrant who started building the 964 acre on St George’s Hill in 1912 and the 1750 acres of Wentworth Estate began building in 1922.

Both estates are protected to this day by covenants and their own Acts of Parliament, with Wentworth’s covenants preventing developers creating infills with each plot remaining as a single plot thus increasing their allure to many celebrities and high wealth individuals seeking space and privacy. The leafy, tree-lined private roads shield dozens of gated homes from public view.

Over the last decade it has become increasingly fashionable to “erase & replace”, purchasing a plot, knocking down the old Tarrant home and rebuilding in the form of a modern mansion.

Indeed James and his team at Barton Wyatt have seen a flurry of savvy developers buying plots on both Wentworth and St George’s at around the £10 million mark with the intention of creating super mansions that would not look out of place in Beverley Hills, with price tags hitting the £30 million mark.

James Wyatt comments:

“With the covenants still in place allowing only one property per plot, developers have to think of another way to maximise their returns. They cannot simply purchase a prime plot, sub-divide it and build 4 or 5 family homes on the same site.

“Whilst of ample size when they were first built in the early 1900’s, demand, especially from wealthy overseas buyers, for super-sized, mega mansions of 20,000 sq ft with all the mod cons, has meant that the existing Tarrant designed homes are no longer fit for purpose. These seemingly ‘average’ homes can be purchased at a relatively affordable level with the developers making their millions from the sale of the brand new homes which replace them.”

In fact London estate agents are finding a growing shortage of available super homes in prime central London resulting in millionaires looking further afield for a suitable home. Barton Wyatt has seen a 20% increase in buyers coming from Central London over the last year alone.

For more information about Erase & Replace in North Surrey or details on purchasing a super mansion contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

A record number of overseas clients has driven award winning Surrey estate agent, Barton Wyatt, to invest in a new state-of-the-art, 24 hour telephone response service.

Already to date in 2013, Barton Wyatt, located in affluent Virginia Water, Surrey, has seen a 15% increase in the number of clients based overseas looking to buy and rent property in the area, a record for the family-run estate agency boasting over 200 years’ experience.

Despite the popularity of email, social media and other forms of modern communication, James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt felt that it was important that his clients were able to speak to a real person at any time of the day or night. He explains,

“Here at Barton Wyatt we handle property sales and rentals for clients from all around the world. From the US to Russia, Kazakhstan and Malaysia, it’s not just people looking to move to the area, we also work with dozens of landlords posted or living overseas who need to keep in touch regards their properties.

“When you are living in a different time zone to the UK, it is easy to forget that not everyone is working to the same time agenda.  This led us think that the very best service possible to our clients would be to use a telephone service which operates 24/7, relieving any frustration that clients might get from not being able to speak to one of our team during normal office hours.”

The partner agency that Barton Wyatt is using, Moneypenny, is based in Wexham in the UK in the day and in New Zealand during the night.  Moneypenny send fully trained staff out to New Zealand on a three to six month rotation ensuring that the customer service level is of the same high standard whatever the time of day or night.

MrSouth, a landlord from Singaporewho appoints Barton Wyatt to manage his properties, comments,

“It is just another thoughtful level of service that I have come to enjoy from the team at Barton Wyatt.  They strive to always be one step ahead and this is yet another example as to why Barton Wyatt stands head and shoulders above the competition.”

For further information about Barton Wyatt call +44 1344 843 000 24/7 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

• The team at Barton Wyatt boasts 206 years combined estate agency experience
• Using an experienced estate agent could add an extra 12% to the value of your house sale
• Barton Wyatt has been awarded over 10 national property accolades

Tot up the amount of estate agency experience at award winning Barton Wyatt and you reach a staggering 206 years.  This exclusive family-run agency is located in the heart of Virginia Water in Surrey with a reputation as elongated as its experience.

Casting our minds back 200 years ago it would have been the 1800s when life was hard and buying and selling houses a pastime only for the rich.  1807 saw British parliament abolish the slave trade, the first railway passenger service begin in England and London´s Pall Mall become the first street to be lit by gaslight.

Just a few years prior to this, in 1797, William Blake wrote the poem “The Price of Experience”.  His bleak outlook on life has thankfully been left in the dark ages and in today’s modern world we can regularly rejoice in the tents of prosperity.

But what price experience when it comes to selling your home?

According to Bennie Waller, professor of finance and real estate at Longwood University in Virginia, USA you should “use an established veteran agent” for the best outcome. His study examined 10,065 real-estate listings with the findings revealing that if you use a veteran (estate) agent with over 10 years’ experience in property sales then you should achieve 12% more for your home than if you use a rookie.

James Wyatt, partner of Barton Wyatt comments,

“Success comes with experience and here at Barton Wyatt we have buckets of it!  My joint partner (and dear brother) Rupert and I have over 50 years’ experience in house sales and rentals with our dedicated team making up the other 150 plus years.  They are incredibly knowledgeable about our local area, our properties, how to market a home and help our clients achieve the maximum potential for their house sale.”

Barton Wyatt have been recognised for their successes time and time again by winning 10 nationally recognised estate agency awards with James Wyatt in situ as Chairman for the Surrey branch of the NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents). His wealth of knowledge and charismatic charm has ensured that James has been quoted countless times in the media both locally and at a national level.

Staff at Barton Wyatt have the most incredible loyalty to their firm:

Victoria Holford, the PA to the Partners said:  “Barton Wyatt is like a second family to me.  We have a great team that are all committed to the same goal and it is rather fun spotting the odd celeb that comes to visit!”

Jo Parris, Lettings Manager thinks: “Barton Wyatt enables me to work in an interesting market, see some stunning property and work with a great variation of clients while continually developing professional relationships.  All with the support from the Partners in a professional yet friendly environment.”

Guy Edwards is on the sales team and he commented:  “The work environment is supportive and encouraging whilst our territory is always very interesting and challenging.  Wentworth attracts all sorts of successful and interesting people who expect the very highest level of service.  The Barton Wyatt name carries much respect in the area.”

Even with 200 years of experience under their belts, it doesn’t mean that Barton Wyatt sit on their laurels however. They have led the field numerous times embracing new technology such as QR codes on sign boards and property details, HD video tours of their properties, a dedicated TV channel to reach international buyers, a 24-7 international answering service and shortly embracing Augmented Reality.

One of the latest tools in the Barton Wyatt armoury is another cutting edge product. Taking the humble property brochure to a new level the team have embedded HD video tours of each property into the particulars enabling potential buyers to tour the property from the comfort of their armchairs.

James comments:

“Many of our buyers are looking to spend between £5 and £10 million pounds on a new home and much as static printed brochures remain an integral part of the sale, this new integrated video brochure will bring the houses to life in a way that a photograph could never do.”

Estate agents, like any retailer, must stay ahead of the game and be able to deliver an all-encompassing experience that adds value to the customer journey.  Keeping customers interested in Barton Wyatt and their products is the lifeblood of the business and their experienced team is definitely one of the tools.

To find out more about Barton Wyatt or to talk to an experienced team member call 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

It may have a reputation for exclusivity but on the 1750 acre Wentworth Estate in North Surrey, home to one of the UK’s most loved TV presenter’s, Sir Bruce Forsyth, it’s ‘nice to see you, to see you nice!’

A Wentworth resident for 30 years, Sir Bruce’s career has spanned a staggering seven decades; rising to fame in the 1950s series of Sunday Night at the London Palladium he went on to present series such as The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price Is Right and You Bet!

Sir Bruce made his first stage appearance back in 1931 at the age of just 3 in a local pantomime in Edmonton, North London, where his family lived.  The little boy, encouraged by his mother — who sang with the Salvation Army band — gave a hilarious rendition of the music hall song “I Lift up My Finger and say Tweet Tweet”. Even at such a young age Bruce was able to bring the house down.

He fell in love with dancing after watching Fred Astaire films aged 8 and went onto to train in dance in Tottenham and then Brixton starting in show business aged 14, with a song, dance and accordion act called “Boy Bruce, the Mighty Atom.”

Despite turning 85 this year, Bruce continues to pull the crowds. This year the showbiz vet was invited to perform at Glastonbury, joining the likes of the Rolling Stones and Dizzee Rascal.  Sir Bruce entertained festival-goers with songs from his solo album ‘These are my Favourites’.

The return of Strictly Come Dancing sees Bruce back in the thick of things with co-host Tess Daly for the eleventh run of this much loved family show. The star studded line-up of twinkle toed wannabe’s includes swimming star Rebecca Adlington, Bond girl Fiona Fullerton and close to Bruce’s heart, golf legend – Tony Jacklin.

Known also for his love of golf, Sir Bruce’s residence is situated on the main island of Wentworth and enjoys views towards the 1st fairway of the West Championship course. A familiar face in Virginia Water and at The Wentworth Club, locals love having his charming persona around town.  And his beautiful wife, Lady Wilnelia Forsyth, the 1975 Miss World Champion from Puerto Rico, is regularly spotted in Virginia Water doing some shopping and mixing with the locals.

James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt, the Virginia Water based estate agency, comments,

“We are quite used to rich and famous folk living around here however many of them hide themselves behind huge gates and acres of rhododendron bushes. Sir Bruce is not like that; he is very much part of our community and a loveable friendly face in the village.”

Although Virginia Water itself may not be a hub for dancing, there is a Stage Coach Centre in nearby Ascot and dance studies available in Chertsey. But if you are keen to Strictly Come Dance a little closer to home then foxtrot over to Wentworth and consider one of these fabulous houses to perfect your two-step within:

Shimmy over to September Song – built in 2008 for the current owners to a very high specification. The house is totally unique having been designed by Lewandowski Willcox Architects boasting contemporary design with interestingly shaped rooms and split levels giving the house an abundance of character and charm all of its own. The choice of bathroom fittings and the kitchen are all of a contemporary nature and flow consistently through the property.

September Song boasts four reception rooms, a master bedroom with en-suite dressing room and bathroom, two further bedrooms suites and a further two bedrooms with a shared jack and jill bathroom.  The house also has a laundry, study, lift from the garage which houses five cars and landscaped gardens of 1.86 acres. Available now at £4,250,000.

Or hip-hop over to Hill House, an exceptional brand new home in the very heart of the Wentworth Estate, siding onto the East Course. The property is situated in beautifully landscaped and private gardens of well over an acre at the rear.  Set over 4 floors the opportunities for hosting your own Strictly are extensive.

The house has been designed with ample room for a large family.  Five receptions on the ground floor, five bedroom suites in the main house and a large entertainment/games room in the roof.  The basement houses an indoor pool complex with steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi, changing and shower rooms.  A one bedroom staff apartment perches above the garaging for three cars.  Available now at £11,000,000

Waltz on over to Waterford House, which is superbly situated on one of the most prestigious roads within Wentworth Estate. Both the Wentworth clubhouse and the village are within easy walking distance.

No expense was spared in the construction of this house using the finest materials and construction methods.  The amount of technology within the house is astounding so any dance parties here will go with a swing.  Crestron and Lutron systems control the audio visual, curtains and blind. Throughout the house there is a feel of sophisticated luxury with attention to detail and design.

The gardens were designed and created by landscape architects who have achieved a wonderful variety of changing colour throughout the seasons. An extensive terrace spans across the rear of the property to a slightly raised dining area off the concertina doors from the kitchen. A pathway leads around the perimeter of the rear garden to a sun terrace in the north west corner of the garden with an attractive pond and water feature. In the centre of the garden is a very attractive Rill which can be seen as you come through the front door of the property.  £4,350,000

For more information on any of these homes please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

A beautiful new development of homes that was opened by Theresa May, Home Secretary and MP for Windsor & Maidenhead earlier this year has sold out in record time. This development from local award-winning builders, Millgate, located in the Berkshire village of Wargrave comprised a private collection of 8 three and four bedroom homes with the first house selling within 24 hours of the Show Home opening.

• Victoria Mews by Millgate was opened by Home Secretary – Theresa May
• First luxury family home sells within 24 hours of launch
• Property prices in Wargrave rise 12.21% in 4 years (Zoopla)

Mrs Julie Deadman was one of the new residents in Victoria Mews moving from Wokingham where she had purchased a smaller newly built town house some years back.  Mrs Deadman described her feelings on purchasing her first Millgate home:

“Having purchased a new build town house before I thought I knew what to expect when looking to upgrade to a large home but I was blown away by the wow factor of Victoria Mews.  The attention to detail when we drove onto the development earlier this year was staggering; every property was completed, flowers and trees planted, the Show Home was dressed and it felt like I was walking into a real home – lived in, warm and cosy.

“Even now we have moved in, the excitement of the new house remains; I honestly get really excited at the thought of ‘going home’ after work. My house is exceptional in terms of quality and standard of finish. I am absolutely delighted and it is literally “my dream house”.”

Mrs Deadman was also enthralled by the customer service experience she received from Millgate,

“The Millgate customer service team are beyond good – they are amazing. They are courteous and efficient and always go out of their way to provide a first class and responsive customer service at all times. Nothing is too much trouble for them.”

Wargrave is peaceful village, off the beaten track and has a charming, tranquil feel to it.  Some delightful gastro pubs line the water’s edge, riverboats bob around on the Thames and when you add in swans, ducks and weeping willows you have yourself a fabulously charming spot.  Unsurprising that, according to Zoopla, property prices have risen over the past 4 years by 12.21%.

Jonathan Cranley, Sales and Marketing Director for Millgate comments,

“Knowing the local area and having developed here before, we were aware of the demand for family housing and were confident that these houses would get snapped up.  We are known for building award-winning country mansions but on this occasion we transferred our expert skills and knowledge of building super homes into this delightful gated estate and it really worked.  Our team enjoyed designing and building Victoria Mews and the clients who purchased have been elated with the homes. For me that is a job well done.

“From start to finish this project has been successful and dare I say it – fun.  We hope to get the opportunity to build more of these types of town houses over the next year but finding the right site is always a challenge.”

For more information about Millgate’s future developments contact the team on 01189 343344 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk.