A pick of the best riverside homes to float your boat

The Savills Blog

A pick of the best riverside homes to float your boat

From the idyllic scenes conjured up in the pages of Kenneth Grahame’s children’s classic, The Wind in the Willows, through to the comic capers of Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat – the comings and goings of life on the river have remained enduringly popular for generations.

Riverside properties have much to offer. And while many buyers are attracted by easy access to the water, there’s also plenty to admire for those who like to keep their feet on dry land.

Alongside the obvious draw of the scenery, such locations can be good for mental and physical wellbeing – perfectly positioned for summer strolls or winter walks.

Our latest waterside research also shows that riverside properties tend to command a premium when it comes to what buyers are willing to pay.

Living on London’s riverfront unsurprisingly comes at a price. Along the 27-mile stretch of the River Thames between Teddington Lock and the Royal Docks, buyers spend 14% more for second-hand flats located within 100 metres of the bank, compared with those up to one kilometre away.

Beyond London, premium prices continue to be paid, with homes in hotspots such as Cookham, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow, Shiplake, Sonning and Wargrave often double the price of comparable properties further inland.

Other waterfront locations include those within National Parks and National Landscapes. Scotland’s National Scenic Areas, which are home to a number of the country’s lochs and rivers, command an average premium of 130%.

From large period houses and contemporary boltholes to quaint cottages and secluded hideaways, we’ve gathered together a few of our favourite riverside homes that are sure to float your boat.

 

MILLINERS HOUSE MOORINGS, PUTNEY

Spanning an impressive 3,635 sq ft, this unique floating apartment is presented in immaculate condition and beautifully furnished throughout – perfectly located at the end of the mooring for uninterrupted river views.

THE EMBANKMENT, TWICKENHAM 

A Grade II listed family home situated along Twickenham’s historic riverside with views across the River Thames. 

MOONRAKER, COOKHAM

An immaculately presented, high specification home in a highly coveted riverside position, complete with private mooring and magnificent views across the water.

BISHAM GRANGE, BISHAM 

A substantial riverfront Grade II-listed character house with extensive gardens, outbuildings and a paddock in a highly desirable village.

DUNSTABLE HOUSE, MARLOW

A penthouse apartment with panoramic views of the River Thames complemented by a large roof garden and private mooring, conveniently positioned for Marlow town centre.

BALTIC COURT, HENLEY-ON-THAMES

A stunning top-floor apartment with panoramic River Thames views, within striking distance of Henley town centre and its station, with parking, a garage and no onward chain.

 

CHURCH COTTTAGE, WHITCHURCH-ON-THAMES

A beautifully restored and extended period house, with river frontage onto a mill pond adjoining the River Thames.

 

WATER LODGE, DORCHESTER-ON-THAMES

Approached along a private drive and tucked away in a secluded setting, Water Lodge has been recently extended and remodelled in a colonial style most fitting for its position on the banks of the River Thames.

THE SCHOOL HOUSE, SCOTTISH BORDERS

An attractive stone-built property dating from the late 1800s, School House was once home to the headmaster of the adjacent school. Today it offers spacious and well-presented accommodation with open views of the surrounding hills and the River Tweed running below the bottom of the garden.

THE CLOISTERS, HURLEY  

An important and historic Grade II* listed house, sited by its monastic fathers on the banks of the River Thames in delightful and secluded park-like gardens.

 

Further information

Contact Victoria Knight or Richard Maby 

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