Thanks to its bucolic rolling hills, verdant valleys and fruit-growing fields, Kent has long been affectionately referred to as the ‘Garden of England’ for hundreds of years – more than 400, in fact. These modern homes for sale in Kent come with a slice of that countryside, from two-and-a-half acre of fields to a more modest garden with sea views.

The Oast House, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
The sight of the conical roof of an oast house, used for drying hops since the 17^th century, poking out from behind a hedge grove is one of Kent’s most distinctive scenes – the county has more than any other in the country. This updated example was first converted in 1973 and is a wonderful meeting of old-world vernacular with modern design for contemporary living.

Outside, the scenes are quite untouched, with the house’s position giving uninterrupted views over the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a protected area of conservation. The rural tranquillity is heightened by the sprawling two and a half acres of fields and gardens the house sits in.

Ventura, Crockham Hill, Kent
This one-off home was built in 1972 to the design of the original owner-architect, who factored in of-the-moment elements like bespoke cabinetry, an open-plan layout, York stone walling and coloured and clear glass bricks to comprise a wonderful example of rural mid-century architecture.

The house sits on a peaceful plot of Kentish countryside and is buffered by fields and woodland. More land has been added to the house’s site in recent years, with the current owners taking advantage of the acreage by enacting their horticultural ambitions. The result is a varied and engaging range of formal beds, mature trees and raised flower and vegetable planters to look out to from the house, the design of which establishes a direct relationship with the outside thanks to sliding glass doors.

Medway House, Wigmore Road, Kent
The more in-town location of this 1958 home hasn’t come at the cost of a connection to nature. The large rear garden, reached by glazed doors in the dining room and overlooked by a large picture window in the main living space, is both serene and functional, with mature shrubs and trees establishing privacy from the neighbouring playing fields.

With the rest of the garden taken up by lawn, Medway House offers a great blank canvas for a new green-fingered owner to enact their gardening vision, with space for allotments, water features, decking and flower beds. Get planting.

Elephant House, Herne Bay, Kent
From its voluminous first-floor, open-plan living and dining space, this charming house has picturesque views of the sea, taking full advantage of its position a stone’s throw from the beach at Herne Bay. The option to enjoy the coastal setting can be taken by jumping into the sea at a moment’s notice, or, for something less involved, with a glass in hand on the large covered balcony that overlooks the water. Cheers to that.