Homes for sale for summer entertaining in England – in pictures

Worlingworth, Suffolk

Barton Grange is seven-bedroom property dressed for summer parties. The main farmhouse – behind a dusty pink facade that dates to 1558 – is attached to a collection of buildings with a corridor connecting to one of three barns. This one houses a vast entertaining area with plenty of room to party under the exposed ceiling beams. And there’s an outdoor dining room, with room for an eight-person table, next to the barbecue. For post-shindig recovery, there is a yoga room. Wildflower gardens fan out behind the property. £1.850m. Inigo, 020 3687 3071

Photograph: Inigo

Shepperton, Surrey

Moored at Shepperton Marina, on the edge of Greater London, is this 39-metre Belgian barge that has been converted into a home. As big as a typical Victorian terrace house in London, it covers 186 sq metres (2,000 sq ft) with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a reception room and a utility room underneath. The kitchen is on the upper deck. The layout was conceived with partying in mind. The long top deck is used to host guests, and boasts a hot tub. The marina is just off Walton Bridge Road, and within easy distance of Walton-on-Thames. £425,000. Dexters, 020 8398 8550

Photograph: darran.m/Dexters

Brixton, London

In a triangle of residential roads, with the green spaces of Clapham Common and Brockwell Park close by, is a mid-century apartment block with a party penthouse on the seventh floor. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom property is dominated by the open-plan reception room with sleek kitchen units, shiny white floor tiles and dual-aspect floor-to-ceiling glass panels. Doors open on to a wraparound roof terrace with space for seating and hosting, with shade from the cantilevered roof. There’s a hot tub and a sauna, and views of the City skyline. £1.4m. Foxtons, 020 7704 5757

Photograph: Foxtons

West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire

Wilford Lane runs between two bends in the River Trent and leads to the town centre. The bustling high street and amenities are on hand and yet it is just off the main thoroughfares that get busy on match days (either Nottingham Forest’s home games at the nearby City Ground or cricket at Trent Bridge). On the fourth floor of an apartment block is a two-bedroom home with an open-plan living space and doors opening on to the west-facing balcony. This, and the communal gardens overlooking the river, are ideal spots for gatherings. £400,000. HomeMove, 0115 8321 321

Photograph: Home Move

Margate, Kent

Within walking distance of the characterful Margate Old Town and its sandy beach is a semi-detached Victorian house that has been modernised inside. The kitchen is at the back, light-filled from dual-aspect windows and a roof lantern, and has space at the back for dining. The garden has a patio for alfresco meals and a lawn, bordered by a timber slatted fence on one side and a brick wall on the other, supporting fig and olive trees. Tucked away down the end is decking and seating, and a studio – currently used as a quiet place of retreat. £750,000. The Modern House, 020 3795 5920

Photograph: The Modern House