Homes fit for a cracking Christmas

Cumbria. After you’ve opened the presents in front of the open fire and cooked Christmas lunch on the Aga, you can walk off your calorific excess in the surrounding area of outstanding natural beauty close to Alston. Visiting relatives can be distributed among five double guest rooms. Offers in excess of £399,000 will be considered.
Smiths Gore Photograph: Smiths Gore

Devon. An inglenook in the living room will provide a generous landing for Father Christmas when he visits this £395,000 three-bedroom cottage in Knowle. You can spend Christmas afternoon pacing the beaches at nearby Budleigh Salterton, while the garden is large enough to accommodate a decent population of snowmen.
Bradleys Photograph: Bradleys

Hampshire. Santa needs to be bountiful to help you fund £595,000 for a two-bedroom cottage in Minstead. But what you lack in space – the rooms are on the dainty side – you make up for in character in the heart of the New Forest. Fireplaces in two of the three receptions will battle the winter chill, and you can make a bonfire of your gift wrap in the large garden.
John D Wood Photograph: John D Wood

Newcastle. It’s an easy schlepp with your Christmas shopping from the city centre to this three-storey, four-bedroom maisonette in a Grade I-listed building overlooking Leazes Park. A gracious drawing room with lofty ceilings and three sash windows will more-than accommodate the festive fervour. On the market for £330,000.
Sanderson Young Photograph: Sanderson Young

Worcestershire. You can almost smell the woodsmoke from this £495,000 three-bedroom cottage in the village of Eckington. An inglenook fireplace will warm the Christmas gathering, and if you can’t be bothered to clear lunch from the dining room you can lay dinner in the adjacent dining hall. A room above the garage could be converted to lodge seasonal guests.
RA Bennett & Partners Photograph: RA Bennett & Partners