Ref: PPA. Putney Park Avenue, SW15.

A house in the country in London - sleeps 6/7.  Map

This is a rare opportunity to stay in a lovely house with a huge garden which feels just like being in the country but is within 30 minutes of central London. It's ideal for a family or for those who will appreciate the space and absence of hustle and bustle after a day in town. The house is on a private, tree lined, no-through road, standing entirely in its own grounds with a driveway with parking for 3 cars.

The area is very highly regarded - near neighbours are Yasmin and Simon Le Bon. Getting into central London is easy: it's a 5 minute walk to Barnes Station and then 15 minutes to Waterloo by train. Alternatively hop on a bus to take you over Hammersmith Bridge and catch the tube (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines) from Hammersmith tube station. You are just 20 minutes walk from the River Thames and the same distance from lovely Richmond Park.

A small downside of which you should be aware is that the property is quite close to one of the Heathrow airport flight paths and from time to time aircraft pass overhead, however this is only when the wind is in a certain direction, never lasts more than half a day and is always absent from 10.00pm to 6.00am. Residents say that after a short time you get so used to it you don't even notice!

The house is ideal for the larger family, comfortably sleeping 6/7 in 2 double and 2 single bedrooms. A good fold-away bed can be put in one of the large single bedroom for the 7^th person. There are 2 bathrooms and an additional downstairs loo.

The house was built in the 1930s and has been totally modernised within the last 5 years. It's the home of a successful artist so the walls are covered with original paintings (both his and his friends'), his wife and their two children (14 and 11). It's beautifully presented in classic English style. The ground flood has attractive wooden flooring throughout.

The front door opens onto a central (24ft x 10ft6, 7.30m x 3.15m) hallway which in turn leads out into the terrace and the garden through two sliding glass doors. To the right of the hallway is the dining room and kitchen, to the left the formal drawing room and the study/TV room. There's also a guest loo/cloakroom. All the "public" rooms and 3 of the bedrooms front onto the garden.

The drawing room (24ft x 14ft, 7.25m x 4.25m) is quite formal and furnished with a 2 seater sofa, two arm chairs and a low Ottoman round a central coffee table. There are side tables and lamps. A coal-effect gas fire provides a cosy touch in winter.

The dining room (18ft x 11ft6, 5.5m x 3.5m) has an elegant wooden table and seating for 10. There's a good upright piano which you are welcome to play. Again a coal-effect gas fire provides a cosy touch in winter.

Next door is the study/TV room with seating for 5/6, a TV with digital channels, Xbox (which will play DVDs) and VCR. There's a computer in this room with broadband internet access which you are welcome to use - or you can bring your own laptop and plug it in. French windows lead out onto terrace and garden.

The good sized family kitchen, with a table and seating for 6/8, has all the expected appliances including a microwave and dishwasher (and TV + stereo system with a collection of pop, blues and jazz CDs).

The washing machine and dryer are in a separate utility area.

All the sleeping accommodation is upstairs on the first floor. The master bedroom (18ft4 x 11ft6, 5.6m x 3.5m) has a 6ft wide bed and overlooks the garden. It has its own en-suite bathroom (bath + hand shower, twin "his and hers" basins, and loo).

The second double (11ft3 x 9ft9, 3.4m x 3m) with a 5ft bed also overlooks the garden.

The two single bedroom (the children's rooms) are large and spacious and festooned with teen and near-teen posters and images. One overlooks the garden and either is large enough to take the additional fold-away bed if needed for a 7^th (please advise when booking). These share the second bathroom - super-modern separate power shower, bath, basin and loo.

The garden side of the house faces west so has excellent sun from mid-day onwards. The terrace between the house and the lawn has an outside table and seating for 8/10 and can be shaded with a retractable sun awning if required. There's a good BBQ available too. The (25m x 20m, 80ft x 60ft) garden is a major plus point especially if you have kids. But please be aware that there is a garden pond and so this rental may not be suitable for families with very young children.

Why not be really English and have a game of Croquet - there's a full Croquet set available which you're welcome to use. How to play Croquet.

Don't think that being "out in the country" means that you are miles from the shops and any reasonable restaurants. Within 5 minutes walk there's a parade which includes a late opening convenience store, a video/DVD hire shop, an excellent Nepalese restaurant, a friendly Italian restaurant and pizza delivery (order by phone and then come and collect and they operate a buy one get one free policy!). In Putney there are some excellent restaurants - stroll down (20 mins) and take a taxi back.

This is a No Smoking property.