Aced It: five smashing homes for tennis fans

Summer is in full swing – and with it came the highlight of the tennis calendar, the greatest of the Grand Slams: the Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, also known as Wimbledon. Since 1877, keen players have travelled to this leafy south-west London suburb to seek glory on the grass courts, and eager fans have followed them.

But we’re not just admirers, we’re also amateurs with aspirations. And, with this year’s champions crowned, we’ll admit to feeling pretty inspired. We just need to work on a few of our strokes… If you’re also the kind of person for whom concrete, clay and fresh-cut grass get your heart pumping, here are five homes for you.

Careby, Stamford, Lincolnshire

In rural Lincolnshire, not far from the picturesque market town of Stamford, is a house that would suit a real sports lover. This Grade II-listed Georgian beauty in the village of Careby has everything you’d expect – classical proportions, symmetrical façade, high ceilings, large windows – and more. The current owners recently undertook an extensive restoration, seeking to preserve the essence of the historic house while making it fit for modern living. Special attention has been paid to repairing the plumbing, electrics, chimneys and masonry, while a number of original features have been uncovered and restored, from wooden wall panelling to oak beams and marble fireplace surrounds.

But what’s in it for the sportier resident? Across the eight acres of gardens here, you’ll find not only a tennis court – newly installed – but also a pétanque yard, a football pitch with full-size goals, a lawn suitable for badminton or cricket, and stabling for four horses, as well as a five-acre paddock. With the house’s seven bedrooms and with masses of parking, you could even host your own tournaments…

View listing here.

Warrens Farm, Little Bentley, Essex

Between Constable country and the Suffolk coastline lies the village of Little Bentley, Essex. This charming house, set amid rolling fields just a short walk from the village, was originally a farmstead. Its wall jetty and curved brackets date to at least the 16^th century, though its inglenook fireplaces and moulded bressummer-beam ceilings suggest it may be even older.

Various updates over the ages have lent this cosy home character. Distinctive herringbone-brick flooring connects the more modern kitchen to the dining room, while large bay windows bring light into the house. A more recent addition is the glazed breakfast room, which has a pair of french doors that open onto an east-facing terrace, ideal for brighter summer mornings. Another boon in the summer months is the beautifully planted garden that surrounds Warrens Farm: 2.7 acres of neat lawn, rose beds, mature trees and lilac. The hard tennis court lies to the north of the house, enclosed by hedges on three sides and with views across the neighbouring field.

Despite its rural location, finding a partner shouldn’t be an issue, should you need to. Essex has an active tennis association and there are a number of enthusiastic players in the local area. And with Manningtree station less than 15 minutes away by car (from which trains into London Liverpool Street take under an hour), you can easily make your annual pilgrimage to SW19.

View listing here.

Mecklenburgh Square, London WC1

In London, city-centre tennis courts are few and far between, so the residents of Bloomsbury’s Mecklenburgh Square are particularly fortunate – their communal garden features one for their exclusive use. This three-bedroom maisonette, spanning three floors of a Grade II*-listed Georgian townhouse, sits on the west-facing side of the square. The decoration is the handiwork of Rachel Chudley, who has created a distinctly contemporary design that remains sensitive to the building’s history.

Large sash windows, running from the high ceilings right down to the floor, make for light, airy spaces with enviable views across the square. If the shared gardens – with their exquisitely maintained formal lawns, gravel paths and children’s playground – aren’t enough, the house itself also has its own courtyard, perfect for those moments of repose and refreshment after a tough match.

View listing here.

Dean Road, London NW2

Tennis on the mind? Perhaps the owners of this flat on Willesden Green’s Dean Road were similarly contemplating their lobs and volleys when they plumped for Farrow & Ball’s earthy ‘Orangery’ when painting their living space. It’s remarkably similar, we think, to the colour of the clay courts of the Stade Roland Garros in Paris…

The apartment occupies the top floor of a handsome Victorian house and features three en-suite bedrooms, an additional bathroom and an open-plan sitting room and kitchen. The real highlight, however, is the south-facing sun room, which opens out – through bifold doors – on to a private roof terrace. Here, you’re afforded views across the neighbourhood, while a low brick wall offers a degree of privacy, making it the perfect place for a morning of yoga and stretching.

Once you’ve warmed up, why not walk along to Gladstone Park. Built in the late 19th century with the aim of providing local people with access to health-giving greenery, today it’s home to meadows, a walled garden, a café, duck ponds and a playground, as well as a number of well-maintained all-weather tennis courts, which can be booked through the Lawn Tennis Association’s website and ClubSpark app.

View listing here.

Straight Hill, Wingmore, Kent

Since the late 16th century, this timber-framed house has stood in the village of Wingmore, in the garden of England’s Elham Valley, and these days it carries a Grade II listing in recognition of its handsome historic design and characterful original features, including oak beams, mullioned windows and a plain-tiled roof.

The house is set among 3.6 acres of mature gardens and, as well as a pretty paddock with views of towards the Nailbourne river that flows nearby, there’s an indoor pool to boot. But of course the real draw here is the all-weather tennis court. It’s easy to picture the scene: at the end of a long day, with the sun lazily setting on the North Downs and a punnet of fresh strawberries (don’t forget the cream and a glass of Kentish fizz). Was that last ball in or out? Does it really matter?

View listing here.