I spent a day in the latest Omaze dream home - a sprawling £5.5m country farmhouse

North Wales Live

25-05-2025

The nation has been captivated by a multi-million pound house raffle. The Omaze house draw offers not just a plush new abode, but the opportunity to become an overnight millionaire, all for as little as £10. For the first time ever, the Express was given exclusive access – a sneak peek inside the latest grand prize before the new owner steps foot in it.
This is the 38th property Omaze has offered in its five-year history, and of the previous fortunate winners, many have chosen to sell rather than settle down. Previous properties have ranged from a sleek Cornish cliffside dwelling, a grand Georgian townhouse in central London to a Highlands mansion. This time around, it's a 17th-century farmhouse in the Cotswolds boasting five bedrooms, five bathrooms, two living rooms, a spacious kitchen-diner, a boot room, two utility rooms, a couple of extra rooms, plus a separate guest cottage.
It comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, plus a cool £250,000 in cash to help with the bills, reports the Express. Alternatively, an overnight stay at a country pad might scratch the quiet life itch. On Airbnb, there's a Cotswold Manor House, set in its own grounds in a beautiful National Trust Village on the River Thames. It comes with a cool price tag starting from £1,200 a night, but it can fit up to 16 guests, which works out at £75 per person per night.
It has six bedrooms (with 11 beds) and five bathrooms, which makes it ideal for a big group gathering. For days out, look to the National Trust. Much of Downton Abbey's 2019 movie and original TV series was filmed in National Trust places, and fans can visit a lot of the locations, for example, Basildon Park is the real-life Grantham House.
Back to the Omaze property, journalist Frances Millar was granted exclusive access to the sprawling property. Here's her thoughts on the country pad: With only a few hours to play 'Lady of the Manor', I took the opportunity to have a thorough look around, half-hoping for a minor mishap like a loose door handle to give me a small sense of schadenfreude.
However, everything was in perfect condition. The crunching gravel drive leads you to a Cotswold stone farmhouse bathed in honey hues, adorned with wisteria and rambling pink roses, all set within lush cottage garden borders. The only sounds were the birdsong and my own gasps: "Oh my god, it's huge."
Covering over 6,000 square feet, this expansive property sits on a generous plot of rolling countryside, complete with a wildflower meadow and an orchard ripe for scrumping when harvest season arrives. Additional features include a large greenhouse, stable blocks, separate garages, and a heated outdoor pool. Inside, the decor is tastefully done, as if lifted straight from the pages of Country Life Magazine.
Imagine soothing sage greens, cream, duck egg blues, luxurious soft furnishings paired with flagstone floors and timber beam ceilings. It's the epitome of English countryside glamour, but as a born-and-bred Londoner - and a self-confessed scruffbag - could I see myself living here? I must confess, I found myself pondering: What would that exquisite marble bathroom look like covered in soap scum?
And how would this pristine sofa fare under a layer of cat hair? Or the massive custom-made kitchen island strewn with half-drunk cups of tea and unopened post? Under my supervision, it would only take a day or two for it to be cluttered with odds and ends.
However, given the size of the property, even I would struggle to make a mess of it. But the garden - now that's where I could truly feel at home. With all that space, I'd go full Good Life - just hand me a spade and call me Barbara.
As an avid gardener, I couldn't resist mentally planning it out with an allotment plot, a chicken coop, perhaps even a goat. And that enormous greenhouse - the greenhouse of dreams - would be filled to the brim with citrus trees, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines. I might even try growing melons. Oh, the things I'd cultivate.
I could almost envision myself filming a segment for Gardeners' World, trying not to sound too self-satisfied as I explained how I gradually replaced the lawn with a lush herbaceous border to rival Great Dixter. As for the pool, well naturally, I couldn't resist a cheeky swim - the first person to do so. The temperature was, of course, absolutely spot on.
That's coming from someone who's a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold water. And it's so private, you could skinny dip without a care in the world if that's your thing. Heck, you could go full Saltburn, blast Murder on the dance floor at full volume, and dance naked, as there's not a neighbour in sight to bat an eyelid.
As with every Omaze house raffle, it's all for a good cause. This draw is in partnership with Guide Dogs UK, and the charity will receive at least £1 million, potentially much more depending on ticket sales, which will fund 675 puppies during their first eight weeks of life and help people with sight loss gain greater independence.
During my brief visit, I had the delight of meeting Jean Jordan, who has been volunteering with Guide Dogs UK for an impressive 32 years. She brought along Mazey, an 18-week-old lab-retriever cross, who has just embarked on her guide dog training journey. Jean, hailing from Bristol, helps manage her family's gas engineering business, but in her spare time, she welcomes future guide dogs into her home, giving them a loving start in life.
She fosters these pups, providing early training and care before they transition to a specialist centre for the next phase of their journey, eventually finding their forever partner. She said: "Mazey has been a joy to raise. She's bright, affectionate, and already showing signs of being a brilliant guide dog. It's hard not to get attached, but knowing she'll go on to help someone makes it all worth it."
Two million people are affected by sight loss in the UK and with the number projected to double by 2050, the work that these dedicated volunteers contribute is invaluable. But let's return to the million-pound question: is this my forever home? Would I stay or would I go?
Can you picture me, living in this idyllic £5.5m Cotswold dream, just me and my cat Maggie? All those rooms! The hoovering!
I can barely manage my one-bedroom flat. The house is absolutely stunning - but still, I'd take the money and run off into the sunset, giggling all the way.