The Property Equation: What will £1,250,000 buy?

Fancy the life of a country squire? Then how about this magnificent Grade II-listed house set in 20 acres? Or, says Rosalind Russell, why not spread your assets and buy four unique homes for the same money?

Barcote House, three and a half miles from Faringdon in Oxfordshire, is Grade II-listed, sits in 20 acres of parkland and gardens, and was a school for years, before being turned back into a private home. Actually, it began life in 1870, started by a young man who abandoned it and left the country abruptly, having been jilted by his fiancée.

The Duke of Westminster's daughter, Lady Theodora Guest, finished off the six-bedroom country house, which has an oak- and leather-panelled dining room and a 29ft drawing room with an ornate ceiling.

The owners have made it into a comfortable, modern home. It comes with a grotto in the garden and a double garage. It is for sale through Hamptons International, on 01865 240240, for £1.25m.

If you've that much to spend why not spread your investment around with ...

A second-floor apartment in The Italian Centre in the middle of Glasgow. A short walk from the business sector and well served by shops and restaurants, it has its own reception hall with large storage cupboard, 21ft lounge with a mixture of oak and carpeted flooring, and double doors leading to what could be used as a large study or a formal dining room. There's a galley-style, fully equipped kitchen, large breakfast room, one double bedroom and a small room which could make a guest bedroom. Parking costs £250 a year. For sale through Strutt & Parker, on 0141 225 3880, price £175,000.

Plus...

A ground-floor apartment in a late 18th-century, Grade II-listed rectory four miles from Southampton in Hampshire. Old Rectory Court in Eling – which is well served by two pubs and a church – stands in communal gardens overlooking the River Test and Southampton Water (and also, less favourably, a row of electricity pylons). It's a classically styled building, with the ground-floor flat having a 23ft drawing room with bay window, working shutters, window seats and panelling to dado height. There's a separate dining room, kitchen/breakfast room and two bedrooms. It's being sold with a share of the freehold through John D Wood, on 01590 677233, and it is priced at £315,000.

Not to mention...

A colourful apartment in Islington, north London. Called Base, the development of 14 apartments on the site of an old cinema is still being built, but two flats have already been sold off-plan. What makes them is special is the balcony windows. Colour film will be back-lit by concealed lighting, to make each flat glow a different colour. The internal spec. includes timber floors, stainless steel kitchen appliances and sleek bathrooms. Prices for the two-bedroom, two-bathroom flats start at £285,000. Details from Copping Joyce on 0207 288 0330.

And still have enough left to buy...

Riverside, a five-bedroom family house in Langworth, near Lincoln. There's plenty of space to spread out, with a 34ft games room with built-in bar and wine rack, home office, large conservatory, dining room, 16ft kitchen and a second office or study with french doors to the garden. The drawing room has a wide inglenook fireplace with exposed stone wall. The main bedroom has fitted wardrobes and an en suite with a spa bath. There is a huge garage with boarded loft area, gas point for a barbecue, lawns, a pergola and a feature pond with two bridges over it. For sale at £475,000, through William H Brown, on 01522 534771.