In 2008, Sienna Miller bought a 16th-century thatched cottage and later replaced its gravel driveway with a wildflower meadow; now, the half-acre retreat is on sale for £1.75 million

Sienna Miller’s dreamy thatched cottage, with its thatched roof, flint walls and wildflowers creeping towards the front door, looks straight out of a fantasy film. The 1,922 sq ft home, known as Thatch, is on the market for £1.75 million, according to the listing on Savills. The property was initially offered for £1.95 million. The asking price has since been reduced by £200,000, Country Living reported.

Buckinghamshire’s thatched cottage

Sienna Miller bought the property in 2008, when London had started to wear her down. She has said she was looking for somewhere to slow down. “I was in London and life was very tense, and I was just dreaming about having a place to get away to,” she told Architectural Digest. After coming across the cottage online, she went to see it and “fell completely in love”. The cottage sits in the Buckinghamshire hamlet of Toweridge, in the Chiltern Hills, close to the village of West Wycombe.

A 16th-century house with a lot of character

Thatch is a traditional 16th-century English cottage nestled in a tranquil rural estate. It is Grade II listed, which means the building’s historic character is protected, and that tends to shape what an owner can change. The listing describes the cottage as a “rare gem, beautifully combining period charm with modern country living”. Built from traditional flint and brick, with Tudor-style timber framing on one side, the cottage “exudes timeless character”.

While most people tend to straighten things out when renovating a house, Miller chose to preserve its character. She asked her close friend, director Gaby Dellal, to work on the interiors. They kept everything that made the place unique: the low ceilings, the uneven walls and the centuries-old beams. The renovation resulted in a warm, characterful and personal country home rather than a pristine celebrity show house.

Inside Thatch

The 1,922 sq ft thatched cottage sits on 0.57 acres of land. Property agent Hugh Maconochie of Savills described it as “a charming cottage in a private estate location”. The cottage has four bedrooms beneath the thatched roof, with dormer windows overlooking the surrounding landscape. Miller redecorated the interior and added modern amenities. The principal suite features a freestanding bath, an en suite shower room and a private balcony.

“Toweridge itself is a quiet hamlet and the picturesque setting offers a peaceful rural lifestyle, while remaining conveniently close to essential amenities and transport links. Dating from the 16th century, the cottage has history in abundance yet the thoughtful interiors and outdoor seating areas are perfectly placed for family gatherings. If you close your eyes and imagine a quintessential thatch cottage, this is surely it,” Maconochie told The Spaces.

The kitchen is just as whimsical. “At the heart of the home is a stylish country kitchen, thoughtfully designed with a Lacanche range cooker, herringbone tiled flooring and French doors that open directly onto the garden, inviting the outdoors in,” the listing says. The kitchen flows into the dining room, which features a large open-hearth fireplace with a brick surround. The ceiling beams are painted, and the original wooden floorboards run throughout the cottage, giving it a rustic charm.

Near the galleried landing is a cosy snug. An adjoining room, currently used as a twin bedroom, also offers flexibility. French doors open onto the secluded patio terrace, surrounded by mature trees and lawn.

“Outside, the gardens are a haven of natural beauty, with a wildflower meadow, lawns and a pond, which each enhance the peaceful countryside setting,” the listing says. Miller transformed the former gravel driveway and parking area into a wildflower meadow, giving the cottage an even more romantic, storybook setting.

Hugh Maconochie and Eddie Hamilton of Savills hold the listing. The quintessential thatched cottage was initially offered for £1.95 million before its price was reduced. The guide price now stands at £1.75 million. It is an English cottage straight out of a fantasy film, set in a rural estate yet equipped with modern features and close to essential amenities and transport links.