8 bed semi-detached house for sale

York Avenue, Hove BN3

Offering an exceptional blend of period charm, generous proportions and refined living, this impressive eight-bedroom Edwardian house is ideally positioned between the vibrant cultural hubs of Brighton and Hove. It sits close to some of the city’s most highly regarded schools and is within easy walking distance of Brighton Station and the seafront. Further highlights include off-street parking and a magical west-facing garden, with a private gate opening directly onto the greenery of St Ann’s Well Gardens - an idyllic and practical setting for family life.

Internally, the semi-detached house retains a wealth of original features across its beautifully proportioned rooms. High ceilings enhance the sense of space throughout, while the flexible layout offers exceptional versatility to suit a range of lifestyles. The current owner has carefully maintained the property, reinstating elegant fireplaces and decorative plasterwork, and there remains excellent scope for sympathetic modernisation to add further value.

Perfectly placed for coastal living, the house lies close to the fashionable Seven Dials district and is just a ten-minute drive from the South Downs National Park. Set on some of the most sought-after land in the country, it will particularly appeal to those relocating from London in search of space, style and a superb balance of town, coast and countryside.

Built in 1911, the house is a fine example of Edwardian architecture, distinguished by its beamed façade, generous bay window and striking gable. An open porch shelters the front door, which retains its decorative stained-glass transom. Set on a quiet, tree-lined road, the house is elevated from the street behind a graceful cherry tree and benefits from forecourt parking for one car - a rare and valuable asset in this central location where parking is at a premium.

Stepping inside, the impressive scale of the house is immediately apparent, with a clear line of sight extending through to the kitchen and garden beyond. The entrance hall is both wide and welcoming, offering practical space for coats and shoes alongside an original working fireplace. Gleaming original parquet flooring is complemented by crisp white woodwork, while tall stained-glass windows on the stairwell flood the space with

natural light. The result is a home that delivers an immediate and lasting sense of grandeur from the moment you arrive.

Reception Rooms:

Two elegant reception rooms sit side by side off the entrance hall, one enjoying an east-facing aspect with a wide bay window overlooking the tree-lined street, while the other opens directly onto the garden through French doors. Period plasterwork has been carefully reinstated, including dado rails, cornicing, wall panelling and ceiling roses. Original wooden mantelpieces have been retained, complemented by newly installed cast-iron fireplaces that are entirely in keeping with the home’s Edwardian heritage and add considerable visual appeal.

The rooms are beautifully proportioned and entirely interchangeable, lending themselves equally well to use as a formal dining room or a relaxed sitting room, with space for generous furniture arrangements. Both feel warm and inviting, with quality carpet underfoot and a calm, cohesive colour palette. In the summer months, the rear reception room connects seamlessly with the garden, allowing outdoor space to become a natural extension of the home, while also linking through to the kitchen-dining room to enhance the sense of flow throughout the ground floor.

Kitchen Dining Room:

Designed for both relaxed everyday living and entertaining, the kitchen offers generous space for formal dining alongside a sociable peninsula island. It is exceptionally well equipped, with ample storage and expansive work surfaces to suit the keen cook. Perfectly set up for dinner parties, there are two hobs - an induction hob alongside an electric Smeg hob - as well as two dishwashers and space for multiple freestanding appliances, including an American-style fridge freezer.

Sleek gloss cabinetry is paired with striking black stone worktops, which complement the integrated ovens and microwave set at eye level for ease of use and cleaning. French doors open directly onto the garden, while there is also room for a kitchen table, making this a natural hub of the home. A secondary staircase rises to the first-floor office, providing a practical link for those working from home and allowing easy access for lunch breaks and quiet moments away from the main living areas.

Adjoining the kitchen from the hall is a useful utility room with further space for freestanding appliances alongside a washing machine and tumble dryer, while a separate WC completes the ground floor.

The Garden:

Wonderfully private and barely overlooked, the garden enjoys a rare position backing directly onto St Ann’s Well Gardens and is framed by mature trees that create a peaceful, green outlook. Thoughtfully landscaped in recent years, pale stone paving and raised brick flower beds provide structure, while vibrant planting brings colour and scent throughout the spring and summer months. A timber-framed pergola, draped

with climbing florals, forms a charming focal point and offers dappled shade for alfresco dining.

Out here, it is easy to forget the city centre is so close, with birdsong and wildlife providing a tranquil backdrop. With a desirable westerly aspect, the garden is bathed in warm afternoon and evening light and offers plenty of space for children to play - although the direct rear gate into the park’s play area may prove even more tempting.

First-floor Bedrooms & Bathroom:

Rising via the wide, turning staircase, the first-floor landing leads to four beautifully proportioned bedrooms. Two mirror the generous scale and shape of the reception rooms below, while a third is currently arranged as a home office, connected by a secondary staircase to the kitchen. The fourth, positioned to the front of the house, has been fitted with bookcases to create a charming library. The front-facing bedroom enjoys far-reaching views across the urban landscape, while those to the rear benefit from a westerly aspect and leafy, verdant outlooks. A balcony extends from the second bedroom, overlooking the park and providing a peaceful spot for summer sundowners before dinner.

Bedrooms one and two retain attractive original mantelpieces with Victorian-style tiled cast-iron inserts and offer generous proportions to accommodate a variety of furniture arrangements. There is excellent scope for reconfiguration to suit changing needs, with the library lending itself to conversion into a walk-in wardrobe and en suite shower room for the front bedroom, subject to the necessary consents.

At present, the bedrooms share a beautifully appointed family bathroom, designed as a contemporary interpretation of a period scheme. A roll-top bath provides a touch of indulgence, while a large double shower caters perfectly for busy mornings.

Second Floor Bedrooms & Bathroom:

A further flight of stairs leads to four additional bedrooms and a bathroom, all naturally incorporated into the loft space. In a house of this size, head height is not compromised, with soaring vaulted ceilings creating a wonderful sense of volume. Dormer windows on all sides flood the rooms with natural light and offer far-reaching views across the surrounding landscape. Some bedrooms benefit from built-in wardrobes, while others allow ample space for freestanding furniture without encroaching on floor area. Deep eaves storage could readily be adapted into walk-in wardrobes, and there remains excellent scope for reconfiguration, modernisation and flexible use.

The bathroom serving this floor, while slightly more traditional in style, is well proportioned and fitted with a white suite, including a bath with an electric shower overhead.

Seven Dials has managed to retain an air of ‘cool’ for many years without being pretentious. There are establishments and families who have lived here for decades, and yet new and exciting shops, bars and restaurants pop up all the time, keeping it fresh. The beach is just a stroll away, as are several popular parks, schools and the city centre, plus the proximity of Brighton Station makes it ever popular with commuters. It is truly cosmopolitan, and that’s what attracts so many people here.