The UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe and quite possibly the world. In fact, one in six homes in England and a fifth of homes in Wales were built before 1900.
But since then, we’ve had the roaring art deco 1920s, the modernist 1960s and we are now in the era of contemporary, transitional and ‘neo eclectic’ architecture. Who knew?
So whether you love a massive old fireplace and dream of vaulted ceilings or prefer the spaciousness and light of contemporary glass and steel, let’s take a look at the variety of British houses available from different eras on Zoopla.
Tudor houses
See more of this four-bed Tudor terrace in Faversham
Tudor homes were constructed between 1485 and 1560, when Henry VII and his offspring were on the throne. They can be spotted by their stained beams, low ceilings, criss-crossed windows and wonky walls.
Tudor homes were often half-timbered, which means they had wooden frames and the spaces in between were filled with sticks and clay (wattle and daub) and then covered in limewash.
The dark contrast of the beams and the white lime created the striking “black and white” look that was fashionable at the time.
Tudor homes are few and far between in London thanks to the fire of 1666, which finished most of them off. And that's largely because of how closely they were built together, with overhanging upper floors leaning into one another.
This Grade II-listed example in Faversham dates back to the 1500s and is filled with beautiful wooden beams, offering a wonderful mix of period features with contemporary finesse.
Jacobean houses
See more of this 10-bed house in Hampshire
The Stuarts took over from the Tudors with the death of Elizabeth I and the ascension of King James I, but for a while at least the architecture remained in broadly the same vein.
What often sets the homes of the Jacobean period apart from their Tudor predecessors is the sheer scale of them. Think sprawling hunting lodges constructed in flint or clay bricks, with wooden beams, mullioned windows, gable roofs and extruded corners.
Those which survived can be spotted by the ornate woodwork surrounding latticed windows and walls that may be a bit wonky.
If you’ve got a few million quid to your name, you could live like a Jacobite in this stunning 10-bedroom Hampshire mansion – just watch out for Cromwell.
English Baroque houses
See more of this six-bed house in Barnham, West Sussex
English Baroque architecture became popular in the wake of the Great Fire of London in 1666. A decade on from the Puritan simplicity of Oliver Cromwell and with another King James on the English throne, intricate neo-classical design made a comeback.
Think Doric columns, ceiling mouldings, arches, domes, wood panelling and hand painted decoration. If your home looked like a Greek or Roman temple on the outside and like an intricately painted European palace on the inside, you were achieving the right vibe.
The architect Sir Christopher Wren designed St Paul’s Cathedral and more than 50 churches in the English Baroque style. Chatsworth House, designed by William Talman, is believed to be the first country house to have nailed English Baroque.
While you can put a Doric column on the facade of any home, the style worked best on huge country estates with formal gardens. Today you can find wonderful examples of English Baroque homes, such as this West Sussex six-bedroom house, which is basically a palace.
Georgian and Regency houses
See more of this four-bed terrace in London's Spittalfields
The exuberance of English Baroque gave birth to a simpler Georgian period of architecture, which worked beautifully with the squares and crescents built to house the middle and upper classes.
If you’re not sure when a house was built, just look at the windows.
If they’re sashes with six-over-six standardised rectangular panes featuring thin strips of wood that hold them together, then they’re Georgian era houses.
Georgian townhouses are rigid in symmetry with dark or red brick, pale stone or white stucco facades.
During the Regency period (when George IV was acting as Prince Regent for his father), the architecture of the time was similar but became more ornate. Regency saw the introduction of iron railings, decorative balconies, columns and facades of ashlar stone.
If you’ve a fancy for living out your own Bridgerton dream, it’s easy to find Georgian or Regency era homes for sale today. Just look in the cities that would have been most fashionable at the time, like London, Bath, Edinburgh and Newcastle. This beautiful example in Spitalfields, London, retains a wealth of stunning original features.
Gothic revival houses
See more of this three-bed property in Rugeley
In architecture as in fashion style comes and goes. During the 19th century Gothic architecture made a comeback. Common features of this building style include pointed arches, dormer windows, gabled roofs and decorative stonework.
Front-facing gables with decorative trim made from wood is a good indication that a home might be Gothic revival.
The style was popular in England and a notable example would be the Palace of Westminster, which might look as if it was built in Medieval times, but was finished in 1876.
If you like your cottages cute and a bit gothic, check out this home in Upper Longdon.
Victorian houses
See more of this three-bed Victorian terrace in Milton Keynes
There was a building frenzy during the Victorian era and many of the streets and cities built then look broadly similar today.
You can spot a Victorian house by its decorative brickwork, bay windows, ornate gable trim, porches, stained glass and the twirly wood in the corners of the sash windows known as “sash window horns”.
Taking inspiration from the arts and crafts movement, Victorian slate roofs were often decorated with small carved ornaments on the gable ends. While on the apex of the gable (where the two slopes of slate meet at the top) ridge tiles made from terracotta are another tell-tale feature.
This home in Milton Keynes has been sensitively updated – and the ridge tiles are intact.
Edwardian houses
See more of this three-bed Edwardian home in N15, London
During Edwardian times (1901 to 1910) the style of housing that had become popular in the late Victorian times was replicated at scale. In fact, many of the streets of London are populated with Edwardian-built terraced homes constructed in red brick to Victorian designs.
As a result, you have to work quite hard to tell the difference between Edwardian and Victorian homes.
But one tell-tale sign is that Edwardian homes tend to be bigger, with wider footprints. Another giveaway is the front gardens, which were more common in Edwardian times.
Purpose-built flats and maisonettes also made an appearance in a big way during Edwardian times. Check out this beautiful example of an Edwardian terrace in London's N15.
Art deco houses
See more of this four-bed art deco home in London's NW11
Think roaring twenties and images of Downton Abbey flapper dresses, bob haircuts, elegant cocktails and partying all spring to mind.
The exuberance of this post First World War era is reflected in its architecture, with bright colours, curves and plenty of steel
In London, we have Eltham Palace, while over in New York, the Empire State Building is a classic example.
In terms of homes, the look is pastel stucco, with plenty of glass windows featuring steel frames to let in lashings of light.
Geometric shapes are also typical of the time, with chevrons and lots of simple symmetry.
This fine example in Hampstead Garden Suburb captures the style inimitably.
1960s houses
See more of this three-bed 1960s home in Hertfordshire
Enter the era of Modernist architecture. After the devastation of the Second World War, homes needed to be built quickly and cheaply.
An architectural rebellion began against older style architecture, such as Tudor and Victorian styles, which were now considered too dark and dingy.
Ornamentation was out, while minimalism and structural innovation was in.
Architects began experimenting with bold shapes, daring layouts and open plan interiors. And the windows were lovely and big, to let in all of that natural light.
Boxy straight lines were all the rage, especially in the private housing sector, which pushed this idea much further than council estates.
Meanwhile, local authorities began building homes around spaces, rather than along streets, to provide a greater sense of community for the residents.
Love a light-filled 1960s home? This fine example in Hertfordshire could be just the thing you’re looking for.
Contemporary houses
See more of this contemporary three-bed apartment in London
We are now in an architectural era called the Neo Eclectic, who knew?
What that means is that architects borrow from a range of styles to create modern homes today.
Essentially - light is a thing. But Neo Eclectic architects don’t just use one style of windows in their designs. You’ll find bay, sash, casement, single or double-hung windows across modern homes.
It’s all about mixing styles, rather than using set patterns, and architects may draw on two or more eras to create the finished look.
Contemporary architecture is another popular trend today. It tends to follow minimalist design principles, all clean lines and zero ornate details, with designers making use of steel, glass, and concrete. Check out this example above in East London.
Meanwhile Transitional architecture blends modern design with traditional styling.
Transitional homes don’t have the experimental look of contemporary or modern homes, instead they have a cosiness and a warmth about them.
More sleek and polished in appearance than their traditional counterparts, Transitional homes feature large windows and glass doors along with seamlessly blended period influences.
See more of this five-bed transitional property in Wimbledon
This five-bed detached property in Wimbledon is a fine example, with its Georgian-style sash windows, lintels and porch pillars seamlessly integrated into a modern contemporary design.