If leisure and pleasure are top of your list when searching for the ideal family home then this very impressive Victorian residence in the lovely seaside resort of Shanklin should tick all the right boxes. Nestling in the midst of a very large garden surrounded by mature trees and shrub borders it offers all the elegance of a bygone era both externally and internally. However, it has been lovingly updated by the owners to provide a wonderful mix of period features including high coved ceilings, fireplaces, lighting roses, picture and dado rails as well as ornate plasterwork and wide panelled doors but coupled to all the modern accoutrements required in todays’ world.

There is a long driveway and hard standing leading to the large double garage with electronic doors and where you can park at least ten vehicles. When you first see the house, you can begin to appreciate the property’s external appeal with varied roof lines with finials and barge boards, attractive chimney stacks, bay and sash windows, local stone walls and a stunning recently restored veranda with Pugin style floor tiling that wraps around much of the ground floor.

Original tiling continues into the front porch that opens into the spacious reception hall with its Victorian staircase to the first floor, an archway to the contemporary area of the ground floor and a unique bookcase style door to the dining room. This restful room is ideal for entertaining or just sitting and reading a book or watching TV. It includes an ornate plaster fireplace, fitted cupboards and built in shelving and a box bay window.

The elegant, dual aspect light and bright L shaped lounge includes an informal seating area. The focus in the lounge is the impressive and ornate fireplace with a coal effect gas fire as well as a curved bay window with views across the garden. However, you can also cosy up to the equally attractive fireplace in the seating area that also has a curved bay window with garden views.

Walking through the archway from the hall you can immediately feel the change of atmosphere when you see the sun room with a back door to the garden and French doors to the veranda, the fitted utility room and the superb contemporary kitchen/breakfast room. There are glossy white porcelain tiles throughout this whole area and are complemented in the kitchen with a raft of modern white units with black granite worktops. The design is any cooks dream and includes a five-ring gas hob, two built in ovens and microwave as well as two integrated fridges, a freezer and a dishwasher. There is a large central island with a second double sink unit as well as plenty of room for a good-sized table and chairs.

On the half landing there are two double bedrooms serviced by a central bathroom with a bath and separate shower while off the spacious first floor galleried landing there are three double bedrooms and a stunning family bathroom. This has a central stand-alone claw foot bath, parquet flooring, a fireplace and beautifully patterned sanitaryware. All the bedrooms have Victorian fireplaces and one of the bedrooms has a lovely bay window, while the main bedroom suite is a delight with its well fitted dressing room, en suite shower and large bay window. On the lower ground floor there is a pool/games room that could always be used as an office for anyone working from home.

However, the theme of leisure activities continues outside in the very secluded garden with a proper pétanque court, a nine hole putting green, and a delightful wood gazebo that even includes a television! This is ideal for al fresco meals whether it is a leisurely breakfast or a family barbecue. There is also an attractive summerhouse with its own patio and feature shrub beds surrounded by dwarf hedging, while the rest of the garden is laid to lawn so is easy to manage.