My new favorite TV show is “Escape to the Country,” where Brit’s search for the perfect home to buy in rural UK. The homes are charming, the villages are quaint, and the scenery is stunning.
Some of the homes they tour are new, but the majority are old buildings (some date back to the 1600s), such as mills, churches, and even stables, that have been renovated for the way we live today.
Many of the homes have quirky little touches, like this Derbyshire home with a salvaged bell system that’s being used as a doorbell:
And if you like timbered ceilings, gorgeous gardens, and rough-hewn wood floors, you’ll see plenty on the show.
But what I really love is the scenery. Many of the homes are nestled against backdrops of green rolling hills or stunning coastlines.
If I were on the show, my American inclination would be to speak in exclamation points:
“Wow, that’s an incredible view! Amazing! Awesome! Gorgeous!”
Meanwhile, the Brit’s on the show look at the same views and say:
“Oh, yes, lovely aspect. Um-hmm, quite nice.”
And I LOVE them for it. Some of the people on the show are naturally shy and reticent (like the people in the episode below) while others exhibit that British stiff upper lip that I find a refreshing change from all the American brashness that surrounds me every day.
I think that’s one of the reasons I enjoy the series so much. It’s calming and sweet, and I always learn a new bit of history or catch a lovely glimpse of village life I haven’t seen before.
Have you watched “Escape to the Country”? What do you like best about the show?
Nancy Lawrence 
I always enjoy Escape to the Country too. I have watched it for many years. So pleasant and interesting. My only complaint is that I wish they would ALWAYS say whether the people involved do actually buy a house. Sometimes they do, but mostly they don’t. I didn’t know it was being shown in America. Nice that it is. Hope you continue to enjoy it.
Happy New Year, Dawn! I like knowing whether they bought, too. Some of the properties seem to match the buyers’ criteria perfectly, so it’s surprising when they decide to continue their search. But then, I tend to fall in love with just about every house they show, so I can’t be objective.
I’ve only just seen your reply! I do so agree with everything you said. It is a very pleasant programme. Hope you will continue to enjoy it.