With the summer well underway, it’s time to revisit the properties that attracted the most clicks from home-hunters on Rightmove in the first half of 2026.

And it’s not just the mega-mansions catching people’s eye either, although we’ve got plenty of those too. From a £250,000 cliff-top cottage built for a famous novelist to a £20 million Gothic mansion, this year’s most-viewed homes to date span every corner of the market.

While they vary enormously in price, they are united by standout, unusual features that make them impossible to scroll past. Here’s what caught the most people’s attention during the first six months of 2026…

1. A four-bedroom home with its own cinema room and two acres of land

This unique detached property in Lincolnshire is proof that it’s not just the multi-million pound mansions that are getting attention on Rightmove. Set across three levels with two acres of land, it comes with a lower-level cinema room and a fifth bedroom currently used as an office.

With an open-plan lounge, kitchen and dining area upstairs and a master en-suite among four bedrooms, it’s a rare mix of family living, home working space and land, all within easy reach of Skegness and Boston.

2. A £20 million Gothic mansion with lodges and former gymnasium

Jesmond Towers is one of the finest period mansions in the North East of England. This grand country pile is set within nearly six acres of grounds in Newcastle’s exclusive Jesmond Dene Conservation Area.

Built in the early 1800s and later home to a Catholic school until 2008, the estate includes two detached lodges and a Grade II* listed main house with a striking staircase and beautifully landscaped gardens. Its most unusual feature is a former gymnasium waiting for a new lease of life as leisure or residential space.

3. A Victorian villa with a boutique-style bedroom and rooftop bathtub in Manchester

This grand red-brick villa on Alexandra Road South blends nearly 5,000 sq ft of restored Victorian character with some quirky touches. Built in 1885 and renovated over the past decade, the house has seven bedrooms across four floors, a cinema room below ground and a sun room overlooking the garden.

But it’s the top-floor bedroom that steals the show: a quaint, boutique hotel-style room with its own in-room roll-top bathtub. Add a private hot tub terrace and a fully self-contained coach house for guests, and this is a city-centre home with serious wow factor.

4. A BBC-famous Greek renovation with sea views in Corfu

‘Alamanda’ shot to fame as the latest property renovated for BBC One’s Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job, and it’s easy to see why house-hunters have been clicking this overseas listing. Sensitively restored by a local developer, the property keeps its traditional stone flooring and beamed ceilings while adding modern comforts.

Two double bedrooms both enjoy sea views, and the bathroom features a striking circular bathtub. Thanks to its TV appearance, the property comes with a ready-made profile for holiday letting.

5. A 15th-century Scottish castle linked to Robert the Bruce in Ayrshire

Law Castle has a history as dramatic as its setting on the Ayrshire coast. Built in 1467 as a wedding gift for Princess Mary Stuart (a direct descendant of Robert the Bruce), the medieval tower house later served as a law court, complete with its own pit prison.

After falling derelict by the 20th century, it’s since been meticulously restored with its spiral stone staircase, vaulted chambers and lookout tower all intact. Spread across five floors with views over the Firth of Clyde, this is Scottish history you can be a part of.

6. A new-build lakeside home with its own boathouses in Windermere

Storrs Holme is a strikingly modern addition to the Lake District, completed in 2023. The home has six en-suite bedrooms, a cinema room, games room and well-equipped bar, but its standout feature is 115ft of private lake frontage complete with two boathouses and a jetty.

Whether it’s sailing, swimming or simply watching the sunset behind Claife Heights, this is a home built entirely around its water’s-edge setting and is just a short stroll from Bowness-on-Windermere.

7. A circular thatched house built for a famous novelist in Sidmouth

With a guide price of just £250,000, this cliff-top cottage proves the most-viewed list isn’t only about eye-watering price tags. Designed in the 1960s for novelist R.F. Delderfield, the thatched property has a distinctive circular layout that makes the most of its panoramic sea and coastal views along the Jurassic Coast.

Inside, French doors lead from the sitting room onto private terraces, while the mature gardens include an ornamental pond. It’s for sale by online auction, giving buyers a rare and relatively affordable route to one of Sidmouth‘s most striking homes.

8. A former Orangery with a rare monkey puzzle tree in Lancashire

Built in 1820 as an Orangery for Woodfold Hall, this remarkable building was originally designed by celebrated 18th century architect James Wyatt. The soaring ceilings, dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows and a beautifully curved reception hall all demonstrate Wyatt’s unique approach.

Now a sensitively-converted detached home, the principal suite includes its own walk-in steam room, while the second floor opens into a versatile studio space. Outside, the two-acre gardens are home to a magnificent monkey puzzle tree, believed to be one of the oldest of its kind in the country.

9. A £340,000 detached cottage with country views and generous grounds

Blacksmiths Cottage is a beautifully maintained and decorated home with plenty of historic character, but also well equipped for modern family life. This three-bedroom detached home offers the convenience of easy access to the market town of Boston and the village of Sibsey while being surrounded by countryside, as well as the property’s own generously-sized grounds.

The new owner will get to relax at the end of the day in front of the log-burning stove in the inviting lounge, and the modern kitchen/dining room is perfect for hosting cosy brunches and dinners. A Jack & Jill shower room upstairs and downstairs bathroom add practicality, while plenty of storage and utility space makes this an ideal home for busy families or couples looking for a workable country retreat.

10. A striking detached home with adaptable spaces across three floors

This spacious five-bedroom home in Ilford features striking decor throughout, catching the attention of home-hunters on Rightmove. Offering plenty of flexible space for growing families, accommodation is spread across three floors, with a bright open-plan kitchen and living area suited to everyday family life and entertaining alike.

The ground floor also includes two bedrooms, a shower room and a versatile gym that could easily be used as an extra reception room. Upstairs, you’ll find three further bedrooms, while the top floor adds two additional sleeping areas, providing adaptable space for guests, hobbies or working from home.