Hailed by Winston Churchill as vital to winning WWII, this reconstructed and renovated radar station has impressive historical roots – and equally monumental views. Resting on a beautiful ridge of National Trust land above the coastal town of Ventnor, the original building was created in 1938 as one of 20 early warning stations along the coastline. Now, the inverted layout maximises the vista and is a collection of open-plan living areas decked with polished concrete floors and peaceful bedrooms – plus an enviable terrace.

Once a church organ factory, this expansive loft spans the entire first floor of Colina House. It’s here that Rest Cartwright & Son (Harringay locals) crafted their award-winning instruments, becoming known as “Artists in Organs”. Built in 1897, the building still bears traces of its past, like the full-height hoist front door and cherry-red loading doors in one of the bedrooms. The open-plan layout is all oak floorboards and exposed warm brick, and light spills through generous windows.

Originally the village schoolhouse, this 18th-century building has been imaginatively converted into a serene family home. Signs of its scholastic past remain: arched classroom windows now frame views of the Cornish countryside, while the old school playground still forms part of the garden. Its vaulted main living space – formerly the schoolroom – is a showstopper, with arched windows, chalk-white walls and vibrant cabinetry nodding to its past.

Once a Victorian bakehouse and later an artist’s studio, this striking three-storey home has been smartly reworked by Ivo Carew Architects into a warm retreat ideal for city-loving epicures. Tributes to its working past have been re-added – from the robust Douglas fir kitchen cabinetry to the freestanding gas range oven. Light flows through expansive glazing, softening every surface, while a private terrace offers a leafy escape moments from the bustle of Rye Lane, with its plethora of restaurants and wine bars.

Pairing double-height ceilings with original warehouse windows, this Grade II-listed conversion is set in a former match factory, and its historic character still burns brightly. Spot the blue plaque acknowledging the site of the 1888 Match Girls’ strike before heading inside to original brick walls – now painted white – and a spiral staircase leading to the mezzanine sleeping area. The sprawling communal gardens are a haven, but then so is the resident swimming pool, sauna and steam room to use at your leisure.

This show-stopping penthouse was transformed by designers Chan and Eayrs and replaced an old car workshop. Behind the herringbone-brick exterior is a light and bright space that’s a far cry from car tools and engines, framed with lime-washed oak floors and large square windows. One of the bedrooms has an internal balcony, flooded with light, and the home is perfectly positioned with a host of nearby wine bars, houseplant stores and local markets.

Part of the historic Royal Military Academy, this grand Grade II-listed house once formed the East Officers’ Quarters – and its martial past still echoes in the brick battlements and bold façade. Inside, though, it's a calm, expansive retreat with interconnecting reception rooms, including a cosy snug and light-drenched garden room showcasing the original external wall. Set within The Academy’s gated grounds, it’s a peaceful base close to central Woolwich.

Thought to be one of Frome’s United Breweries buildings in the 1800s, this unique home has been reverently reformed and now contains both a five-bedroom house and a one-bedroom annexe – connected by a glasslink walkway. The vast, handcrafted kitchen flows seamlessly into the living and dining room, replete with a large log burner set into the hearth. Streaming natural light is the star of the show, bouncing softly off stripped-back wooden floors in the bedrooms and luring you out into the walled garden.