George and Amal Clooney have an idyllic hideaway in the tiny Oxfordshire hamlet of Sonning Eye, which the majority of tourists barely know about, let alone visit. Overlooking a beautiful stretch of the River Thames, it sits close to the border between Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and the Hollywood couple's Grade II listed building, Mill House, is one of its most majestic landmarks.
The loved-up pair purchased the property over a decade ago for an estimated £12 million, although that probably feels like small change to the stars, who also own sprawling properties in Provence, Italy's Lake Como district and of course the USA. The house has swimming pools both in and outdoors, enormous gardens complete with tennis courts and a romantic orangery. Hidden behind trees, it's beautifully secluded and unsuspecting film fans often make their way to the more popular Cotswolds villages rather than venturing all the way out to Sonning Eye.
However, they're missing a treat. While Sonning Eye is referred to as predominately isolated, mainly because it doesn't have a train station and is only accessible by road, it is awash with natural beauty and picturesque landscapes. In addition to this, situated on a charming islet right next to the Clooneys is The Mill At Sonning, which features a theatre and restaurant beloved by locals. There is also the famous Michelin-starred restaurant The French Horn, located close by in Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire, should the Clooneys - or any foodies - wish to sample its mouthwatering fare.
With plenty of walking routes and the Thames Path nearby, plus big cities such as Reading just a few miles away, Sonning Eye is a surprisingly underrated location to have a stroll. No doubt George and Amal appreciate the space away from prying eyes – and being oceans apart from Donald Trump, who recently branded George a "second rate movie star" in a savage swipe. However, Charlotte Whincup, a rep from property surveying firm Bloom Building Consultancy, has revealed there could be setbacks in store at the otherwise idyllic home.
She warned Hello! magazine that it's not just the huge size of the sprawling property which could send running costs spiralling out of control, but also its features and age. "The house dates from the 1600s, centuries before central heating existed and a time when homes were heated by a fireplace in each room," she confirmed. "This meant lots of chimneys and drafts, and even though the chimneys are probably sealed up now, the very fabric of homes from this period can be drafty - buildings this old were designed to breathe in a way modern ones do not."
Meanwhile, the building's proximity to the River Thames means George and Amal have had to combat flooding problems in recent years. That said, if they ever decide to sell up, they're tipped to make a substantial profit, with Charlotte suggesting that Mill House will "almost certainly" have surged in value in the decade since they first purchased it.
