Sue Barker's Serene Village Life Surrounded by £1.2 Million 'Fairytale' Cottages - OK! Magazine

Sue Barker, the former professional tennis player who bagged an impressive 15 WTA Tour singles titles during her career, reached the peak of her game at the age of 68 when she was ranked world No. 3.

Born and bred in the seaside town of Paignton on the coast of Torbay in Devon, Barker grew up amidst the mild climate and sandy beaches of the 'English Riviera', home to the famous Paignton Pier and a zoo with over 2,000 animals.

After hanging up her tennis racket, Barker transitioned into a successful career as a commentator and TV presenter. She first hosted the BBC's Today at Wimbledon in 1994, and from 2000 until 2022, she presented coverage of the Championships every year.

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She also took over from David Coleman as the presenter of the sports quiz show A Question of Sport in 1997, before retiring from the show in 2020 following the BBC's decision to revamp it.

Off-screen, Barker enjoys a peaceful life with her husband of over 35 years, Lance Tankard. The couple reside in the picturesque Cotswolds village of Stanton, Gloucestershire, having previously lived on a 26-acre estate in Godalming, Surrey, reports the Express.

In 2017, they won a planning permission battle to raise the roof of their £1million Cotswolds cottage by five feet, after Tankard kept knocking his head due to the low ceiling, according to planning documents.

The couple fell in love with their home back in 2007 and have cherished living there ever since and it's not hard to see why. Stanton is a quintessential village nestled beneath the Cotswold escarpment.

With its buildings crafted from the distinctive honey-hued Cotswold stone, this Jurassic limestone lends the village an enchanting glow. Architectural charm meets pastoral serenity here, leading the Huffington Post to hail Stanton as 'one of the prettiest and idyllic unspoilt villages of the Cotswolds' back in 2014.

Stanton stands out from the crowd with its bustling high street and the quintessentially English country pub, The Mount Inn.

Patrons of The Mount Inn are captivated not only by its picturesque setting but also by its storied past. The local parish church, St Michael and All Angels boasts origins around 1100, with its oldest features including three Norman columns dating to approximately 1200.

The historic Stanton Court, a Grade II-listed Jacobean Manor House, was erected in the early 1600s.

This stately manor underwent expansion in the 18th century and was later meticulously restored by Sir Philip Stott in the 20th century.

Stanton's breathtaking scenery and remarkable architectural heritage have driven property values sky-high.

Over the past year, homes in Stanton have commanded an average price of £1,254,115, as per Rightmove data.

Detached houses were the most frequently sold property type in Stanton over the last year, fetching an average price of £2,275,000.

Semi-detached homes in Stanton have been selling for an average of £937,344, while terraced properties have been fetching around £550,000.

In general, property prices in Stanton have seen a 61 per cent increase from the previous year, although they are five per cent lower than the 2021 peak of £1,316,667.