The Nation’s Favourite Fictional Home Revealed

Have you ever watched a TV drama or film and admired the house/apartment of one of the characters? Possibly wishing that you could live there or replicate it in your own home?

Maybe it’s Castle’s New York apartment you drool over or one of the Desperate Housewives’ mansions on Wisteria Lane…?

A new study of 2,000 adults by Yale reveals that the Doctor Who TARDIS is the nation’s favourite television ‘home’ – despite its unusual external appearance and no real floorplan.

The quirky features, the fact it has been ‘extended by the previous owner’ and the diversity of the layout also appeal to homeowners.

Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle – a large country house set on 5,000 acres of land – takes second place as TV’s most desirable living quarters. And third place goes to the white mansion Southfork Ranch, surrounded by swimming pools and barns, which featured in the 80s drama Dallas.

Completing the top ten are Rachel and Monica’s apartment in Friends, Chatsworth House in Pride & Prejudice, Carrie Bradshaw’s chic New York apartment on the Upper East Side in Sex and the City, Del Boy’s Peckham flat in Only Fools and Horses, 221B Baker Street, London – home to famous consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, Frasier Crane’s apartment from comedy Frasier and Tom and Barbara’s simple home in The Good Life.

In reality, British adults claim their home most resembles Victor Meldrew’s house from classic sitcom One Foot in the Grave.

But when it comes to the TV homes our own actually resemble, Ken Barlow’s house in Coronation Street is more like it.

Researchers found 15% of adults have been inspired by TV programmes when decorating their house and almost one in ten have ambitions to model aspects of their homes on a property from a particular TV show.

A fifth of Brits are such fans of popular TV shows they have been to visit homes which feature in those programmes.

The study also highlights the influence television has when it comes to home security, with a quarter of those polled saying a particular show or film has made them think they need to improve the security of where they live.

Shows like Crimewatch, Panic Room and Scream have all heightened awareness about home security – and as such 57% have thought about getting CCTV, while 55% want to invest in better locks.

TOP 20 FAVOURITE FICTIONAL HOMES

1. The TARDIS (Doctor Who)
2. Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)
3. Southfork Ranch (Dallas)
4. Rachel and Monica’s apartment (Friends)
5. Chatsworth House (Pride & Prejudice)
6. Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment (Sex in the City)
7. Del Boy’s flat (Only Fools and Horses)
8. 221B Baker Street (Sherlock)
9. Frasier’s penthouse (Frasier)
10. The Good’s home (The Good Life)
11. Tracey Island (Thunderbirds)
12. The Banks family mansion (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
13. Mrs Brown’s home (Mrs Brown’s Boys)
14. Father Ted’s home on Craggy Island (Father Ted)
15. Red Dwarf (Red Dwarf)
16. The Addams family mansion (The Addams Family)
17. Flintstone House (The Flintstones)
18. Winterfell Castle (Game of Thrones)
19. The Royles’ home (The Royle Family)
20. Evergreen Terrace (The Simpsons)