One of Britain's most famous gardens, Leonardslee in West Sussex, has been sold for close to the £5m asking price, according to the Daily Telegraph. The 225-acre estate, known for  rhododendrons, azaleas and wallabies, has gone to an unnamed Eastern European businessman, who intends to shut the gardens to the public. 

Why is there so little property for sale? "At this time of year there is traditionally talk of lack of stock," says Michael Fiddes, who heads the National Estate Agency Department of property agents, Strutt & Parker. "There are other factors to consider, too, such as this being an election year. A lot of potential vendors are sitting on their hands. People are waiting until the spring market, which has become more and more important over recent years. If there is still a shortage in April and May, that will be more significant."