UK window styles guide

The style you choose affects ventilation, cleaning, security and kerb appeal as much as looks. Here are the window styles most common in UK homes and where each one works best.

Casement windows

The casement is the workhorse of British housing: hinged at the side or top and opening outward on a lever. It is versatile, cost-effective, offers good ventilation and seals tightly for energy efficiency. Casements suit almost every property type, from new-builds to cottages, and are available in every frame material. If you are unsure where to start, a casement is rarely the wrong choice.

Sash windows

Sliding sash windows, where one or both panels slide vertically, are the signature of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes. Modern versions keep the period look — slim glazing bars, run-through horns — while adding draught seals, easy-tilt cleaning and proper double glazing. In conservation areas they are often required to preserve the streetscape. They cost more than casements but are essential to the character of many older homes.

Tilt-and-turn windows

Popular across Europe and increasingly in the UK, tilt-and-turn windows do two things: tilt inward from the bottom for secure trickle ventilation, or swing fully inward like a door for cleaning and escape. They are excellent for flats and upper floors where outward opening is impractical, and they seal very well. The inward swing needs clear space inside, so they suit rooms without obstructions at the window.

Bay and bow windows

Bay windows project outward in angled sections, creating a light-filled recess and extra internal space — a defining feature of many semis and townhouses. Bow windows curve gently across several panels for a softer look. Both add character and value but are more complex to manufacture and install, which is reflected in the price. Structural support above the bay must be assessed during the survey.

Flush casement and specialist styles

Flush casements sit level with the frame for a clean, traditional appearance favoured on barn conversions and rural homes. Beyond these, you will find fixed picture windows for uninterrupted views, top-hung and side-hung variations, and arched or shaped units for period detail. Your installer can advise which openings satisfy ventilation and means-of-escape requirements in habitable rooms.

Match style to frame and glass

Style, frame and glass work together. Some styles suit particular materials — sash windows in timber, slim contemporary units in aluminium — so read this alongside our guides to window frame materials and double glazing glass types. For the full decision in order, see the double glazing buyer's guide.