I got the keys to the latest Omaze dream home - here's my verdict on whether I'd keep it

It's the multi-million pound house raffle that has gripped the nation. You've almost certainly seen the adverts. Maybe you've even entered yourself. The promises not just a luxurious new home, but the chance to become a millionaire overnight - for a little as a tenner. For the first time ever, the Express was granted exclusive access - a sneak peek inside the latest grand prize before the new owner sets foot in it. It is the 38th property Omaze has offered in its five-year run, and of the previous lucky winners, many have opted to sell up rather than settle in. So, what would I do? Would I stay and live the dream - or cash in my chips? Hypothetically, of course.

Previous properties have included an ultra-modern Cornish cliffside pad, a grand Georgian townhouse in central London and a Highlands mansion. This time, it's a 17th-century farmhouse in the Cotswolds with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, two living rooms, a spacious kitchen-diner, a boot room, two utility rooms, a couple of extra whatever-you-want rooms plus a separate guest cottage. (Perfect for when friends come to stay but you'd don't want to spend too much time with them.) It comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, plus £250,000 in cash to help out with the bills.

With just a few hours to swan about pretending to be 'Lady of the Manor', I made sure to have a proper snoop, hoping that maybe a door handle would come off in my hand so I could feel just a smidge of schadenfreude. But, alas, everything was immaculate. The crunching gravel drive leads you up to a honey-hued Cotswold stone farmhouse dripping in wisteria and rambling pink roses, surrounded by lush cottage garden borders. The only sounds were the birdsong and me gasping: "Oh my god, it's huge."

Spanning over 6,000 square feet, the sprawling pile sits on a generous plot of rolling countryside, with a wildflower meadow and an orchard for scrumping come harvest time. There's also a massive greenhouse, stable blocks, separate garages, and a heated outdoor pool. Inside, it is almost unnervingly tasteful - straight from the pages of Country Life Magazine.

Think calming sage greens, cream, duck egg blues, sumptuous soft furnishings with flagstone floors and timber beam ceilings.

It is quintessential English countryside glamour but as a born-and-bred Londoner - and a self-confessed scruffbag - could I picture myself living here? Admittedly, I found myself wondering: What would that exquisite marble bathroom look like covered with soap scum? And this pristine sofa covered in cat hair?

Or the enormous bespoke kitchen island littered with half-drunk mugs of tea and unopened post? Under my watch, I'd give it a day or two until it is cluttered with gubbins. Although, given it is such a large property, even I would be hard-pressed to mess it up.

But outside in the garden - now there I could really feel at home. With all that space, I'd go full Good Life - just hand me a spade and call me Barbara. As a keen gardener, I couldn't help but mentally map it out with an allotment plot, a chicken coop, maybe even a goat. And that huge greenhouse - the greenhouse of dreams - would be bursting with citrus trees, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines. I might even attempt melons. Oh, the things I'd grow. I could almost see myself filming a segment for Gardeners' World, trying not to sound too smug as I explained how I gradually replaced the lawn with an abundantly flourishing herbaceous border to rival Great Dixter.

As for the pool, well naturally, I couldn't resist a cheeky dip - the first person to do so. The temperature was, of course, absolutely perfect. That is coming from a cold-water wimp. And it's so secluded, you could skinny dip without a worry if that's your thing. Hell, you could go full Saltburn, put Murder on the Dancefloor on full blast and boogie in the nudie, as there is not a neighbour in sight to raise an eyebrow.

As with every Omaze house raffle, it's all for a good cause. This draw has been paired with Guide Dogs UK and the charity will receive at least £1 million - potentially much more depending on ticket sales - which will fund 675 puppies during their first eight weeks of life and help people with sight loss gain greater independence.

During my brief trip, I had the pleasure of meeting Jean Jordan who has been volunteering with Guide Dogs UK for an incredible 32 years. She brought along Mazey, an 18-week-old lab-retriever cross, who has just started her guide dog training journey.

Jean, from Bristol, helps run her family's gas engineering business, but in her spare time, she opens her home to future guide dogs, giving them a loving start in life. She fosters the pups, providing early training and care before they move on to a specialist centre for the next stage of their journey, eventually finding their forever partner.

"Mazey has been a joy to raise. She's bright, affectionate, and already showing signs of being a brilliant guide dog," she tells me as Mazey takes a well-earned snooze at her feet. "It's hard not to get attached, but knowing she'll go on to help someone makes it all worth it."

Two million people suffer from sight loss in the UK and with the number set to double by 2050, the work that these devoted volunteers give is invaluable.

But back to the million-pound question: is this my forever home? Would I stay or would I go? Standing in this picture-postcard £5.5m Cotswold dream, imagining living here, just me and my cat Maggie? All those rooms! The hoovering! I can barely keep on top of my one-bed flat. The house is utterly gorgeous - but still, I'd take the cash and skip off giggling into the sunset.

*You can enter the Omaze house draw until midnight on Monday 26 May by visiting the website: . The winner will be announced on Friday, June 6.