Told that children are not welcome, do you sigh with relief?  I tend to sigh with sadness, for it strikes me as an eternal truth that people who welcome little ones are more likely to welcome you. They are more easy-going, more at ease with themselves and more likely to go extra miles for you all.

Nancy Mitford’s views on children are thus: ‘I love children, especially when they cry and someone takes them away.' And someone called Leo Rosten memorably wrote: 'Anybody who hates dogs and babies can't be bad.' He would be lynched today. 

Want to sleep in the day and run wild at night?

We have over 140 owners who are particularly family-friendly (and where the Nancy Mitfords of this world will not be seen). We're especially proud of these owners. At their special places you can spread yourselves out among the resident furniture just as you wish, put your children to sleep in the bath, dangle their cots from ropes, sleep in the day, run wild at night – nobody will interfere, unless you are being outrageous. And where the owners are living nearby you will get royal treatment, for they do tend to be rather lovelier than most – as I have zealously argued. 

You just have to be your more best, more relaxed, selves

Many of them will point you to experiences that live long in the memory and I can almost guarantee they will know the best of everything in their area – for the young and the old. There will be paraphernalia to make eating, sleeping, bathing, playing easier. And with all that help, either in person, or in very helpful notes, you just have to get on with being your more relaxed, best selves.