Swangrove House at Badminton Estate

Such elegance is rare, so come to feel embraced by a gentler age. The front of the house faces open countryside, you swoop around to the back and enter into the roomy kitchen. Find an electric range cooker, a huge fridge, a slow cooker and enough glasses and china to hold a dinner party. You eat at a long oak table in the dining room with an enormous open fire and comfy seating.

On the first floor is the beautiful panelled drawing room, flooded with light from five floor-to-ceiling windows and with a games table, gorgeous old rug, another open fire and a series of pen and ink sketches depicting countryside scenes. On warm days you can fling open the door and descend the stone steps to the garden, pretending to be Elizabeth Bennet.

Two antique-filled bedrooms are on this floor and another is even further up with painted chinoiserie and stunning views. Eat outdoors surrounded by clipped hedges and birdsong, relishing the peace.