Sumptuous and pampering with monogrammed sheets and frescoed walls.More for honeymooners and couples than lolly-licking tots

Within the city walls and right next to the Minster, this super-smart hotel gives you gorgeous bedrooms and delicious food

Converted barn with the most welcoming owners – the garden and pool are all yours; explore a less touristy part of the Dordogne

Tucked down an alley off the main road through Midhurst, this well-designed, generous-spirited little house exudes character and quirk

Two lovely cottages with a fresh, modern style, private terrace, tranquil communal gardens with an orchard and pool

B&B as it should be. Home-cooked breakfast in an Aga-warmed kitchen, a comfortable bedroom with garden views, a beach you can walk to

Vast house on an ancient Roman site with big terraced garden and pool. Grand yet homely, with air-con, spa and only 8 km to the city

Deep in Burgundy's wine country, an elegant maison de maître sits in acres of gloriously private parkland

A confident style for this mid-19th-century house, with a Mediterranean garden, elegant terrace and pool, a stroll from the historic centre

In a hamlet in the Loire countryside is a friendly estate with a family-sized gite, a shared saltwater pool and heaps of old-world charm

Serious art, lovely lighting, great sound system and a fat wood-burner belting out the heat at this super place for families or friends

An elegant 1890 home in vibrant Bembridge for birdwatching, beaches and wildlife, with hot tub and extra beds for overflow guests

A bit like staying with friends in a smart country house, but not having to help - an elegant refuge near Bradford-on-Avon

Where sea and woodland meet, an inspiring and beautiful haven with estuary views; a gourmet’s delight and Honfleur down the road

A really friendly French family home, steeped in history and tradition with delicious home-grown food, a lovely garden and peaceful pool

Cool, airy villa with Lake Como glistening below. Beautiful terraces and garden, plunge pool - and chilled prosecco and cake to welcome you

2 super family apartments in the unspoilt Serre Chevalier valley, with a private chef if you’d like one, and delightful Pippa to welcome you

Style abounds in this exquisite Côte d'Azur family getaway, where lazy days are whiled away by the pool and in the quiet bird-filled gardens