Your own cottage sitting room downstairs and a swish bedroom up – breakfast in the courtyard before venturing forth to discover Canterbury

Wooded, lakeside retreat for 1 or 2 – big windows, huge terrace, wood-burner, wide screen. The Jurassic coast a cross-country walk away

Come for peace and quiet down a long lane, pretty buildings and big, beautifully-kept gardens with a secluded outdoor pool

Retreat to this sweet, peaceful cottage with suntrap courtyard garden enveloped in rolling hills just a short hop from the Jurassic Coast

Deep in Calvados near vibrant Caen, a cider barn with stylish bedrooms, quirky objets, a bar in the salon. Charming hosts welcome families

Bring the gang to this majestic maison fortifiée in pretty Périgord, with stone archways, secret corners and 15 hectares to explore

Strolling distance from the village of Seggiano, peace and beauty fill every corner of this ancient, view-filled retreat

A very special design-led garden apartment on the ground floor of an elegant 1835 house on one of the prettiest crescents in the city

A charming comfy cottage with wood burner, delicious hilly views, walks radiating from the door. We didn’t want to leave!

A grand piano to play and a delicious bed to sink into, at this cool, arty bolthole near Frome. For those who love spaciousness and peace

Feel at ease in a lovely old townhouse filled with pictures and personality and including a separate loft apartment

Stone farmhouse on a country estate, family-run for centuries. Views of the towered gatehouse, pool and tennis court, a walk to the river...

Superb, all-organic agriturismo built of straw bales and offering wonderful home-grown natural food, a delightful family, great walking

Airy interiors, good local food and a blissful rural setting for this refurbished inn, popular with locals and with a happy, bustling vibe

A gorgeous house with oodles of original features, a lovely garden and the owners' pub, farm shop, brewery and spa a short walk

For retreats, groups of friends, and big families: come to recharge the senses at this special and ancient house enveloped by wild gardens

A converted 19th-century church in the Northumberland National Park with beautiful stained-glass windows and a restored tower

A destination for epicurians who also want exquisite surroundings and comfortable bedrooms. A charming garden too with a very French feel