Escape to your own barn. Brimming with beams and natural colours - surrounded by peaceful lavender-filled gardens and corn fields

An ancient inn, spruce and restorative, in a picture-perfect village with open fires, tasty food and stylish, comfortable bedrooms

Deep in the Wye Valley you’ll find wild swimming, kayaking and down-time. This cottage is a spacious yet cosy base for any adventure

An ancient coaching inn opposite the church in the prettiest village – just the ticket for weary travellers who deserve nurturing

Two duplex apartments filled with art and sculptures inside a beautiful 18th-century orangery, minutes from magnificent Versailles

Two rural retreats up a shared drive for gatherings of friends and family who enjoy the great outdoors and good food from the Meikleour Inn

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

You have complete independence in your own wing beside the owner's house, with much space, a sparkling pool and balconies with views

A stone building designed by Sir John Soane in the stable yard of this historic and beautiful estate with deer park and woodland gardens

A 15th-century courtyard hides a petite contemporary apartment – a fabulous base from which to explore the city and all its treasures

A grand place for up to 12 adventurous souls and the young at heart: swim, bob in a boat, hike and cycle or simply revel in the greenery and peace

With incredible views across to distant hilltop towns, olive groves and buzzing bees, this elegant farmhouse has bags of charm

A beautifully converted building, part of an old mill, now a gorgeous place to stay with the stream running through and shared parkland

Come for the gorgeous, wild North York Moors and this very pretty 1911 stone cottage in the grounds of an elegant manor house

Escape your cares here, move from terrace to terrace tracking the sun's progress and dive into the sea from your own swimming platform

A really well thought-out escape for a small family with children. A big garden, pool, petanque court and play barn for indoor fun

Irresistible for art, design and heritage-lovers, bird-watchers and those who love to explore Norfolk's wide open spaces

This famous old country house might not come cheap, but where else can you splash out in such decadent style for life’s big celebrations?