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?

Welcome to an immaculate and historic retreat with private gardens, ten minutes from the Finistère coast (and oysters!)

A scented garden, delicious local delicacies and those coastal landscapes. This place is a sensory feast

Ascot is a trot down the road and there's a really cosy, cottagey feel to this quaint 18th-century inn with great food and comfy bedrooms

Remote off-grid cottage 1400 feet above sea level in Northumberland National Park, with incredible night skies

An irresistible eco restaurant-hotel of character and charm, run by two friendly families and set in gorgeous grounds. Foodie heaven

A 17th-century traditional Welsh longhouse in a very sheltered spot facing south and with a pretty garden surrounded by fields and meadows

Come for authentic restoration, chic Savoyard décor, breathtaking views of the Portes du Soleil, and a chairlift a 7-minute drive

Between mountains and coast: come for peace and serenity at this small hotel framed by fragrant gardens and the mighty Sierra Nevada peaks

Wine lovers adore this impeccably furnished château; lovely Anne meets and greets, Jean Christophe makes wine and takes charge of tastings

This shuttered, stone maison in Gascony on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrims' route is a joy for families to spend time together

Immerse yourself in nature, wildlife, sustainability and slow food high up on the edge of a National Park

Get to know Lisbon with ease from this generous and comfortable townhouse hotel bang in the middle of the city centre

Historic buildings by a turreted manor house, beautifully renovated to welcome large parties with grounds to roam and dreamy river views

Superbly comfortable house with beamed rooms, lovely views, club-like morning room, antiques, terrace, pool, fitness centre and lily pond

A very tastefully restored old stone stable on a gloriously rural estate with woodland gardens, lake and a deer park