A very pretty old coach house in a south London garden – perfect for a couple or a family. Friendly owners live across the courtyard

Come for peace, space and much comfort in this nifty house with gorgeous views over acres of vines from the terrace and pool

A dear little gingerbread-style house in the prettiest part of the estate with your own pontoon and boat on the edge of a shimmering lake

The wow factor is set to eleven at this magnificent château steeped in French history and surrounded by acres of land (and a moat)

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

Bright and spacious barn for two and a baby on the South Downs Way, close to Brighton and the coast

A welcoming, warming inn for locals and visitors alike with a blazing log fire, excellent local and seasonal food and proper Devon ales

Great for comfort, beauty, character and home baking. Borrow vintage bikes to explore Cambridge: Christine knows it inside out

Log fires smoulder, rooms are comfortable, the food is delicious and there's bags of character at this old village pub – once a cider house

Come to restore your soul, be immersed in nature, wander paths in the lovely grounds and make memories with family or friends

A converted old granary next to a traditional Welsh longhouse in a deeply rural setting for unfussy nature lovers

An old chapel, smartly and sustainably converted, with a hot tub to soothe tired limbs after country walks through fells and dales

An oast house B&B surrounded by countryside and with a blooming garden; walk to the village pub, drive to nearby stately castles

A pretty little cottage in a holiday hamlet surrounded by fields, just a stone's throw from the coast and Binic for happy escapes

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

A 15th-century Venetian palazzo, lovingly restored with stylish rooms overlooking the Grand Canal and a designer's insight into the city

A romantic creekside cottage down a web of narrow lanes in a tumbling green valley – mess about on the water to your heart’s content

An adorable little 1800s cottage with a garden – simple, unpretentious and filled with the owner's colourful art on walls and lampshades