A blissfully quiet and welcoming New Cross home. English and oriental blend - including breakfast! Rooms are airy, richly decorated and fun

A grand, pale stone townhouse in the centre of lively Épernay with plenty of good restaurants nearby

A stone built 18th-century tower in a pretty valley dotted with fruit trees for quiet and relaxed days recuperating from life in the city

Charming gardens for you and your dog in a barn conversion in rural Norfolk half an hour from coast

Come for dreamy river views, a lovely garden and this bolthole for two, beautifully renovated inside and out and with a private hot tub

A welcoming retreat with lofty rooms, a sunny garden and the perfect plunge pool. Come for slow days and wine country adventures

A tranquil agriturismo within easy reach of Padua. Superb views of the Euganean Hills, chic bedrooms and fine wine to sample

A superb palazzo in beautiful old Florence with 13 design rooms, a cocktail menu and breakfast in your room. Arty, stylish and near the Duomo

Beautiful views over Bantry Bay from this thoughtfully restored house with stylish rooms, gardens and woodland – a wonderful escape

Wrapped in fields and woods, this big traditional house has crisply furnished interiors and plenty of gadgets. Terraced gardens and pool too

Two charming cottages a stroll from the Coast Path, surf school, shop, pub and restaurant. Take both cottages for a big family get-together

Elegant Italian style in a sensitively-restored villa with sweeping views over rolling hills and forests

An entire literary estate on the Brittany coast, with a trio of restored houses, fabulous gardens and a private path to the beach

Wood-burners, water sports and wildlife at four cosy farm conversions a half mile from their own quay. Wild swimming and barbecues await

A renovated, comfy Victorian cottage behind a small village pub, a hub for the local community and with good food, ales and wine

An 18th-century townhouse restored with flair by former restauranteurs: come for colour, comfort and sublime dining

Two spruce spaces for couples in peaceful Cornish countryside; it’s an easy drive to gardens, both coastlines and good eateries

Stay on a secluded private estate by the sea - once the home of the brilliant French writer, Colette