A quirky hotel with enthusiastic owners in an authentic Andalucian town, just ten minutes up winding roads from Marbella

Fabulous bakes and hot waffles at breakfast, green fields all around and Normandy steeped in history. Great for foodies and historians

Come to recharge in the lovely Loire valley at this fine château surrounded by mature gardens and green countryside

An incredible living museum, dedicated to the history of Sicily and the arts. Stay in the main house or in a cottage in the fecund garden

An enchanting escape immersed in nature yet only 40 minutes by train into the Eternal City for art and history-filled days

A great base for Stratford and beyond – expect a peaceful village, smart rooms, local ales, tasty food and a happy vibe throughout

A perfectly renovated farmhouse in the grounds of a delightful château deep in the Normandy countryside, with a lovely walled garden

A big friendly farmhouse basking in light, with terraces, vineyards, pool and views to several horizons, good for family gatherings

An elegant townhouse, built in 1830 and once the sous-préfecture for Rochefort, with spacious, light-filled rooms and a garden with pool

Comfortable Clifton home a hop from shops, restaurants, harbour ferry and the heart of Bristol. With easy-going hosts and great breakfasts

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

An island of oyster farms, salt pans and white beaches, woolly donkeys, countless push-bikes and the odd celeb – we love the Ile de Ré!

Beautifully restored house with a literary history, no neighbours and private access to a sandy bay beyond the pines

History, tranquillity and genuine warmth in a beautifully restored medieval château, deep in the heart of the countryside

Elegant historic house set in acres of grounds transports you to a bygone belle époque (with all mod cons)

Come down to the Meon Valley and be (very gently) nudged towards a better way of living - a Sawday's Community Champion

A beautifully converted dairy with a magical garden in a quiet village surrounded by lovely countryside

A 16th-century timbered riverside inn with a relaxed, rustic feel, garden cabin rooms with views and fresh seasonal and homegrown food