An enviable hideaway on a cobbled street high on a hill, with stunning views next to Galileo's house, the Villa Bardini and gardens

High in Ávila's unspoilt nature is this stylish, eco-brilliant family hotel: mountains, massages, pool, organic dinners... a special escape

Stow yourselves away in the west wing of this glorious house, once home to Ambrose Congreve and steeped in history, with lovely gardens

Traditional house with a contemporary and imaginative interior; stroll to shops and restaurants, jump in the car to explore Provence

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

Chocolate-box cottages in deepest Normandy, owned by bright young things with a passion for organic cuisine and the good life

If you want to come to Venice as an open-hearted traveller rather than a tourist then this is the place for you - just walk to everything

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

Charming 4-star gîte in an 11th-century castle in the foothills of the Pyrénées. Spectacular views, leafy terrace and wild swimming nearby

Three family friendly gites with a contemporary feel, a saltwater pool, national trails to wander and wellness retreats on offer

You're only a whisper away from history in this family-run château, where rose gardens, sumptuous bedrooms and generous breakfasts wait

A smartly renovated 250-year-old brick and flint built inn, tucked away in a sleepy village beneath the glorious South Downs

A botanical beauty deep in the Loire Valley, this elegant house has history and heart in abundance

A sweet, very private-feeling annexe in the glorious South Hams with your own west-facing garden

Tour the cellars or wander the history-rich château and grounds. A truly pretty place

Sleek, smart apartments on the first floor of a 19th-century building in Verona's most fashionable residential/commercial neighbourhood

High on a hill in the Tyne Valley, undisturbed except by birds singing and the wind whistling; views swoop down to a magical landscape

A wonderful green getaway with wrap-around views of Norfolk nature; walk Weavers’ Way, birdwatch at Blakeney, enjoy the coast at Cromer