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

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

A honey-hued family home clad with vines and roses with a swimming pool and heaps of space – perfect for families

A magical medieval castello, gloriously gothic with tower, moat and ghost, fit for a Shakespearian play.

Soak up Provençal peace in a charming estate in the Alpilles, with stylish ground-floor B&B rooms, olives, vines and a friendly family dog

A charming B&B in south Sardinia, near Cagliari: circled by palms and cypresses, overlooking sweet-smelling lemon & orange groves. Bliss

A bright comfortable retreat in an enviable spot - riverside walks, Botanic Gardens and all the hip eateries of Stockbridge on your doorstep

Sumptuous and pampering with monogrammed sheets and frescoed walls.More for honeymooners and couples than lolly-licking tots

A very pretty old converted cart shed at the end of a track on an organic farm, surrounded by wildlife, birds and animals in the fields

Three family friendly cottages on this gorgeous eco farm with private gardens and organised outdoor activities if you like joining in

Bags of character within and without at this four-storey village house with rooftop views over the mountains, next to a 12th-century church

Charming 15th-century farmhouse near Montrésor and Loches with immense lawns, orchards and a fabulous pool

An elegant house with ancient roots and a shimmering pool – explore the Charente countryside, drive to lovely Angoulême

A tranquil and tucked-away feel for this terraced cottage with private patio, communal garden and plenty of room for six

Gently undulating countryside surrounds you at this Burgundy B&B with fresh, modern bedrooms and delicious dinners prepared by the owner

Wooded, lakeside retreat for 1 or 2 – big windows, huge terrace, wood-burner, wide screen. The Jurassic coast a cross-country walk away

Four family-friendly self-catering casitas and an original cortijo in wildlife-rich acres near the sandy Costa de la Luz

A lovely bolthole in remote North Yorkshire – follow stunning hill walks with a soak in the roll top bath, and a glass of bubbly