Early birds - book ahead

A stylish and characterful cottage which reflects the owners' love of vintage finds and a sunny, flower-filled garden with views to the sea

A comfy cottage for two in the quiet, leafy outskirts of Aix with easy access to the city and a kind, attentive owner nearby

Up a narrow lane this dreamy pub with rooms has views to the South Downs. Stay for supper, let the kids run free in the garden playground

A lovely, leafy setting on a cobbled street for this peaceful retreat just off the high street in lively Stockbridge

Sitting on top of sand dunes, this cute cottage - small, bright and airy - has glorious views. It’s for long walks (dogs, too) and relaxing

An ancient, recently-extended inn on the edge of the river Swale surrounded by bird-filled marshland and with scrumptious local food

Warm interiors, pretty bedrooms, happy staff and excellent breakfasts, all a short stroll from Buckingham Palace

A foodie and friendly reinvigorated old pub, with floor to ceiling estuary views. Bring the dog and hit the coastal path

A cracking spot for this thatched and beamed 17th-century village inn with lovely gardens, just a half-mile stroll from Lulworth Cove

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!

Light-and-colour filled cottage with gardens and sea views on the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, a short stroll from Chesil Beach

A beautifully renovated apartment in a quiet street in central Bordeaux, with fine old features and all modernities. Ideal for couples

A welcoming, affordable seafront base for exploring St Malo and northern Brittany with small rooms, good food and a lively atmosphere

Atmospheric English pub with rooms by the green with its duck ponds in a pretty village, with walking and cycling routes to join

For Cotswolds, comfort and antique-lovers – a flagstoned old bar, open fires, a grown-up restaurant, bedrooms with gorgeous garden views

A glamourous escape in central Nice. Creative art-filled interiors, a fabulous tropical garden, sumptuous buffet breakfasts, pool and spa

A big dower house and two cottages surrounded by superb gardens, a fishing lake and acres of glorious countryside, a short walk to the coast

Comfortable redbrick cottage with views on the Heydon Hall estate. It’s delightfully rural yet you can walk to the village pub for supper