Come with friends for a cookery course, or with the kids, and enjoy the creative feel of the place - and the food! Venice 40 mins by train

Come for family gatherings in an elegant Georgian house filled with art and books and circled by pretty gardens in leafy Wiltshire

Portuguese elegance, artistic décor, breakfast on a fountain'd patio or by the fire: a treat. Step out to a kaleidoscope of Lisbon city life

Historic village inn with wonderful cooking and a Provençal-style courtyard garden; drive to the Jurassic Coast in half-an-hour

A lovely old timber-framed inn with unspoilt interiors, brimming with character, excellent food, fine wines and fresh, comfortable bedrooms

A very tastefully restored old stone stable on a gloriously rural estate with woodland gardens, lake and a deer park

A nicely priced inn on Shaftesbury's high street with a warm contemporary style and some excellent food – fine local walking waits

Shady spots in the garden, a pool overlooked by tall palms, a bar nook stocked with drinks and a new spa in the Serra do Açor

A small and stylish townhouse retreat in leafy Folkestone with excellent bedrooms and a terrace for breakfast in summer

A one-storey, deftly restored 1860 barn in a quiet village, with a very pretty garden and stunning views over a wide valley with mature trees

The original Gatehouse for The Rothschild Estate, with elegant rooms, inspiring views and a large private garden with a Shepherd's Hut

Traditional house in a rural part of the Algarve with a spectacular garden, a pool and a tennis court, and restaurants a short stroll

A hop to Montpellier, but deep in the countryside: a romantic pad, with Moroccan rugs, ochre-limed walls and bikes to ride into the country

Sweet, stylish, fresh hotel with scented patio. Tucked away yet central, an unusually quiet base for exploring Rome

An exquisitely restored 1850s townhouse, steeped in history, with a sweet garden and within walking distance of the historic centre of Porto

Two elegantly renovated spaces with wonderful views, lots of activities and large gardens for making memories with family and friends

Contemporary lodge on a remote peninsula with spectacular views; walk, cycle or kayak, explore nature reserves and unspoiled beaches

Go completely Dordogne in this elegantly renovated farmhouse with views, a beautiful private swimming pool and large garden