This famous old country house might not come cheap, but where else can you splash out in such decadent style for life’s big celebrations?

Your own cottage on a wine estate in a very beautiful part of the South Downs, famed for world-class sparkling wines and good food

A stylish, refined 17th-century house off a quiet street with its own garden and lots of generous surprises, a short hop to everything

Beautiful, secluded, pristine, with a heated outdoor pool, hot tub, cinema room, games room and plenty of space for a grand gathering

A smartly-refurbished old coaching inn sitting by the river and run with an emphasis on fair trade, sustainability and excellent local food

Unwind in a hammock, in the pool, in a balconied rose-coloured bedroom – meander local markets, pick a pepper, cook up a feast and have fun

A traditional Gascon stone chateau with a square tower at each end, a roomy salon, summer kitchen, gorgeous terrace and gardens

A comfortable and light-filled converted stone barn in the pretty Vendée, a quiet and rural spot but just half a mile from town

Your own cottage sitting room downstairs and a swish bedroom up - breakfast in the courtyard before venturing forth to discover Canterbury

Come for interiors straight out of a design magazine, far-reaching views to the Adriatic, a dreamy infinity pool and immaculate grounds

Old meets new seamlessly here: ancient stone, lofty beams, good comfort, wood-burner, Jacuzzi/spa and space to relax in the designer garden

A sweet cottage on the estate of celebrated artist Sir Sidney Nolan's former home with 250 acres to explore - a Sawday's Community Champion

A traditional, very French, family-run hotel hidden in a wooded valley with lovely views from the large terrace and a hillside pool

A 17th-century traditional Welsh longhouse in a very sheltered spot facing south and with a pretty garden surrounded by fields and meadows

Elegant farmhouse B&B. Drawing room with a log fire, generous breakfasts with home produce, cookery courses and friendly welcoming hosts

Two family-friendly gites with gardens and a big pool, surrounded by corn fields and sunflowers, ideal for a larger family to take together

A wonderful country house, a unique wine story, very luxurious rooms and suites, a spa, infinity pool and restaurant

Cosy bolthole for two in a tiny hamlet next to a river and pub; walk the hills or spend the day at the unspoiled coast