With most homes, the magic starts when you open the door. However, with this gorgeous country cottage, we loved that it begins the moment you walk into the pretty courtyard, passing by the weeping willow tree as you come up to the front door. The interiors are a glossy magazine’s interpretation of a farmhouse — warm your hands by the traditional Aga, soak in the clawfoot tub and relax beneath high, wooden-beamed ceilings. There's plenty of room for everyone to stretch out and take it easy, with a long dining table next to a huge glass wall, two separate living rooms, and a massive garden where you can enjoy peace and quiet during your stay. Right on the Suffolk coastline, this is an excellent base to explore the seaside, cliff walks, and pretty little villages of the area. The coastal town of Aldeburgh takes less than twenty minutes to reach by car, for instance, while historic Saxmundham can be done in under ten. Alternatively, you can just spend long, lazy afternoons in the garden, followed by cosy evenings in front of the crackling wood burner.