On the edge of The Cotswolds AONB, this centuries-old cottage is in keeping with its bucolic surroundings. Its home of Sandford St Martin is a picture-perfect glimpse of thatch-roofed cottages and a babbling river, but you’ll have to hop in the car to stock up on groceries in the closest significant town – Chipping Norton, a twenty-minute drive away. Cosy rooms inside have been brought up to 21st-century standards, especially in the shaker-style kitchen with all the mod cons you need. But wooden beams and a Scandinavian stove ensure the old cottage vibe remains. The bonus? A private garden with a fire pit and picnic table for barbecues outside.