Cotswold Retreat

Ten bedrooms, each with a super-king bed that converts to twins, means Cotswold Retreat can sleep up to twenty guests across a single property with ten bathrooms. A converted building with bright, open-plan spaces, it's designed for entertaining at scale. The outdoor pool, eight-person wood-fired hot tub, and expansive alfresco kitchen anchor the back garden, which also has a firepit. Inside, the living and dining areas are spacious enough to accommodate groups without feeling cramped, and there are two 52-inch televisions, a yoga studio within the lounge, and petanque for guests to play.

The alfresco kitchen is equipped to cook for a crowd: four ovens, two hobs, two dishwashers, a pizza oven, and a Braai. A wine fridge and two beer taps are fitted, and everything runs on Miele appliances. Wi-Fi throughout, bed linen, towels and electricity are included. One well-behaved dog is permitted.

Alexandra Howell Deli is nearby, and a pub sits within a mile. The coast is equally close—around thirty minutes on foot brings you to Wells-next-the-Sea, a working fishing port where boats still bob in the harbour and children crab at the quay. Pinewood forests border empty beaches, and inland lie nature reserves and flint villages. No smoking inside the property.