Teffont House

Dating back to 1623, Teffont House brings a playful spirit to the traditional country-house stay. Set in a Wiltshire village and now part of the Beckford Group, a creative streak runs through everything from summerhouses stocked with watercolours and sketchbooks to croquet and badminton on the lawn.

That same relaxed approach extends to the food. Chef Tom Holloway oversees the seasonal South West cooking, served in the orangery, on the terrace or, for hotel guests, wherever they feel most comfortable. Elegant dishes are joined by unapologetically old-school pleasures like sparkling wine with duck-fat chips, a roaming cheese trolley and smoked-haddock kedgeree at breakfast.

Seventeen bedrooms are spread across the property, while a woodland treatment cabin, sauna and cold plunge add to the appeal. After dark, the protected skies of Cranborne Chase make it a prime spot for stargazing – and another reason to stay overnight.