Entirely run by volunteers, Semley Village Stores is a true community hub with a selection that rivals many city delis. Browse bunches of hand-picked flowers gathered from a local garden, organic eggs, a well-stocked dairy counter brimming with artisan cheeses, freshly baked bread, and a daily supply of seasonal fruit and vegetables. 

A country cottage where British craft and design take centre stage, blending centuries-old traditions with contemporary creativity. Every corner is thoughtfully considered; there's a Russell Pinch sofa, an oak Another Country coffee table, books arranged on a woven centrepiece table, and a charming Charnwood wood-burning stove. The welcome hamper, filled with milk, butter, bread, Bramley bath products is a homely arrival gift and an added bonus comes with the complimentary access to the tennis courts at Pythouse Club.

Tucked away in the courtyard of a converted 19th-century farm building is the UK's oldest marbling studio, creating beautifully hand-marbled papers and crafts since 1972. Browse a collection of one-of-a-kind picture frames, lampshades, and decorative notebooks – and ask about the personalised monagramming service to make them an extra-special keepsake.  

A masterclass in how to do a pub with rooms: the perfect mix of locals with a Labrador at foot at the bar, and weekenders who’ve escaped for a romantic weekend. Ivy-clad and on the edge of rolling parkland, it has itsown Beckford Phoenix on tap and a menu with pints of prawns and the smartest ploughman’s (Westcombe cheddar and Wiltshire ham). Crash in a bedroom upstairs, one of its lodges nearby on the estate or in the 18th-century Great Arch.