Sleekly refurbished, a cow-themed country pub with chic, rustic bedrooms, a beamed dining room for tapas-style dishes and a convivial bar stocking an impressive range of gins. Dogs are welcome. 9 miles W of Derby.

Converted from former design studios of the Spode pottery works, a modern aparthotel with an on-site café. Spacious suites are kitted out with a kitchen area and comfy sofa. The industrial-design café has bare brick walls, large windows and interesting repurposed features. It is open (Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; Sun 11.30am-4pm) for breakfast, snacks, lunches and afternoon tea, and can be hired for weddings and functions. A short distance from the town centre. On-site parking is available.

A rural B&B in a large, quaintly furnished farmhouse with oak staircase, beams and parquet floors, on a working dairy farm. Overlooking fields and pasture, Derby is just a ten-minute drive away. Seasonal produce, and free-range eggs for breakfast.

Wonderful views, luxury extras and home-baked treats – on a quiet road within walking distance of the town centre, this B&B in an Edwardian property has an immaculate modern interior and welcoming hosts.

Reputed to be England’s oldest hotel, the characterful building dates back to 1573, and has accommodated many illustrious Elizabethans, as well as the hapless Mary Queen of Scots. Today’s guests appreciate its blend of tradition with modernity and its great location opposite the beautiful Pavilion Gardens and Buxton Opera House.

Experience a B&B in a 16th-century timber-framed building set in two acres of landscaped gardens which has featured in Channel 4’s ‘Four in a Bed’ programme. Bursting with character, the house has roaring fires in ancient hearths, highly polished oak furniture, and wooden beams and four-poster beds in spacious bedrooms. From the peaceful Orangery lounge, there are views onto beautiful flower gardens. A la carte breakfasts include eggs supplied by the owners’ free-roaming hens. On the border between Staffordshire and Cheshire, the village (recorded in the Domesday Book) is 8 miles SW of Stoke-on-Trent.