‘On arrival we discovered that our package included afternoon tea, which we enjoyed before a concert at Cadogan Hall.’

Just across the bridge in Eton, this refurbished Georgian inn is on a corner of the high street. Simply furnished bedrooms have wood furniture, comfortable beds and crisp bedlinen; some rooms have a view of Windsor Castle or the river. The pub dishes and daily blackboard specials are cooked using local, seasonal produce, much of it sourced from the royal farm estate. At the rear, the inn’s owners (Windsor and Eton Brewery) have created a smart decked garden for eating and drinking outside in warmer months.

In fifteen acres of landscaped grounds, a red-brick Queen Anne mansion that was originally built for the Churchill family. Afternoon tea is served in The Polo Bar and Lounge or outside on the terrace. FORK restaurant (casual dining), and some of the modern bedrooms have views over the lovely garden, where outdoor activities include a croquet lawn, tennis courts, shooting hoops and giant snakes and ladders. Part of Exclusive Collection.

Ten minutes from Ascot Racecourse, this 18th-century red-brick pub is a cert for equine devotees and rural inn-seekers alike. There are nooks and crannies, tweedy fabrics. original stone floors and a welcoming open fire in cooler months. Some of the comfortable bedrooms have views over the peaceful garden which has plenty of seating and a cosy Cabana for the ultimate outdoor dining experience. Traditional pub fare is supplemented with dishes such as Wild Boar sausages, mash, lentils and savoy cabbage or braised rabbit, mustard root vegetables and tarragon.

In the thick of things, a large, modern hotel on the cobbled high street. Public spaces are vibrantly furnished or bright with colourful prints. Food and drink is available throughout the day; HarSpa has a whirlpool, sauna, steam room and small open-air heated pool.

An elegantly updated Queen Anne-style mansion in lovely gardens. Lavish afternoon teas are served on the terrace, fine dinners in an oak-panelled room. Soothing treatments for face, body and nails can be booked. Guildford Station is a 10 minutes’ drive.

By the river, a modern hotel in Sonning-on-Thames, 3½ miles E of Reading. Stylish, with a retro edge, bedrooms are in separate buildings – some in a converted coach house and clock tower. Open from breakfast until late at night, Coppa Club bar/restaurant features a long, curved pewter bar, original fireplaces, velvet sofas and separate workspace. Large gardens, and a covered terrace overlooks lawns going down to the water.

Fifteen mimutes’ walk from the centre of Sevenoaks, Sarah and Ian Stockbridge’s extended brick-built house has self-contained B&B accommodation with spacious bedrooms and a sitting room for guests to share. One room at the front overlooks woodland and Knole Park (NT) where the occasional deer can be glimpsed; another has views over the south-facing garden. The thoughtful hosts provide tea and cake on arrival. For breakfast, cereals, seasonal fruit and yogurt are followed by a full English and served in the dining area of the sitting room, which has glass doors opening onto a terrace with outdoor seating.

In a picturesque village, five miles north of Reading, a welcoming olde worlde country inn with an open fire and Brakspear real ales in the traditional bar. Comfortable, mellow-toned bedrooms are named after types of wine. Satisfying pub dishes are served in a cosy restaurant. Outside there is a patio and garden with a children’s play area.

Close to the station, a hotel and restaurant inside a Grade II-listed 18th-century sandstone mansion. Intimate and clubby, there is an open fire in the bar, and Gallic-influenced dishes in the informal restaurant; alfresco dining on the terrace. Modern bedrooms (some overlooking Calverley Park) have plenty of perks: a capsule coffee machine, fluffy bathrobes, chic toiletries for indulgent bathing. Within walking distance of the Pantiles.

Near the Pantiles, a former brewery and school house is now a modern hotel with sophisticated, neutral-toned bedrooms and suites (some in the neighbouring Townhouse are more contemporary and have a separate entrance). Breakfast is buffet-style. Informal dining as well as a la carte menus are served in Seventeen restaurant. Situated by Cumberland Walk, al fresco morning snacks, cocktails, and light bites can be enjoyed on The Terrace.

In parkland, a white-painted country house hotel blending classic with contemporary twists. The cheerful lounge has yellow seating, and retains its period features. Oversized headboards add statement to individually styled bedrooms. British cuisine is served in Seasons restaurant overlooking Ouzel Valley Park, or outside on a sunny, decked terrace in summer. Children are offered special menus and board games for rainy days. On the outskirts of Milton Keynes, the hotel is a popular wedding venue.

A friendly Wetherspoon pub in a handsome building right In the centre of town. Bedrooms are comfortable and well-equipped, with modern bathrooms. Food and drinks may be ordered via the Wethersppon app, and there are plenty of places to sit inside, plus a terrace and garden for alfresco dining.

In Beachampton, a picturesque village a short drive from Milton Keynes, a beautifully restored 300-year-old farmhouse with three inviting bedrooms and a well-equipped gym. Breakfast includes freshly laid eggs and honey from the owners’ hives. Footpaths lead across the fields; the village pub is a stroll away. Bletchley Park, Woburn Abbey and Silverstone nearby.

Close to Bedford Park, an informal restaurant with rooms blends vintage and modern decoration with flair. Breakfast, morning coffee, traditional British dishes and sharing platters, and homemade afternoon teas are served. Several of the Victorian-style bedrooms have a vintage sink and roll-top bath.

A small B&B in a detached house, peacefully surrounded by a lawn and lush gardens. It has a comfortable lounge, homely bedrooms (two share bathroom facilities) and a tasty English/Irish or continental breakfast in the morning. Dinner may be pre-arranged. Duxford and Shuttleworth airfields, the RSPB headquarters, local shops and places to eat are close by. 5.5 miles SE of St Neot’s.

In secluded gardens and woodland, a low-built contemporary house with sun terraces and spacious accommodation overlooking acres of greenery. There’s an open-plan lounge for relaxing, and communal Aga-cooked breakfasts with a choice of home-made breads are served in a light-filled dining area. Five miles N of Lewes.