Holiday Homes for Big Families
Happy Herts
The Wow House Company offers Pelham House, a modern country house set in four acres of grounds near Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire and within easy reach of London for sightseeing or a show. With seven bedrooms sleeping 14, the property also has a large heated indoor pool with sauna, a cinema/snug, games room and terrace with barbecue area and outside bar. Nearby, visit Hanbury Manor for a spa day or a round of golf, or Cambridge is just a 30-minute drive.
One week costs from £5,995 (£428 per person): 01242-220006, www.thewowhousecompany.co.uk
Georgian Glamour
Cooks will love the wellequipped kitchen of Myrtle House, Penzance, Cornwall, which sleeps eight in four luxurious bedrooms – The Master Bedroom, for instance, features a 6ft four-poster bed. The formal dining room comfortably seats all guests around a long central table, and the first-floor sitting room with large bay window has wonderful views out to sea. There’s a sandy beach nearby, or explore the area on the bikes provided free of charge. One well-behaved dog is welcome, costing £30 extra.
One week from £1,011 (£126 per person): 01872-553491, www.boutique-retreats.co.uk
Scottish Surprise
The House Parties collection now includes Balvonie House, 45 minutes’ drive from Glasgow. Sleeping 26 guests in 11 bedrooms, the house features sea views, cinemastyle roll-down screen in the sitting room so everyone can watch TV or DVDs, plus a big dining room accommodating everyone. Professional chef services are available. Up to three pets are also welcome.
One week costs from £3,845 (£148 per person): 01242-285755, www.house-parties.com
Welsh Wonder
Six-bedroom coastal holiday home Borth Cottage near Abersoch, on the tip of the Llyn peninsula in northwest Wales, sleeps up to 12 people in luxury. The modern property has a mini-cinema and even a helipad, as well as large ensuite bathrooms, open fires, a state-of-the-art kitchen, stylish conservatory and family games room. Set in more than an acre of grounds, the property is a five-minute walk from the beach.
One week costs from £3,950 (£329 per person): 07595-466955, www.simonescapes.com
Italian Idyll
Further afield, newly restored Masseria Petrarolo, in Puglia, Italy, comes fully staffed sleeps 16 and is surrounded by olive groves and meadows. The 17th-century fortified farmhouse, a few miles from the Adriatic, has eight ensuite bedrooms (one with an outdoor shower), three kitchens, a hammam, drawing room and dining room. There’s a swimming pool and a rooftop pool too. Go for a long walk or bike ride, or take a short drive into Monopoli, which has a good choice of restaurants and a fish market.
One week costs from Є11,500 (Є719 per person): www.masseriapetrarolo.com
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Prices are correct at the time of going to press.
The Wow House Company offers Pelham House, a modern country house set in four acres of grounds near Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire and within easy reach of London for sightseeing or a show. With seven bedrooms sleeping 14, the property also has a large heated indoor pool with sauna, a cinema/snug, games room and terrace with barbecue area and outside bar. Nearby, visit Hanbury Manor for a spa day or a round of golf, or Cambridge is just a 30-minute drive.
One week costs from £5,995 (£428 per person): 01242-220006, www.thewowhousecompany.co.uk
Georgian Glamour
Cooks will love the wellequipped kitchen of Myrtle House, Penzance, Cornwall, which sleeps eight in four luxurious bedrooms – The Master Bedroom, for instance, features a 6ft four-poster bed. The formal dining room comfortably seats all guests around a long central table, and the first-floor sitting room with large bay window has wonderful views out to sea. There’s a sandy beach nearby, or explore the area on the bikes provided free of charge. One well-behaved dog is welcome, costing £30 extra.
One week from £1,011 (£126 per person): 01872-553491, www.boutique-retreats.co.uk
Scottish Surprise
The House Parties collection now includes Balvonie House, 45 minutes’ drive from Glasgow. Sleeping 26 guests in 11 bedrooms, the house features sea views, cinemastyle roll-down screen in the sitting room so everyone can watch TV or DVDs, plus a big dining room accommodating everyone. Professional chef services are available. Up to three pets are also welcome.
One week costs from £3,845 (£148 per person): 01242-285755, www.house-parties.com
Welsh Wonder
Six-bedroom coastal holiday home Borth Cottage near Abersoch, on the tip of the Llyn peninsula in northwest Wales, sleeps up to 12 people in luxury. The modern property has a mini-cinema and even a helipad, as well as large ensuite bathrooms, open fires, a state-of-the-art kitchen, stylish conservatory and family games room. Set in more than an acre of grounds, the property is a five-minute walk from the beach.
One week costs from £3,950 (£329 per person): 07595-466955, www.simonescapes.com
Italian Idyll
Further afield, newly restored Masseria Petrarolo, in Puglia, Italy, comes fully staffed sleeps 16 and is surrounded by olive groves and meadows. The 17th-century fortified farmhouse, a few miles from the Adriatic, has eight ensuite bedrooms (one with an outdoor shower), three kitchens, a hammam, drawing room and dining room. There’s a swimming pool and a rooftop pool too. Go for a long walk or bike ride, or take a short drive into Monopoli, which has a good choice of restaurants and a fish market.
One week costs from Є11,500 (Є719 per person): www.masseriapetrarolo.com
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Prices are correct at the time of going to press.