I’m already pretty much in love with Stow-on-the-Wold, but the addition of the Sheep on Sheep Street to the Oxforshire Cotswolds town has nailed it. The Inn had a meticulous refurb in mid 2016 and now offers 22 rooms, plus contemporary, bright restaurant with wood-fired oven, huuuuuuge bar top and lots of nooks and crannies with urbane, retro-ish styling.

The sheep has 22 rooms in varying sizes from Cosy (small) to Signature and you can stay in a double on a B&B basis from £104 a night. Not much in the way of outdoor space, unless you count the small paved back terrace and picnic tables out the front, but this is a place for eating, socialising and sleeping – you can do your exploring with your feet.