This much-talked-about 17th-century country house hotel near Bruton lives up to the hype, with apple orchards, lakes, a spa, a dragon’s grotto and even a Roman Villa. It’s also, thankfully, totally unstuffy. There are family rooms in both the original Hadspen House and the Farmyard - the latter has its own pool with no child swim time restrictions, and buggies for pootling around the grounds - plus the two-bedroom, self-catering Gate Lodge in its own garden. All the restaurants (The Botanical Rooms, Garden Café, informal Farmyard Kitchen) have children’s menus, and there are plenty of family-friendly activities across the estate, from a bee safari to a farmer-led tour of the deer park. Don’t miss the Cyder bar for takeaway bites during the day or the gelateria, for fresh estate-made buffalo milk gelato.