Grand gatherings
“The secret, dear Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make your heart smile. It’s then, only then, that you’ll find Wonderland”.
Rally the troops, it's time to get the party back together. Country glamour prevails throughout this cherry-picked collection; a mix of golden stone manors, modern coastal marvels, enchanted millhouses and free-spirited farmhouses hidden in the hills. Formal celebration or languid weekend, live out bucolic fantasies at wooden trestle tables piled high with local fodder overlooking grounds that evoke scenes from Alice in Wonderland.
Lawn games and Champagne towers. Cucumber sandwiches and chess marathons. Swimming pool swan dives and midnight tea parties beneath a sky pinpricked with a spray of stars. This is the year to bask in all the gloriousness of a large group gathering from the environs of a lavish private house with all the bells and whistles.
Studio Fold
Nutbourne, Pulborough, West Sussex, UK
Modern design and eco creds have seen former water pumping station Studio Fold in Pulborough's sought-after village of Nutbourne transform into an award-winning West Sussex home.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
From: £2,595 per week, £1,950 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Pool table and cinema room
The Art House
Sutton, Pulborough, West Sussex, UK
The Art House fuses luxury interiors with wellness facilities in a private South Downs setting; a large country house complete with swimming pool, tennis and wild swimming lake ideal for families.
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests
From: £12,495 per week
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: 17-metre heated outdoor swimming pool (May - September), sauna, 50-metre wild swimming lake with jetty, tennis court, gym, air hockey, pool table and fire pit
