From castles to vast estates, romantic adult-only retreats to family-friendly escapes, between the roaring fires and the country walks, these are the places that turn the holidays into a true Christmas cracker.

Christmas conjures many images, but perhaps chief amongst them is a nostalgic idea of historic country houses and Dickensian Britain. Well, while no one will be looking to emulate the ghost of Christmas past, the UK’s country houses do give us a postcard perfect setting in which to enjoy the festive season, and most probably a prize turkey to go with it. Think log fires and sky high Christmas trees, sumptuous food and historic gardens to roam in wearing mud caked wellies and warm woolly jumpers, whisky by the fire sitting in wingback chairs, sumptuous food and plenty of carol sinking.

Like something out of a storybook, country house hotels have a delicious ability to make everyday rituals into a special occasion. The spa hotel where a facial is followed by afternoon tea; the lakeside mansion with its own organic walled garden for fruit, herbs and vegetables; or the estate with its own vineyard. Invariably, it’s the combination of history (maybe this is the former home of a Prime Minister or an aristocrat’s former country pile), grounds (perhaps you will wake to horses grazing in the fields outside), style (four-poster beds maybe) and customer service (where nothing is too much trouble), that herald a truly classy joint.