On arrival at the idyllic Holkham Estate on the North Norfolk coast, you’ll feel like you’ve walked right onto the set of Downton Abbey. You’ll find this charming gatehouse from the mid-1800s on the southern fringes of the estate. Its style is simple and elegant, which lets the gorgeous countryside on the other side of the decorative lead windows do all the talking. Touches such as the log burner in the living room and a winged velvet sofa keep things cosy and faithful to the home’s character. There’s plenty of hiking and cycling to enjoy on the estate, not to mention checking out the grand main house, one of the UK's most spectacular country piles. But our top tip is the windswept Holkham Beach – an unspoilt stretch of coast where Gwyneth Paltrow walked through the sand in the last scene of Shakespeare in Love.