There are cobbled paths, a stream with ducks, country pubs and Tudor cottages galore in Shere, though it’s just seven miles from the bright lights of Guildford. Set between the North Downs and Greensand Ridge, it maintains many traditional features, with a cluster of old village houses, a blacksmith, Norman church and tea house. The small museum, which houses a display of agriculture tools and toys, requires only a donation to visit. Peaslake, with its labyrinth of mountain biking trails and Hurtwood Inn serving good food, is only a couple of miles away. [Photo: Instagram/april_the_fifth]

Don’t let the slightly sinister name put you off the picturesque villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. Set on the banks of the River Eye, their name is derived from the Old English term for a muddy place, or “slohtre”. Known as a “Thankful Village” because it lost no men in the First World War, Upper Slaughter is connected to its lower counterpart via a one-mile footpath. Lower Slaughter is home to the nineteenth-century Old Mill and a museum where you can learn about the history of bread making, as well as Copse Hill Road, named Britain’s most romantic street in a Google Street View poll. [Photo: Visit Britain/Adam Burton]

Embrace your inner Elizabeth Bennet in Chawton, the delightful Hampshire village that was home to Jane Austen for the final eight years of her life. Stroll country lanes, or pop into her home at the Jane Austen’s House Museum, where she wrote or revised her novels. Her brother’s Elizabethan manor house - now The Chawton House Library - also has a fascinating calendar of events, while the nearby market town of Alton has a good mix of historic buildings and modern shops. 2017 will mark the 200th anniversary of Austen’s death, so Chawton and the surrounding area will lay on themed events, activities and projects in honour of its most famous author. [Photo: Visit Britain/Daniel Bosworth]

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth, so celebrate with a visit to Great Missenden, the old Bucks village where the author lived for 36 years. Stop in at the Roald Dahl Museum, or walk the Roald Dahl Village Trail, pausing at the author’s grave and his inspiration for Sophie’s “norphanage” in The BFG. September 17 and 18 will see Great Missenden transformed into the Village of the Unexpected as part of the anniversary celebrations. Hire a bike from the Cycle Chilterns Bike Hub and pedal your way around the surrounding countryside on the Chilterns Cycleway or National Cycle Network route 57, which passes through the centre of the village. [Photo: Visit England]

Anyone keen on water sports should head to the beautiful bay in Polkerris, which consists of a single steeply sloping road that leads to a little harbour and pretty bay. Windsurfing taster sessions are available from £39, along with stand-up paddleboarding sessions and sailing classes, or equipment rental, bookable through Polkerris Beach. After a day on the water, watch the sunset with a beer and pizza at Sam’s On The Beach, a pub serving good food and overlooking the water. [Photo: Instagram/polkerrisbeachcompany]

If you like Wensleydale cheese, you’ll love the magical little market town it comes from. Set inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Hawes offers plenty of ways to work any overindulgence off, such as walking part of the Pennine Way, riding along its Bridleway or pedalling one of the cycleways. It was first recorded as a marketplace in 1307 and the lively stalls still come out on Tuesdays. Bolton Castle with its fourteenth-century walls, guided tours and falconry displays is 12 miles away, while a 40-minute drive will take you to The Forbidden Corner, a folly park with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers. [Photo: Visit Britain/Matt Can]

Rising proudly against Dorset’s Jurassic Coast skyline are the crumbling remains of the eleventh-century fortification built by William the Conqueror. Named after the nearby village which boasts an excellent array of pubs and bakeries, Corfe Castle is well worth a visit and offers fantastic views across Purbeck. Children will love counting the arrow hoops inside the walls, or catching a steam train from the 1950s-style station to Swanage, a 22-minute ride away. [Photo: Instagram/ordnancesurvey]

You’re in the heart of ancient England in this once bustling supply base for Roman troops, which is now home to a number of good pubs and the church of Saint Andrew, constructed using stone from Hadrian’s Wall and glass doors given by Blackadder star Rowan Atkinson. The oldest handwritten documents in Britain and rare Roman armour, the Corbridge Hoard, are housed inside the Corbridge Roman Town, an excavated part of the village with a museum where you can glimpse of what life would have been like for a Roman solider. A short walk away is Aydon Castle, a fine example of a thirteenth-century manor house, while Newcastle’s beautiful beaches and buzzing nightlife are just 16 miles east. [Photo: Instagram/sandyclem]

Perched on the edge of the Bybrook River, its streets lined with quintessential Cotswold stone wall cottages, it’s little wonder Castle Combe is sometimes referred to as the “prettiest village in England”. Echoes of its past as an important wool industry hub are still evident in its riverside cottages with names such as “Weaver’s House”, though today it’s perhaps better known as a motor racing venue. And its quaint beauty has drawn attention from the realms of the silver screen - the village, which has one of the country’s oldest medieval clocks still in use at St Andrew’s Church, has been a backdrop for the likes of BBC series Downton Abbey and Steven Spielberg’s hit movie War Horse. [Photo: Instagram/annamarcella024]

With its winding, traffic-free road leading down to the boat-dotted harbour and stone cottages clinging to steep hillsides, Polperro is your archetypal Cornish seaside village. Take in spectacular views of land and sea on a coastal walk through the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, learn about seafaring at the Heritage Museum, haul in your own catch on a fishing trip or take a dip in the small tidal bathing pool at the foot of Chapel Cliff. Nearby attractions include the Eden Project, The Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Restormel Castle. [Photo: Instagram/saltyseakat]

William Wordsworth lived in Grasmere for 14 years and dubbed it “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”. And with its old stone cottages, thirteenth-century church and lake flanked by fells, you can see why. Its central location makes this Lake District village an ideal base from which to explore craggy heights such as Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain at 978m, Helvellyn and Skiddaw. Outdoor activities are on tap, from mountain biking and fell running, to wild swimming and rock climbing. [Photo: Instagram/rkinsman89]

Lapwings swirl overhead, wildflowers sway in the breeze and panoramic views stretch towards Brighton and the distant sea… Welcome to Ditchling Beacon, the third highest point on the South Downs, which you can walk to from the village bearing the same name that lies just north of its peak. This bit of Sussex has provided inspiration for artistic types, from sculptor Eric Gill, to the writers and artists of the Bloomsbury group. Now an oasis of peace and a magnet for ramblers and mountain bikers, this commanding chalk hill once bore a beacon, used to warn of imminent invasion. The village is also home to a museum of arts and craft, the Mid Sussex Golf Club and Ridgeview Wine Estate, which offers tours and tastings of its award-winning sparkling wine. [Photo: Instagram/ig_sussex]