The Ironmongers, Aylsham

Located in a historic Elizabethan townhouse at the heart of the small North Norfolk market town of Aylsham, The Ironmongers – or ‘Clarkes’ as it’s known by locals – is the kind of boutique accommodation we love: a gorgeously refurbished old building that makes a respectful nod to the past while being firmly rooted in the traditions of modern-day hospitality. Its beamed and characterful rooms are stylishly finished and very comfortable, with all possible modern comforts and lots of sustainable, eco-friendly touches.

Overlooking Aylsham's triangular market square, The Ironmongers is basically a B&B without the 'B', a beautiful, 17th-century property where you pay for your room and source your breakfast at one of the many options nearby; there's no reception, just codes for the main entrance and your room. It's like arriving at your own holiday home in the country.  Each of the eight rooms has been individually designed in a manner inspired by the town's historic tradesfolk – as well as ironmongery, the building has hosted a wine merchant, tailors shop, and all sorts of different businesses over the years.  The large Haberdashery room has a four-poster and lots of fancy silks and satins (it also has a small adjoining room with bunks); The Ostlers sits above the old stables and is all beams and brick; The Cobblers plays host to all sorts of shoe-related paraphernalia. All of the rooms are spacious and light, but cosy at the same time, with heating under solid oak floors, Smart TVs, good wifi, tea and coffee-making facilities and treats on arrival, and en-suite bathrooms provided with ample-sized showers, fluffy towels and toiletries. You can also feel smug about staying here – heat and hot water are provided by air-source heat pumps – and dogs are welcome in two of the rooms.

The location, too, is terrific. Aylsham is a friendly little town with an ancient church and a couple of good pubs – try the Black Boys across the way – and is only a 5-minute drive from the Jacobean splendour of the National Trust's Blickling Hall (where there's another good pub, The Bucks Arms, and the Blickling estate stretches for miles). The Bure river is popular canoeing territory and Aylsham is at the end of the Bure Valley Railway line, which runs to Wroxham in the heart of the Broads National Park, You're also just 20 minutes or so from both the ancient city of Norwich and the glories of the North Norfolk coast at Blakeney and Cley. The Ironmongers is hard to beat in every respect.