As you would expect, booking outside of peak season is cheaper. Christmas and New Year, summer holidays and school holidays are all peak season and therefore more expensive.

Book in the winter months for maximum savings. Big houses are lovely and cosy in winter - you can make the most of those comfy sofas and open fires, and plan some frosty walks to lunch at the nearest country pub.

If you’d like at least the chance of some sunshine, early to mid-spring and mid to late autumn offer lower prices. Make sure to select dates outside of school holidays and you can find decent prices and you might be able to break out the BBQ too.

Booking during off-peak seasons also has the added benefit of being generally more peaceful. There’s less traffic on the roads and less people using public transport; plus pubs and restaurants, and attractions like museums and galleries will also be less busy.

Another tip is to book mid-week. Mid week stays are usually cheaper than weekends.

If you can, look for fill-in dates - the odd days left available between bookings. These are hard for owners to fill and you might be able to get a bargain.