In fact it worked so well that we returned less than a year later to stay a couple more nights

In fact, it worked so well that we returned less than a year later to stay a couple more nights.The Old Bell Hotel is in the centre of town, on top of a hill, and bang next door to Malmesbury Abbey – you can’t miss it, really. I needed reassurance as I had yet to be convinced that a weekend break with children under five was actually a “break”; that, as a family, you didn’t return home after a couple of nights away edgy from sleeping somewhere different and worn out from making small children “behave” in an alien environment.My expectations were low: I had never been to Malmesbury before, and had only been to Wiltshire a handful of times; I had stayed in quite a few family-friendly hotels, but had never really felt at ease.Maybe it was because I was expecting so little that I enjoyed it so much. That and the promise of a weekend break in a luxury hotel on “the edge of the Cotswolds”. It all looked and sounded very glossy – like something out of a Richard Curtis film.
When I phoned to book, the receptionist assured me that the Old Bell Hotel was totally family friendly: with children’s meals, a staffed playroom, and a listening service.

It was the picture of the hotel in one of those oh-so-aspirational parenting magazines that first took me to Malmesbury in Wiltshire. I was attracted by the photo of happy blond children sitting in a very English-looking garden on a summer’s evening. It’s also a favourite meeting place for artists and wine-makers, and the owners of the restaurant are wine-producers themselves. Specialities include red mullet with foie gras, and slivers of duck with apricot honey Menus start at €18 (£12) Closed Sunday and public holidays.. House specialities include lamb with olive paste, and roast pigeon in Baux wine Menus start at €30 (£22).

Closed Monday and Tuesday lunchtime.NYONSLe Resto des Arts, rue des D?rt?(00 33 4 75 26 31 49) is in the heart of old Nyons and is very popular, so it’s a great place to eat, relax and soak up the local atmosphere. Closed Sunday.St REMY de PROVENCELa Maison Jaune, 15 rue Carnot (00 33 4 90 92 56 14), is set in a pretty 16th-century house, serving imaginative regional dishes. The wines served in carafes are particularly good and reasonably priced. Closed Saturday, Sunday and school holidays.UZESTerroirs, Place aux Herbes (00 33 4 66 03 41 90), is situated on the prettiest square in the town. This food and wine shop sells local olive oil, tapenade, herbs and honey, and extends to a fairly priced restaurant serving high-class southern cooking, using quality produce Menus start at €15 (£11).