Casa No 7

The Barbour of Seville: comfortable, classy and curiously English

Even if you can't pronounce his name, Gonzalo del Rio y Gonzalez-Gordon is sure to pronounce yours fluently and very warmly, as he welcomes you into the delightful 6-bedroomed townhouse which he has restored in central Seville. This charming aristocrat from Jerez always finds time to chat to his select few guests, and his excellent English owes more to keen Anglophilia than to traces of Scottish ancestry. Which, incidentally, is linked to the Gordon-Byass sherry dynasty, meaning you can taste some excellent pre-prandial fino on the roof terrace or in the elegant floral sitting room.

Afterwards, wander freely through the maze of cobbled alleys and lively tapas bars in the Barrio Santa Cruz, but take a map - the casa is a devil to find. Once back, the white-gloved butler will buzz open the wrought iron gate, and you can sleep the tranquil sleep of a civilised Sevillian. For English-speaking couples seeking the cosiness and comforts of their own home in the heart of Seville, this is a gem.

Highs

• The location in a quiet street by the historic Bario Santa Cruz district and just 5 minute' walking from the Cathedral
• Excellent, helpful service
• Elegantly decorated rooms and lavish bathrooms
• Delicious scrambled eggs and tangy marmalade for breakfast
• A feeling of friendly, stylish, English homeliness

Lows

• Some rooms are on the small side, and, being grouped around the central courtyard, few have any sort of view (that's what the terrace is for)
• Children under 13 cannot be accommodated between March and May
• Not for Anglophobes, or anyone wanting the anonymity and facilities of a larger hotel