Caroline Astor was probably the most accomplished hostess the world has ever known, throwing lavish parties and a society ball every year. It helped that her Fifth Avenue mansion boasted one of the finest ballrooms in the US, even so her guest list was limited to an elite group of 19th-century socialites known as 'the 400'.

Of course, you don't need a ballroom or even a particularly large home to entertain well. You don't even have to throw a party as such. All you need is one area in which your friends can gather – be it a kitchen, terrace, pool or home cinema – to discuss the issues of the day, work out or catch a movie. Your job as a host or hostess  – just as it was Mrs Astor's – is to ensure your guests enjoy themselves.

The following six properties all fit the bill perfectly.

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