Bruce Willis’s Caribbean Villa 

You might not expect A-listers to rent their homes out to complete strangers, but a surprising number do. And that gives the rest of us the chance to do some glamorous, through-the-keyhole-style snooping. The Residence, above, is Bruce Willis’s villa on the island resort of Parrot Cay, in Turks & Caicos. The resort rents out several celebrity-owned villas but The Residence is the biggest. It has five bedrooms in the main villa and two three-bedroom guesthouses, with a glorious palm-fringed pool. You can be completely private here, or do as Bruce does and use the facilities in the luxury resort just along the beach. Cost is around £21,000 per week for the whole villa.

Further information, 001 649 946 7788; The Residence at Parrot Cay

Johnny Depp’s Yacht

We’re cheating a bit here. Johnny Depp has recently sold his 47m custom yacht, but though the name has been changed (from Vajoliroja to Amphitrite), the sumptuous, Edwardian-style interior, and the sleek and contemporary deck area, remain just as they were when Depp was splicing the main brace or, more likely, having the crew splice it for him. It sleeps up to 10 in five staterooms and cost from around £78,600 per week plus expenses.

Further information, Yacht Charter Fleet

Earl Spencer’s Stately Home

Althorp House has been the seat of the Spencer family since 1508, though it’s probably best known as the childhood home of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Grade I-listed house, set in 550 acres of parkland, is not open to the public, but it is available for private banqueting events and weddings, and for around £25,000 you can rent the whole lot. And yes, that is per night – but it does sleep up to 50 and is fully staffed. The same company also rents out Jeremy Irons’s historic tower in southern Ireland.

Further information, 01835 824642; Loyd Townsend Rose

Kirstie Allsopp’s Country House

If Meadowgate looks familiar it’s because this is the house that featured in Kirstie Allsopp’s television programme, Homemade Home. It has an idyllic setting near Welcombe Mouth, a secluded bay on the north Devon coast, and has been lovingly transformed by Allsopp from a wreck into a stylish holiday home. She and her family live elsewhere in Devon, but they spend time at Meadowgate when it’s not rented out. It sleeps 14 and costs from £1,875 per week.

Further information, 01326 555555; Classic Cottages

Richard Branson’s Ski Chalet

The Lodge is Richard Branson’s nine-bedroom chalet in Verbier. It not only boasts an outdoor hot tub, indoor pool, party room with dance floor, and full spa, but even has its own (tiny) ice rink. It’s part of the Virgin Limited Edition Collection but the Branson clan stays here regularly and family photographs are scattered around the chalet. It sleeps up to 18 adults and six children from around £60,000 for seven nights’ exclusive hire, full board.

Further information, 0800 716919; The Lodge