To ask for your most romantic UK break recommendations

[CocoBonaparte]

DH and I are celebrating our joint 30th this Summer and have promised ourselves a long weekend in the UK away from 2 young DC. We're overdue a bit of one-on-one time as have barely spent any quality time together since the children were born and we both work long hours. We're packing the kids off to their GP's for a few days in August (which they'll love) so to say we're both looking forward to a bit of adult time is an understatement!

We'd love to go somewhere new and this is where I could do with MN's help. Open to a city break or somewhere in the country, provided we can base ourselves in a large country village or small town that's lively enough for a few nice dinners out and with a decent pub or two.

Places we've come up with include Chester, Harrogate, Cornwall (but where has enough "bustle"? St Ives? Newquay?) but I'd love to hear any suggestions of where to go, restaurants to try, sights to see, hidden gems to discover etc.

TIA.

Have you thought about York? Lovely hotels and lots of lovely restaurants, bars and shopping.

Bath is nice.

I could have written this post word-for-word including the summer 30th birthdays, time off in August and the 2 young DCs! We normally go to Brighton as we like the restaurants and general feel of the place. But I'd like somewhere different this year. We are normally "city" people and have considered Edinburgh but I think it'll be hell in August and nowhere to stay so maybe another time. York does sound lovely. I'm wondering about Bath too.

Haha I didn't even see lostherenow's post while I was typing!!

York, my DH proposed to me in York gardens. Lots of bars and restaurants, great shopping and museums.

Rye. Stay at the George.

Yes, the George in Rye is lovely!

Rudding Park is an excellent hotel and spa. OH took me here for my 30th and it was before the spa was built so we're desperate to go again! Went to Harrogate for the day and did a morning clay pigeon shooting. Then went up Ilkley Moor

The Pig on the beach in (I think) Camber.

Where are you based, roughly, OP?

Brixham in Devon is nice. The Berry Head hotel has some of the best views in the country (IMO). Lots of nice restaurants too.

Sorry perhaps it will help if I list places we've already done quite extensively! We regularly go to Edinburgh, Bath, York, Cheltenham, Cambridge, Norfolk (various towns), The Cotswolds and we've done most of Devon.

We did particularly love Edinburgh though!

I was going to suggest york edinburgh or whitby. Can you go out of the summer holidays though?

Bath

Chester ....stay in The Grosvenor and dine at the Arkle restaurant ( Michelin star)
There's a spa at hotel too
Or Edinburgh and stay at The Witchery or Prestonfield House...both amazing places to stay ( The Witchery is on the Royal Mile... fabulous location)....both have incredible food and ambiance

Chester is nice. We stayed at a hotel called the boat house which is a lovely walk along the river. We had a dog with us so didnt get to sample much there but could tell it would be nice if we could.

Stopped off in a little village called frodsham about an hour away which was really really nice.

I love llandudno too.

Would never have thought of Rye, I'll look it up!

We live in London but we have a car and are happy to drive long distance if necessary.

Can you get to Cornwall? The Scarlet is lovely and adults only.

Lovely wood cabins with hot tubs, at Sherwood Forest or in the Yorkshire Moors. Or all over UK. We went and had a fantastic time. I know a good website for it if you'd be interested?

Edinburgh in August is a special kind of Hell. Unless you REALLY like crowds.

We're very fond of Oxford. Can recommend the Old Parsonage or Old Bank.

I was disappointed in Edinburgh last time I went. Very touristy to the point that it's lost its character - although the National Art Gallery was brilliant.

I vote Northumberland. Huge empty beaches, massive skies, castles, amazing bookshops...love it.

DBoo what's Whitby like? I like the look of it but worry that it's one of those places that photographs beautifully but just ends up being a bit of a cold and windy seaside town with not much going on.. is there enough to stay busy?

We have a window in August so it will have to be the Summer hols unfortunately.

Ludlow, if you fancy a location with great food.

www.leeds-castle.com

Leeds Castle

Thanks, we wouldn't be looking to go to Edinburgh again. We love it but have been several times and know it very well so would probably rather wait another 5 years or so before we go again.

One of our most romantic UK holidays pre DC was on the Scilly Isles. Fond memories of sitting on the beach on one of the uninhabited islands watching the sunset eating fish and chips and drinking wine

How about Derbyshire? Bakewell is lovely, got chatsworth etc and some great pubs. Or the Lake District, loads of options there.