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.

Theres some lovely bars in whitby and obviously plenty of fish and chips. It would be a nice relaxing way to spend a couple of days. I guess it looks like the photos tbh. The abbey is worth a look and the steps a walk. Lots of whitby jet jewellers to have a look in. Lucky duck shop. Traditional sweet shops. Few quirky shops.

I love the abbey wharf. Not been in but the moon and sixpence is supposed to be a loveky cocktail bar. The stables is nice too.

What kind of thing do you like to do when youre away?

Ambleside. Nowhere beats the Lake District

I second Oxford I live there Old Parsonage is lovely.

DH and I went to Whitby for our second anniversary. It was June and quite cold & breezy, but it was wonderful and I loved it. I want to go back soon.

Definitely don't do Edinburgh in August, especially as you've already been, but what about Pitlochry? It is so beautiful there.

If you fancy coming right up to the top of the country, try Ackergill Tower, which is a 15th century castle. It used to be private hire only, but is now a hotel, and you're just outside Wick for doing stuff. If you're not within driving distance, either fly to Edinburgh/Aberdeen and catch a connection to Wick, fly to Inverness and hire a car (about 2.5 hours drive) or take the overnight Caledonian Sleeper train to Inverness.

ackergilltower.com/

The scarlet in cornwall is lovely - either to stay or for a day spa if you go to cornwall but stay somewhere else. You're near padstow and Newquay (not that I recommend the latter unless you like slot machines and hen parties ). Amazing scenery and walks.

Ha, I stayed at the old parsonage in Oxford once. Got in at 3am, walked through graveyard to door, up to my room - and heard the faintest wail.

It sounded like a centuries dead child or maid sobbing.

The hairs stood up on the back of my pissed neck so I decided to search the room with the light on.

I heard it again as I was looking underneath the bed. This time it sounded like an eerie ghost violin.

Long story short - after about 15 mins of this, I realised the turndown service had left the radio by the bed playing classic fm really really really quietly...

Been to whitby today it really is lovely especially when the sun is out.

Forgot the boat trips and there are some really lovely quirky shops up the back streets up the top of the town.

Cromlix Hotel ( Andy Murray’s place) near Dunblane. Fabulous.

Durham (out of term time) or at Ives if you fancy further afield?

Look up North Lakes Lodges in Cumbria. Romantic and luxurious but easy commute of loads of stuff.

Richmond, with the Georgian Theatre. You can even stay in the converted Culloden tower in the park, bedroom on the 4th floor, and all Gothical and Classical plasterwork and carving - staying in a stunning building means even an evening in is an event.

We've just got back from a week in St Ives. It's a gorgeous place. Highly recommend it.

Another recommendation for the Scarlett in Cornwall. It's just fabulous.

Cotswolds?

There are so many very wonderful places to stay.

Whitby is a lovely small coast town but it can be VERY windy there . there is enough to see / do for a long weekend but not much longer than that , It is a very dog friendly place with about 80% of the pubs allowing dogs in.

Harrogate is a very nice town with plenty to do and some very good restaurants , and as Rippon race course is only a 20 min drive you could have a day at the races if you time it right.

Stratford on Avon ( Shakespeare town ) is stunning with some lovely walks and pubs along the river Avon . there is a drag racing track there ( Avon raceway ) which would make for a very memorable day but be aware most hotels get booked up weeks before a race weekend and they tend to put the prices up too.

Lucknam park. Just outside bath 18th century Manor house with modern spa. Has riding stables attached.
Cowley Manor hotel in the Cotswolds. Also with spa.

The Suffolk escape. Google it. Lovely

I was also gonna say Stratford upon avon. Have been to st Ives twice once in spring, once in summer and it was lovely but rainy you will have safer weather further east. Also will be a very long drive just for a weekend. We are about 45 mins north of london and i think it was 5 or 6 hrs for us.

Edinburgh has lots to see and some nice restaurants (Witchery by the castle is a must)

York is lovely, I’ve only briefly visited, keep promising to return.

Bath, quiet for a city, lots of nice restaurants, plenty to see and pretty too.

Or....and don’t laugh, Birmingham. The city I have chosen to make my adopted home. Great selection of restaurants and cocktail bars, world class theatres, shopping from the indoor rag market to the Mailbox for high end shops, Michelin star restaurants including Purnells, The Ivy, Marco Pierre Whites, museums, including the pen museum (I’ve still to visit that one!) Jewellery museum, drag acts in the gay village, Asian food in China town, lots of green space should you fancy a park you can rent a pedelo on the lakes at Cannon hill park, the Sea life centre, canal side bars and restaurants (brum is v foodie) Felsons pool hall if you like playing pool and eating burgers, boat trips along the canals, Birmingham museum and Art Gallery has lots of nice exhibits, as you can possibly tell, I love Birmingham. I seriously do recommend it for a city break.

Liverpool is nice, although not romantic it was nice and the Cavern is a must see.

Lincoln is nice, oldie worldie but cheap too, last time I visited there was a selection of chain restaurants overlooking the marina, but still quite nice.

As you can tell, DH and I love to travel, Paris, Barcelona and Dublin also feature in top city break/mini break destinations. But seriously Brum is Brill.

Stratford upon Avon is nice, ok for a day, not sure it could keep me entertained for a full weekend.

www.baronatbucknell.co.uk/rooms/luxury-garden-rooms/

This place is amazing. Gorgeous walks, very private and lovely pubs nearby. Did us the world of good for our anniversary last year.

Hope you find somewhere good and enjoy yourselves!

Southwold, Aldeburgh, Whistable. All by the sea, beautiful walks and lovely towns. A tad pricey though x

More votes for Bath, York or Harrogate. Don’t know if we stayed somewhere different in Whitby than everyone else here but I thought it was an awful place. The abbey is nice but the rest of it was pretty hideous