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Original poster

To ask for your most romantic UK break recommendations

80 replies

CocoBonaparte · 07/04/2018 19:18

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.

OP posts:
QueenDoris · 09/04/2018 21:43

Great Yarmouth is very romantic

CardinalSin · 09/04/2018 21:45

Southwold is lovely, but will be tourist central in August.

The Swan in Lavenham is very pretty, and the town is gorgeous. It might be a bit small for your needs, but it has a reasonable selection of restaurants and pubs. And there are plenty of good places to visit nearby.

notsohippychick · 09/04/2018 21:46

queen LOL

Emma198 · 09/04/2018 21:48

How about Bowness/Windermere in the Lake district. Some gorgeous hotels, amazing restaurants.

Nononononono33 · 09/04/2018 21:51

I’d second Chester and also second a pp’s suggestion of the Cromlix hotel. Haven’t been myself but it looks amazing!

TheJoyOfSox · 09/04/2018 22:18

Great Yarmouth is very romantic

Not last time I went, it was a grotty, grotty dump! Over priced, tacky, grubby, but to each their own.

Timeandtune · 09/04/2018 22:22

I would definitely suggest Cromlix. Lovely staff and surroundings. Luxurious but not stuffy or pretentious.

Crowd · 09/04/2018 22:24

The luxury B&B at Hever Castle is great and the castle itself is lovely.

QueenDoris · 09/04/2018 22:26

@TheJoyOfSox

You clearly went to the wrong bits. The Great Yarmouth riviera rivals the Almalfi coast for its beauty and culture

AtSea1979 · 09/04/2018 22:29

Tbh anywhere you go in August will be hell and full of kids and not very romantic.
I’d suggest the Scottish highlands just because it’ll be quieter. Or somewhere not to far and hole up in a hotel with nice spa, restaurant etc.
Or def look for an adult only hotel.

ivykaty44 · 09/04/2018 22:32

Southwold or leamington/Warwick, Queans is lively to eat out & Mallory Court for a night or two, has a spa

HollaHolla · 09/04/2018 22:33

If you’re looking at Whitby, why not Robin Hood’s Bay? It’s a wonderfully atmospheric place... you can pub crawl around all 6 pubs each night, ensuring you find the pub quiz/music night.....Pretend to be Heathcliffe and Cathy on the moors.... Do the Captain Cook trail.... all good fun!

Welshmaenad · 09/04/2018 23:04

Cardiff, specifically Cardiff Bay. Stay here: www.jolyons.co.uk

Coffeeisnecessary · 09/04/2018 23:07

The new forest! Although not much bustle but it's just my favourite place in the world.

Coffeeisnecessary · 09/04/2018 23:08

Or Wells/Glastonbury. Lovely area.

Pinkprincess1978 · 09/04/2018 23:23

Aphrodite lodge in Windermere- amazing adults only. We have been twice and love it!

ForgotthegoodnameIcameupwith · 10/04/2018 08:36

If you want to go to Cornwall, go to Porthleven - it's a small harbour town but it has some fab restaurants (Kota, Kota Kai and Amelie's in particular), three nice pubs, and it's a beautiful place to be.

LastYearsUsername · 10/04/2018 08:42

Yarm is a surprisingly nice little town with enough independent shops, bars and food and a super hotel with amazing food a short taxi ride away that is like something out of Downtown Abbey.

Shoxfordian · 10/04/2018 08:42

I think Oxford too
The Vanbrugh is a lovely city centre boutique hotel and it also does a really good set lunch
Also Gees is lovely for dinner and lots of nice bars in Jericho too

chapthedoor · 10/04/2018 08:43

Have you thought of Stirling ? It's a beautiful, small city with nice restaurants, bars, a castle that's better than Edinburgh and close to some beautiful countryside.

You could say here - right in the centre.

www.thecairncollection.co.uk/hotels/the-stirling-highland/

Budsbeginingspringinsite · 10/04/2018 08:44

Rye is lovely but not that much to do.
Chester is perfect it's gorgeous. Plenty to do on foot walking from hotel.
I have never been too the witchery but always fancied it.. In Edinburgh

Move2WY · 29/08/2018 21:19

Where did you go OP?

Talith · 29/08/2018 21:21

Lake District. Hire a cottage with a log burner.

Talith · 29/08/2018 21:21

Ooo didn't notice the date!

CherryPavlova · 29/08/2018 21:38

Great Yarmouth isn’t lovely. Southwold is but takes forever to get to.
Harrogate has everything. I love it.
Dartmouth is fabulous with good restaurants, lovely river trips, beach walks. Surrounding area is nice. There’s a very special beach restaurant called Venus cafe on Blackpool sands that is lovely. Lots of options. The Dart Marina hotel is nice but for pure romance try Salcombe Harbour or South Sands.
Winchester is nice. Plenty of very good food places but hotels aren’t amazing although some nice enough hotels nearby.
Chichester is very nice. Sea and city. The White Horse in Chilgrove is the ultimate romantic gastro pub with rooms. (Pub of the year). Stunning walks, board games, east access off A3.