Where to go for a really nice short birthday break?

[Thepeopleversuswork]

I've got a significant birthday coming up and DP has offered to take me away on a short break.

Looking for some recommendations on places people have been for one to two nights which they have been really bowled over by.

I'm ideally looking for somewhere reachable with a short plane journey (UK and Ireland, western Europe fine but not longhaul). Also relatively affordable (not more than about £500-600 for everything). I've been to most European capitals, happy to go again but know Rome and Paris pretty well so looking for something a bit different. Also very open to interesting UK cities. I'm in London so probably not somewhere in the South East as it doesn't feel that different.

Ideally a quick city break in a nice city and dinner in a lovely restaurant with nothing much on the agenda except eating and wandering.

I think you need longer than two nights in Ljubljana. It's a wonderful city.

Bourton on the Water quiet? It’s horribly full of tacky shops and tourists!

Stow is much nicer and I’d definitely stay in the Cotswolds over Warwick. Broadway is lovely and there’s Chipping Campden, Cheltenham and Cirencester which are all great for a weekend. You need a car though.

Oxford snd Cambridge are both great.

Abroad - definitely Bologna or Nice. Plenty to see and do and Nice has many Michelin starred restaurants.

I go to Cirencester quite often, it is lovely but the last time I went to Bourton on the Water was a dull grey day in January and it was HEAVING, I dread to think what it would be like in good weather / peak season, the locals have bene protesting about over-tourism IIRC.

I'm not sure I'd have thought of Portsmouth (because I live fairly close by) but actually there is lots to do and see there and Southsea, the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, D Day Museum, Castle, Old Portsmouth, day trip to the IOW on the hovercraft, seafront cafes, areas with independent shops etc, Gunwharf Quays outlet centre, just avoid the main city centre area.

Chester/Shrewsbury are also nice, Shrewsbury a bit small for a whole weekend (we stopped for a few hours on the way to Chester for a weekend).

You're never going to see all of everywhere in a single short break and you are allowed to go more than once if you like it the first time you go.

Harrogate? You can get there direct from Kings Cross. Lovely hotels, and lots to see in the surrounding areas too.Nice restaurants.

Yeah I know, it's just my opinion.

York or Copenhagen

Yeah, where are you going to stay on the budget given? And eat in the Cotswolds or Nice?

warwick is less expensive for so can spend on a meal out to celebrate, Nice or Cotswolds is not cheap due to demand rather than quantity imo

Id go to Wells in Somerset and stay at the Beryl country house - gorgeous b and b with lovely gardens, 4 poster beds etc I’d lunch/ dine at Hauser and Wirth or the Newt.

https://www.berylcountryhouse.com/
link to the Beryl

Antwerp, The Hague, Lyon, Vienna, Hamburg ...

Osip in Bruton is THE restaurant in the Wells area.

OP if you decide on Lincoln, the White Hart is a lovely hotel right in the bailgate beside the cathedral and castle. Perfect location and fitting for a nice treat weekend away

I have a Dutch colleague who always recommends Utrecht over the better known cities. But in his words “the Netherlands are so small, everywhere is a day out”.

Chester. 2h from Euston & you don’t need a car. (Though if you go for longer and drive, lovely places in N Wales are close.)

Second this, easy on the train from London. Cirencester also lovely, Kings Head hotel is nice. Country chilled is Dormy house Cotswolds. Relaxing spa break…fly to Newquay and get a taxi to The Scarlett amazing location.

My friend studies in Utrecht and lived there for a couple of years. It's a beautiful city and so easy to also go by train to other places.

Not city breaks but have you thought about the Lake District or the Cotswolds? Wander and have a really nice meal or a hike in the Lake District if that’s your thing. Some of my favourite days are long hikes in the Lakes.

If not the UK I’d second Nice or Venice. Both very accessible, lovely to wander and great restaurants in both.

Florence. Short slight, super easy tram gets you into the city in 25 mins. Great sights even just walking.

Another vote for Ghent. Did 2 nights by Eurostar last May and was one of my best weekends ever. Weather was gorgeous and we did the castle, a canal boat ride, then just wandered with lots of cafe stops for beer. Beautiful city and much more interesting than Brugge.

Also Malaga is great but Granada even better. The Alhambra obviously then lots of cafes and bars for tapas and wine.

Dh and I had a fab weekend in Norwich - tasting menu at Benedict’s (Michelin starred but very affordable) and lots of general mooching.

How about Cologne? Amazing cathedral, river trip down the Rhine - I got there last summer for about £60 return on Ryanair (and that was peak summer) and the airport is very accessible to the city by train. The main station is right next to the cathedral.

Porto. Really lovely place with shops, cafes and restaurants.

Copenhagen or Gothenburgh.