Top 12 Romantic locations

Wednesday 06 December 2017

Love is in the air, following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement. If their upcoming nuptials have inspired you to take your own romantic mini-break, why not visit one of these 12 beautiful locations with that special someone in your life. 

 

1. Isle of Anglesey, Wales

What place could be more appropriate for a young couple to spend the first years of their married life than the Isle of Anglesey? After all, here they have not just one special day for lovers, but two - the small island of Llanddwyn on the west coast of Anglesey (only an island at high tide), was once the home of Saint Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers, who lived in a monastery there and Welsh lovebirds remember her on 25th January, an extra Valentine’s Day!

 

2. St Andrews, Scotland

St Andrews, the romantic Scottish town in the Kingdom of Fife, is now undoubtedly synonymous with the courtship of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, after they met at the town’s historic university.

 

3. The Isles of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly located just 28 miles off the Cornish coast in the Atlantic Ocean, so must be accessed by air or sea, providing a real sense of escape. The Scillies comprise five inhabited and numerous uninhabited islands. Any honeymooning couple can enjoy romantic walks around the stunning scenic islands. To truly enjoy the romance, newlyweds can also discover the islands by boat – enjoying a sail around the uninhabited isles or to see the abundant marine wildlife including puffins, basking sharks, gannets and even occasionally whales. For those who prefer to spend time on land, there are ancient monuments to discover, horse riding along the beach, and castles and forts to explore.

4. Isle of Eriska, Scotland

Isle of Eriska - Scotland has long been a favourite romantic location for the Royal Family, with many holidays spent at Balmoral, the Queen’s Scottish home, originally purchased by Queen Victoria. Eriska is located in the heart of West Argyll, 12 miles north of Oban. During the 10th Century, the west coast of Scotland was subject to a surge of Norse invasions, including by Erik the Red, hence the name of the island. The sheer remoteness of the island, along with its breathtaking scenery, means that this is a fabulous honeymoon spot. As well as glorious nature walks and wildlife spotting (the island is home to otters, badgers, deer and sea birds), there is golfing, clay pigeon shooting and windsurfing on and around the island. It is also well-situated for exploring the Highlands, including Oban and Fort William. The Isle of Eriska hotel is a 19th Century country house, which has been converted into a warm hotel, complete with spa.

 

5. The Peak District

The Peak District is the area that inspired Jane Austen to write Pride and Prejudice (it is thought that Pemberley is based on Chatsworth House and Bakewell is represented as Lambton in the novel), and the region has a fantastically dramatic romantic landscape. The Peak District was named as Britain’s first national park in 1951, and includes welcoming country pubs, original coaching inns and lots of local festivals throughout spring and summer. Nearby Bolsover Castle is also particularly romantic, situated on a hilltop overlooking the Vale of Scarsdale, and with the beautiful Venus Garden. The Garden includes secluded love seats, statues and a fountain – perfect for a peaceful stroll.

 

6. Norfolk Broads

Just a couple of hours away from their central London wedding, the county of Norfolk offers both the beautiful countryside of the Norfolk Broads, as well as stunning and lesser-known beaches, the county is the ideal spot for a remote honeymoon hideaway. Couples can even enjoy seal-spotting and sailing off the coast. Holkham beach on the north coast was the location for the romantic final scene in Shakespeare in Love.

 

7. St Pancras International Station, London

Start a romantic getaway by meeting under Paul Day's 30 foot tall statue, The Lovers, at St Pancras International station where you can then enjoy a glass of champagne at the Longest Champagne Bar in Europe.

 

8. Shere, Surrey

Shere in Surrey is a little quintessentially English village, just 30 miles from London. Sitting in the heart of the rolling Surrey Hills, with a pretty pub, 12th century village church and duck pond it’s easy to see why romantic films such as ‘The Holiday’ and ‘Bridget Jones Diary’ have used this location for their films.

 

9. Bath

With beautiful Georgian architecture and stunning scenery Bath is a great place for a romantic break. Enjoy a couple’s day at the Thermae Bath Spa then fly over the rooftops of the Royal Crescent before drifting out to the surrounding countryside in a hot air balloon.

 

 

10. Hever Castle, Kent

The Gardens at Hever Castle were last year voted the ‘most romantic garden in the South East’. One of the most important historic castle on the English landscape Hever Castle was once the family home of one of England’s most famous Queens – Anne Boleyn, the intriguing second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I.

 

11. Sark, Channel Islands

Why not settle down for a romantic night under the stars on Sark, the world’s first ‘Dark Sky Island’. As the smallest of the four main Channel Islands, Sark has quaint villages bordered by a breath-taking, craggy coastline and is a haven for rare wildlife. The ‘dark sky island’ status has been awarded by the International Dark Sky Association and is in recognition of the exceptional blackness of the night sky that makes for spectacular stargazing on the island.

 

12. Lower Slaughter, Cotswolds

Stroll hand in hand down Copse Hill Road in Lower Slaughter, which has been given a Google Street View award as the most romantic street in Britain. This quaint Cotswolds village sits beside the little Eye stream and is known for its unspoilt limestone cottages in the traditional Cotswolds style.

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VisitBritain Media Team

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Shere, Surrey, England
Traditional limestone cottage in the Cotswolds
A couple the Peak District
Thurne Dyke Drainage Mill, Norfolk Broads
West Sands, St Andrews
Isles Of Scilly, England