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UK romantic breaks
Best for entertainment... London If you don’t want to laze around on a beach and would prefer an action-packed itinerary, the capital is still hard to beat for all-round entertainment. Kick off your stay by hiring a Cupid’s Capsule for two on the London Eye, take a traditional trip around the city on an open-top red bus, then stroll around the shops – Oxford Street is still the main draw but you could head to Covent Garden for the best selection of one-off boutiques, Knightsbridge for upmarket stores or trendy Clerkenwell for its quirky shops. Spend a morning wandering around any of the famous markets – choose from Portobello, Camden, Greenwich, Brick Lane or Petticoat Lane. Treat yourselves to dinner at a celebrity chef’s restaurant – Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing, Ken Hom and Michel Roux are just some of the names serving top-notch food in the capital. Round off the evening with a West End show or hit the pubs and clubs – you’ll be spoilt for choice whichever part of the city you visit. Best for pampering... Luxury spa hotels There’s no need to compromise on luxury with the choice of UK hotel breaks offering you the chance to indulge. Here’s a selection: Calcot Manor, Tetbury – sophisticated, welcoming spa in a stunning location. Bath House Spa, New Forest – modern, comfortable and romantic ranch. Lake Vrnywy Hotel, Powys – spa and thermal suite with an incredible view over the famous lake. The Cowshed, Babington House, Somerset – quirky spa popular with celebs including Madonna and Zoe Ball. Killarney Park Hotel, Co Kerry – combines golf for him and spa treatments for her within a tranquil location popular with the Irish themselves. Best for upmarket resorts.... Cornwall Quaint seaside towns, majestic moorland and beautiful beaches are just some of the delights Cornwall has to offer. The rugged coastlines of the north and the quiet inlets of the south provide a holiday destination full of contrasts. The discerning traveller is well-catered for in the shape of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in Newquay and Rick Stein’s restaurants and shops in Padstow, while art lovers can enjoy the modern, contemporary works at Tate St Ives, plus galleries and festivals in Falmouth. Explore the streets of pretty Mousehole and Mevagissey and ride the waves at Sennen, Perranporth, and of course, Newquay. For a day out, visit St Michael’s Mount at Marazion, or the Eden Project at St Austell. Best for beaches... Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset With beautiful, soft sand and clean waters, Sandbanks is a more relaxing alternative to busy Bournemouth down the road and provides the perfect setting for a beach holiday with its long stretch of sand, ‘millionaire’s row’ penninsula and shallow ‘lagoon’ ideal for windsurfing. The stunning Studland Bay is close at hand via a chain-link ferry offering coastal walks and a stroll around the ruins of Corfe Castle. Poole itself boasts one the country’s top fish and chip shops, as well as shopping centres, parkland and harbour-side cafes where you can watch the world go by. Why not take a boat trip to the peaceful Brownsea Island, a wildlife haven with great walks and views? Head over to Bournemouth for pubs and nightlife, as well as traditional seaside pier entertainment. Best for exploring... Lake District, Cumbria Fantastic scenery, pretty towns and long, winding roads make the Lake District a perpetual favourite with holidaymakers. The chief occupation of choice may be watersports and boat trips on the spectacular lakes, but exploring the area on foot, by car or bicycle will provide plenty of surprises. Take a breathtaking trip along one of the Lake District’s famous Wrynose and Hardknott Passes, see the waterfalls at Rydal Hall and visit the former homes of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth before sampling one of the quality restaurants at tourist-trap Ambleside. And whether you fancy a lakeside stroll or a traverse to Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, there’s something for everyone. Best for back to nature... Yurt holidays If an eco-friendly honeymoon is for you, a unique way to stay green is to stay in a yurt, a portable felt-covered, wood lattice framed structure first used by Mongolian nomads. Now available to rent as holiday homes in numerous locations around the country, coastal or inland, Yurts for UK holidaymakers are comfortably furnished and often include a woodburner, gas cooker and lanterns, with a firepit outside for cooking and a compost loo. Do an internet search to find yurts in the location you want – they’re a great alternative to a camping holiday. Useful websites www.travelsupermarket.com/ukbreaks www.classic.co.uk www.woodlandyurts.co.uk |
