Romantic city breaks in the UK

What can you not find in London? Shows in the west end, bohemian bars in Soho, markets, museums, restaurants, huge green parks and all the famous sights, both ancient and modern, that line the riverside.  

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Man made beauty from the castle in the centre, natural beauty from the cliffs of Salisbury Crags glowing in the evening sun, pubs full of whisky in the walls of steep narrow streets and chips with the mysterious “sauce”.

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Every other building you pass in Oxford has a history that reaches back centuries – walking tours leave your mind buzzing with information and stories about everything from Walter Raleigh to Harry Potter.

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A tiny city surrounded by green hills that feels like a step back in time. Recent development echoes the ancient stone buildings and walks along the canal path take you out into the countryside. See the Roman spa and try the modern one yourself.

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Great restaurants and bars are springing up alongside York’s brilliant old pubs and the city, with the Dales and the Moors nearby, is becoming a hub for hikers and cyclists as history fans explore the cathedral and walk the old city walls.

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In summer, everyone flocks to the riverside and drinks in the sun as hot air balloons sail overhead – the city’s small centre means the iconic sights of the suspension bridge and the SS Great Britain are all easy to  walk between.

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A quaint seaside town turned vibrant city where you feel like everyone is permanently on holiday. Visit the beach and the grand old pier with the famous Royal Pavilion, then explore The Lanes and hit the many brilliant bars.

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Give in to your inner tourist – wander college greens in the footsteps of Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking, take hundreds of photos of the incredible architecture and hire a punt to drift down the river, straw hat optional.

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If you’re still undecided on where you want to visit for your next romantic city break, browse our full collection of special places to stay and be inspired by the character of our places and the culture of our locations.

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• York: The 3.4km of city walls make for a casual, scenic and historic stroll before you head into the Shambles for coffee
• Bristol: From upmarket Clifton Village, head over the iconic suspension bridge and down through Ashton Court (you can watch the hot air balloons launching at the festival in August)
• London: Follow the glass pavement slabs of The Jubilee Greenway past Kensington and Buckingham palaces and into Camden
• Brighton: The 5km Undercliff Walk takes you out of the city and along the shore to Saltdean with sea views all the way
• Edinburgh: Arthur’s Seat is much easier to spot than to walk up, but the views of the city from the top are spectacular.

• Bristol: The riverside is lovely by day, but head for trendy Easton or Gloucester Road for more independent bars and restaurants
• London: Shoreditch is ground zero for the hipster movement, stop at a cereal bar or have a cocktail served in a cat bowl
• Edinburgh: Leith, down towards the sea in the east, is a great place to discover up and coming bars away from the central crowds
• Brighton: North Laine has some of Brighton’s best and strangest bars, but in such a party city it’s hard to miss
• York: Head for the Swinegate/Little Stonegate area for live music and food of all persuasions.

This our main guide to all our favourite romantic city break locations across both the UK and Europe, each offering something special – including Brighton, York, Florence and Barcelona.

A guide to all our favourite city break destinations within Europe, all rich with history, great food spots and cool neighbourhoods – including Paris, Seville, Lisbon and Venice.