Romantic UK weekend breaks

Whether you are a hopeless romantic, or far from it, you really can’t fail to escape the February lovefest that is Valentine’s Day.

From bright-red heart-shaped greetings cards to plush teddies and rose-shaped chocolates, there are many things you can buy for your partner to celebrate the event. But, nothing says I love you like an experience, which is planned straight from the heart. So, why not check out the best that the UK has to offer this February and take your special someone on a weekend break to remember…?

Say I love you in York

York is arguably one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the UK. So, where better to take your loved one for a romantic getaway?

On arrival in the city, one of your first stops should be York Mister, where you can look up at the west window together to see the ‘Heart of Yorkshire’. Rumour has it that if you kiss your partner underneath the heart window you will remain together forever, so make sure you are certain of your choice before you do! You can also pop by Betty’s famous Café Tea Rooms for a heart-shaped strawberry pastry or a soft fondant fancy to keep you both sweet!

There are frequent trains in and out of York station from both London King’s Cross in the south and Sunderland in the north, so add York to your Valentine’s Day list for 2020.

Take a romantic hike in the Yorkshire Dales

If your partner is the adventurous and outdoorsy type, then treat them to an exhilarating weekend in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

Begin your trip in the traditional market town of Thirsk, where you will find plenty of cosy cottages, intimate B&Bs or romantic spa hotels, depending on your preference. From here, you can easily make your way to the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park to witness some breath-taking scenery and wildlife. There are countless walks you can choose to take – ranging from a six-mile wildlife walk over Upper Wharfedale to a 52-mile challenge around the James Herriot Way. It all depends on just how much time you want to spend alone together in the wilderness!

Book a train to Thirsk or Northallerton station – both located close to the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Find love in London

According to English playwriter and actor, John Osbourne, “In London, love and scandal are considered the best sweeteners of tea.” Hopefully your trip will be filled with more of the love and less of the scandal, but either way, London makes the ideal destination for a romance-filled weekend this February!

Plus, not everything in London has to cost a fortune – in fact some of the best things to do here are completely free. What could be more romantic than walking down the waterway at Little Venice with a hot chocolate in one hand and your loved one’s warm hand in the other? Observing the bobbing barges on the water and the luscious willow trees that line the waterfront.

After an energetic walk along the water, you could choose to curl up in one of the hundreds of cosy pubs in the capital. From the infamous Holly Bush in Hampstead to The Dove in Hackney or The Cutty Sark Tavern in Greenwich, you can snuggle up and talk sweet nothings to each other before the night falls.

And when the night does fall, why not try a spot of stargazing at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich? You can sign up for one of the workshops, which allows you to peer up at the moon and stars through an 18-tonne Victorian telescope, while learning about the galaxy from a team of savvy astronomers. If this doesn’t turn you into a starry-eyed lover, then nothing will!

Grand Central run frequent trains into London King’s Cross Station from the north east and the west riding.