5 Romantic Staycation Spots in England
If you google ‘romantic weekends for couples in England’ you’ll get a thousand recommendations. Misty country breaks, city exploring, beach bach staycations full of sand, four-poster beds in castle hotels, forest-dwelling glamping – the lot.
England is a land full of history, romance and a train network that linking up all of these fabulous places to explore.
But. How do you narrow down the cute places that you should invest your valuable travel time in? Well, after extensive personal research, I’ve narrowed it down 5 places that you absolutely must visit – I’ve even linked to blog posts that might help you plan your trips there. Feel free to name your children and pets after me – I can’t wait to meet all of the future LondonKiwiEmma’s gadding about the countryside!
SOMERSET
Stepping off the train, the Newt hotel in Somerset was a delight for the senses. We were even greeted by a gaggle of ducks at the entrance of the extensive grounds – what a welcome.
BATH
Bath, I love you. Your honey-coloured Georgian Terraces, the fascinating history, the infamous Sally Lunn Buns, the canals, the fact that you so quick to get to from London, your Christmas Bauble shop, the stunning Cathedral lit up at twilight, lurking around Johnny Depp’s house, the classical music, the Jane Austin museum, the spa hotels… I could go on, really I could. It’s a beautiful, beautiful city with so much to offer – and perfect for a romantic weekend break.
CHESTER
Chester in Cheshire is the first holiday I’ve ever booked through the power of Instagram alone. We had been looking for somewhere as a long weekend break (well, I say we, but I had actually been put on a travel ban which Mr Kiwi now mostly denies, his baby blues all innocent) when I spotted that a friend of mine had day-tripped up to Chester. It was beautiful – so we decided to make a long weekend of it.
Simply hopping on a train and scooting through the rolling countryside is a pleasure that I can’t get enough of – the excuse to lose myself in the pages of a book to the soothing background clickety-clack of train wheels and whistling winds – it’s a special kind of bliss.
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Stratford-upon-Avon is somewhere that everyone should visit at least once in their lives. It’s a tourist mecca, but for a reason with a history that holds proud and literary links to Shakespeare, making it a great place to spend a little time. We’ve just come back from a 3 day staycation there – and would already love to return.
“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine, with sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.”
― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
RICHMOND, LONDON
In case you hadn’t guessed yet, I flipping love London. Not only did I use a staycation as work around a travel ban, our cosy stay on the edge of Richmond Park also served as a timely reminder of;
a) How amazing this little corner of London is and how many quirky things there are to do.
b) Simply how far the rolling landscape reaches to, creating an oasis of calm crowned by distant tower blocks.
c) That people travel from all over the world to visit the wonders of Richmond Park.
d) It really is possible to travel in your own backyard, especially when your metaphorical backyard is London.
If you were looking to book a romantic European break, I would wholeheartedly (pun intended) recommend Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest, Florence – but England is full of amazing places that are simply begging to be be explored first. Oh, and you won’t have to face airport security restrictions on your suitcase… winner, winner!
Where has your favourite English staycation been?
