Need somewhere to go this weekend? Are you tired of London’s hustle and bustle? Do you need to get away from the neverending fast lane of modern day life? Well, there’s plenty of quieter and calmer weekend getaways from London, all of which are just a short trip from the capital. You’ve just got to know where to find them!
Best of all, Britain’s collection of weekend hotspots are perfect for romantic weekend trips away together as a couple. Every great partnership needs a little effort and some quality time to get away from it all. A mini-break might be just what you need! Take a set of couples’ challenge questions with you and you’ve got yourself wholesome weekend of rekindling the spark once and for all.
So duffle bags at the ready, people! We’re going to show you 29 of the best, most romantic weekend getaways from London.
Table of Contents
Our Criteria
Scenery
Is the town/city picturesque? Are there plenty of photo opportunities for a cute couple’s photo?
Nightlife
Does the town/city come alive at night? Are there plenty of bars and restaurants to grab a bite to eat or sip on a cocktail?
Attractions
Does the town/city have any tourist attractions? Are there plenty of places to see and things to do?
Romance
Is the town/city a hotspot for romance? Is it conducive for a romantic weekend away?
Our Top 5
Location | Scenery | Nightlife | Attractions | Romance |
Lake District | ||||
Brighton | ||||
Berlin | ||||
Paris | ||||
Edinburgh |
Weekend Trips From London
The UK is full of incredible staycation destinations. From picturesque hiking spots to historical and cultural excursions, we’ve got something for every type of couple needing one of their spontaneous overnight trips from London. Take your pick…
Explore the Gorgeous Sights of the Lake District
Best for: Basking in the beauty of some of Britain’s best views.
No staycation in the UK matches the gorgeous scenes of the Lake District. Covering around 912 square miles of green mountains and quaint local villages, the Lake District is perfect for couples who’d like to find some peace and tranquillity. The surrounding areas of Lake Windermere are the most popular destinations for tourists. Here you’ll find tourist attractions like World of Beatrix Potter and plenty of cool water sports activities, plus there’s luxurious B&Bs or scenic campsites to stay over in. England’s tallest peak, Scafell Pike also attracts expert hikers who love to put on their moody walking boots and pack a rucksack.
Journey Time From London: About 3.5 hours on a train.
Enjoy an Overnight Stay in Rye
Best for: Mature couples looking to grab a scone and cup of Earl Gray.
Nestled nicely into the Sussex countryside, the medieval village of Rye attracts over a million tourists looking for London weekend breaks. You can stroll down the winding cobblestone high street and browse through its selection of vintage boutiques and independent speciality shops. You can also take your pick of tasty restaurants, from welcoming local pubs to legendary fish and chip kitchens. Plus, there’s plenty of adorable homeware stores for you to pick up a trinket or two for loved ones.
Journey Time From London: About 2 hours in the car.
Enjoy Britain’s Old Seaside Town of Margate
Best For: Couples who enjoy the simple things in life. Like paper-wrapped fish and chips!
Kent’s seaside town of Margate might not be the most luxurious seaside resort, but it sure makes up for it with its local vibrancy. Recent rejuvenation projects of its town centre and huge sandy beach have made Margate a newly popular destination for seaside-goers. There’s an eclectic mix of restaurants, a cute high street full of vintage boutiques, and of course Dreamland: one of the country’s most beloved amusement parks featuring both thrill rides and gentler fairground classics. Margate is a great option for a cheap and cheerful beach staycation.
Journey Time From London: About 1.5 hours on a train.
Stay over in Cardiff
Best For: People-persons who enjoy market shopping and afternoon strolls.
Cardiff offers visitors plenty of things to do and see on a weekend away from London. Firstly there’s the beautiful Cardiff Castle for history-lovers. Then there’s The Royal Arcade, a shopping area first built in 1858 offering market stores of alternative Welsh-made goodies, like sweet treats, quirky jewellry and vintage clothing. Cardiff also has various scenic waterfront walks, perfect for romantic hand-in-hand strolls. Best of all, Cardiff’s residents are often voted some of the country’s friendliest people. So expect good vibes all-round!
Journey Time From London: About 2 hours on a train.
Stroll Along Bournemouth’s Beaches
Best For: Beach-lovers and sun-soakers.
Bournemouth is another of Britain’s favourite seaside towns, and for one good reason: its famous sandy beach! Stretching over 17km, Bournemouth’s beach has been welcoming summer tourists for centuries. As a result, another big draw to Bournemouth is its selection of accommodation, from grand historic beachside hotels to smaller independently-run B&Bs offering unbeatable fry-ups. There’s also plenty of restaurants for sunnier days where you can dine alfresco on a rooftop terrace.
Journey Time From London: About 2 hours in the car.
Stroll Down York’s Cobbled Streets
Best For: Enjoying one of Britain’s most romantic cities.
You can get lost wandering around York’s higgledy-piggledy streets for hours. Browse through boutique stores and market stalls and then finish off the day with an evening reservation at a world-class restaurant. But perhaps the biggest reason why York is perfect for London weekend breaks is its air of romance. The cobbled shambles and old timber-framed architecture create a storybook-like setting that’s popular for weddings. Maybe on your next visit you’ll be in a black tux or white dress?
Journey Time From London: About 2 hours on a train.
Enjoy the Cultural Seaside City of Brighton
Best For: LGBT couples looking for a vibrant seaside city.
The best weekend trips from London end in a sore head, right? Well, Brighton offers one of the country’s biggest and best LGBT night out with its selection of lively bars and clubs. But away from its waterfront shops, bars, and restaurants, Brighton is a charming city in its own right, full of rich history and arty culture. Take a peek inside the golden walls of the Royal Pavilion or book your weekend away from London around the dates of Brighton Festival: an annual event celebrating all sorts of entertainment including comedy, music, and theatre.
Journey Time From London: Just under an hour on a train.
Learn About the Cultural History of Liverpool
Best For: Music-lovers and The Beatles fans.
Liverpool is known as a music mecca in Britain. Fans of The Beatles will especially love exploring the city’s hotspots, including a visit to 20 Forthlin Road, the childhood home of Paul McCartney now turned into a museum. There’s also Hard Days Night Hotel, a Beatles-themed hotel where you can stay in either the McCartney or Lennon Suite. The choice is yours. But beyond its music history, there’s a city also offering must-see landmarks (especially the Royal Albert Docks) and plenty of world class restaurants for hungry bellies.
Journey Time From London: About 2.5 hours on a train.
Explore the Various Channel Islands
Best For: Feeling that Mediterranean climate without a passport.
The English Channel’s collection of islands include Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney, all of which offer up incredible holiday experiences to make you feel like you’re in sunny Spain…Well, almost. So hop on a short flight and enjoy one of the best weekend getaways from London without having to venture out of the UK. Across the various islands you’ll find delightful towns, recreation centres (for golf, tennis, and even volleyball), luxurious hotel resorts, and best of all, stunning ocean views.
Journey Time From London: About an hour on a plane (to Jersey).
Visit Scotland’s Loch Lomond
Best For: Active couples who prefer early morning walks over lie-ins.
Often referred to as Scotland’s very own Lake District, Loch Lomond is the perfect location if you fancy a weekend of hiking, watersports, or fishing. You’ll find that many of the best restaurants around Loch Lomond have menus featuring the lake’s delicious salmon or trout. For fitness-lovers and keen mountaineers, we suggest trekking around the scenic Trossachs National Park to take in some beautiful views. Or you can see the sights from the comfort of a seat onboard a riverboat tour. It’s down to you.
Journey Time From London: About 7 hours in a car.
Take In the Views of Edinburgh
Best For: Experiencing the very best of Scotland’s heritage.
Scotland’s capital offers one of the best overnight trips from London. Edinburgh boasts a whole range of reasons you should visit, including award-winning restaurants, unmissable annual events, and important historical landmarks (like Edinburgh Castle and St. Giles Cathedral). There’s spectacular landscape views if you know the right spots to find them (the very top of Arthur’s Seat is our personal favourite).
Journey Time From London: About 4.5 hours on a train.
Camp around Wales’s Brecon Beacons
Best For: Keen campers who don’t mind getting a little muddy.
Wales is rather underrated when it comes to finding Britain’s best views. So why not tie up your hiking boots and explore the gorgeous scenes of Brecon Beacons, South Wales? A must-see stop off point is Henyrd Falls: Wales’s tallest waterfall standing at 90 feet. Not just a hiker’s idea of heaven, Brecon Beacon also offers a selection of luxurious hotel resorts if a wet weekend in a tent isn’t quite for you. Instead, enjoy the great outdoors knowing you’ve got a warm suite to come back to afterwards. Take your pick.
Journey Time From London: About 4.5 hours in a car.
Discover the Wonders of New Forest
Best For: Outdoorsy types who want to get back to nature.
Venturing to the New Forest is one of the best London weekend getaways you can book as a couple. Why? Because it’s so just darn beautiful. Boasting an array of accommodation options, including hotel resorts, quaint b&bs, and woodland cabins, the New Forest is the perfect city escape when all you need is some fresh air. Pack a picnic full of goodies (a bottle of champagne is essential!) and explore the ancient forestry along 140 miles of winding trails and footpaths.
Journey Time From London: About 2 hours in a car.
Hike the Hills of the Peak District
Best For: Midland couples who don’t want to travel as far as the Lake District.
The Peak District located in Derbyshire is often described as the smaller version of the Lake District, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less beautiful. Here you’ll find miles and miles of rolling hills, incredible scenic foot trails, and wonderful villages which are always happy to welcome visitors into their pubs, cafes, and B&Bs. A Peak District must-visit is Bakewell, home to the classic Bakewell pudding and Chatsworth House: a Grade 1 stately home with pristine gardens to wander through.
Journey Time From London: About 3.5 hours in a car.
Rent a Cottage in the Cotswolds
Best For: Long walks and cosy nights in.
There’s no feeling more freeing than strolling through the English countryside, especially the Cotswold. Found across various Western counties including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, here you’ll find hundreds of cosy cottages to rent for a weekend trip from London. The surrounding countryside has plenty of outdoor activities to book too (like gorge-scrambling), or you can venture off on foot through the moorland greenery. Then once your feet are a little tired, you can stop off at a local Cotswold pub for some grub and a pint.
Journey Time From London: About 2.5 hours in a car.
Take a Bike Ride Around Bristol
Best For: Big foodies who’d simply like to guzzle beer and chomp burgers all weekend.
Surely one of the best weekend getaways from London is a weekend full of incredible food and drink, right? If so, Bristol is for you! Real foodies will love the city’s huge variety of restaurant options, from beloved chain restaurants to specialty hidden gems (our personal favourite right now is The OX: a steak and cocktail eatery. Need we say anymore?) But beyond the plates of food, Bristol is a city of spirited art and culture, best with an independent cinema called The Watershed: a must for film buffs!
Journey Time From London: About 1.5 hours on a train.
Unwind in Bath’s Roman Baths
Best For: Bath-lovers who want to relax the proper way.
The roman baths of Bath have been relaxing their visitors for over 2,000 years, and now it’s time you visited too. After exploring the ancient baths on a guided tour, you can then take a dip yourself at Thermae Bath Spa: a popular bathhouse boasting an incredible rooftop pool, 2 thermal baths, and plenty of therapeutic spa treatments for you to choose from. After your relaxation, you can book a table at one of the city’s many restaurants for a top-class meal.
Journey Time From London: About 1.5 hours on a train.
Easy trips from London
Want to enjoy a weekend getaway from London but without the big-budget travel costs? Well, take your pick from our easy trips from London that are all within 2 hours of the capital..
Discover the History of Cambridge
Best For: Intellects who want to explore the city’s incredible university buildings.
Want a history-rich weekend trip from London that’s also super close? If so, the city of Cambridge just North of the Capital is perfect! You can explore the fascinating university grounds of the city’s many historic colleges, most notably the world-renowned University of Cambridge (alumni includes Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawkings, and Stephen Fry). Other attractions on offer include a romantic punt ride through the city’s canal waterways.
Journey Time From London: Just under an hour on a train.
Visit the City of Norwich
Best for: A peaceful and quiet city break.
If you love cities but want an experience that’s a little quieter than London, then perhaps a trip to Norwich will be right up your street. Like most cities, Norwich offers plenty of quaint cafes and high street shops to browse through. One of our personal favourites is Rabbit Coffee: a cute little coffee shop that sells perhaps the best sausage rolls you’ll ever try. There’s also the stunning historic Norwich cathedral for you to visit too.
Journey Time From London: About 1.5 hours on a train.
Take a Wander Around Winchester
Best for: Finding a cute town to explore.
There’s a reason Winchester is often voted one of the best places to live in the UK: it’s just so darn lovely! Steeped with history and culture (it was once the capital city of the Anglo-Saxons!), Winchester has a huge variety of historic buildings and attractions for you to look around including Winchester cathedral and The Great Hall. There’s also plenty of cute winding streets to wander through if you love nosing around.
Journey Time From London: Just under an hour on a train.
Visit Canterbury’s Cathedral
Best for: History buffs who enjoy a spot of shopping too.
Canterbury is one of Kent’s must-visit cities. First there’s Canterbury Cathedral, one of Britain’s most beloved and beautiful cathedrals that’s protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside you can gaze at the out-of-this-world architecture that dates back nearly 1000 years. Plus just a stone’s throw away you’ll find a bustling high street boasting all of your retail giants and a collection of quaint vintage shops too. A chauffeured punt ride around the city’s canals is a tourist favourite too.
Journey Time From London: About 1 hour on a train.
Take a Trip to Oxford
Our list of easy trips from London simply wouldn’t be complete without Oxford. Just like Cambridge, one of the biggest draws to Oxford is its university grounds full of historical buildings and wonderful architecture. It’s a charming place, and a lot younger than you think with such a large population of students. So expect to find plenty of quirky bars and eateries amongst the history, including one of our personal favourites, Happy Friday Kitchen: a plant-based American grill-type restaurant with a menu of carby hotdogs, pizzas, and burgers. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!
Journey Time From London: Just under an hour on a train.
Explore the Royal History of Windsor
Best for: Royal enthusiasts who love guided history tours.
One of our top weekends away from London is a minibreak to Berkshire’s Windsor. The town is best known for being the home to the Royal Family for over 9 centuries, and as a result, there’s plenty of royal-based tourist attractions for you to enjoy, most notably the iconic landmark of Windsor Castle: Britain’s largest occupied castle. It might be worth booking a guided tour to really get the most out of your trip here. There’s so much to see and learn. A romantic stroll through The Great Park is a must too!
Journey Time From London: Just under an hour on a train.
International Overnight Trips from London
If you’re willing to spend a little more and travel overseas, take your pick from these international overnight trips from London. Passports at the ready, lovers! It’s time to take your romance abroad…
Hop Over to Paris
Best for: Ultra-romancers who want to experience the ‘City of Love’.
Paris pretty much tops the list of romantic weekend getaways from London. With such iconic landmarks to explore including Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre (home to the Mona Lisa), you and your partner can spend the weekend roaming the city taking cute selfies with the sights you see. In the evenings you can book a reservation at one of Paris’s many fine-dining restaurants; they’re pretty much scattered across the entire city. So have the full authentic experience by exploring old streets and spontaneously choosing the one you most like the look of. Chances are it’ll be great. Plus, taking your girl on a romantic trip to Paris is one of the best ways to ask her out. Need some more ideas?
Journey Time From London: Just over an hour on a plane.
Discover the Joys of Oslo
Best for: Couples not afraid to stretch their wallets.
Although Oslo is one of the most expensive European cities to visit, we think the city’s beauty alone is well worth the extra price. Plus, you just have to look in the right places for the cheaper experiences. We could spend hours simply wandering around the incredible Vigeland Sculpture Park, home to over 650 statues and monuments! There’s also the magnificent Opera House to visit and Akershus Fortress: a spectacular medieval castle dating back to the 13th century. The list is endless.
Journey Time From London: Just over 2 hours on a plane.
Head Over to Berlin
Best for: Exploring the city’s rich urban culture.
Berlin is an absolute must-see European city. There’s no place like Berlin found across Europe’s travel map tour. Beyond the hipster bars and clubs, Berlin is rather romantic too. Especially when strolling through the winding paths of Britzer Garten or sightseeing the city’s must-visit landmarks including the iconic Brandenburg Gate and of course the remnants of the Berlin Wall.
Journey Time From London: About 2 hours on a plane.
Explore the City of Dublin
Best for: Seeing the very best of urban Northern Ireland.
Dublin is one of the best weekend getaways from London for a whole variety of reasons. Firstly there’s lots of historical and cultural attractions to try out, including museums, art galleries, and Trinity College: the oldest university in Dublin, founded by Queen Elizabeth I back in 1592. There’s plenty of fun to have elsewhere too, including the Guinness Storehouse: a must-see brewery for Guinness lovers with regular exhibitions and an atrium shaped like a pint glass. A refreshing pint of the good stuff comes free with the price of admission too.
Journey Time From London: Just over an hour on a plane.
Take a Quick Flight to Amsterdam
Best for: Museums and art-lovers.
Amsterdam is a super popular weekend trip from London. Why? Because the Netherlands’ capital has so much to do and see. Most impressive is its selection of world-renowned museums including the Rijksmuseum (holding paintings by all-time greats like Rembrandt) and the Anne Frank House (the preserved hiding place of Frank and her family during WW2). The city also offers good vibes, wacky tourist attractions, and plenty of cafes to sip on a coffee and watch the world passing by outside.
Journey Time From London: About 1 hour on a train.
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