91% you
Bath, one night
Rooftop thermal spa at dusk. The cheapest proper treat on the list.
Somerset 1 night
Total for two, 1 night
from £186
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Romantic Getaways in the UK on a Budget
A weekend away is mostly an arithmetic problem: train, hotel, and what you spend when you get there. Here's that maths done for you.
6 min read
Book the train before the hotel
Advance fares move far more sharply than hotel rates. Fix the travel first, twelve weeks out where you can, and build the rest of the weekend around it.
Two nights beats one. A single night away is half travel; the second night is where a break starts to feel like a break.
Where the money actually goes
For most UK weekends the hotel is the biggest line, travel second, and everything else smaller than couples expect. That means upgrading the room is usually a better use of £60 than an extra dinner out.
Each break below lists travel for two and the nightly room rate separately, so you can see exactly which lever to pull.
Ideas from this guide, with real prices
9 picks pulled straight from Explore, from £186 for two.
83% you
Snowdonia, two nights
One big walk, one slow day, a pub with dogs in it.
North Wales 2 nights
Total for two, 2 nights
from £232
89% you
York, two nights
Walk the walls, pub with a fire, walk to the Minster at dusk.
North Yorkshire 2 nights
Total for two, 2 nights
from £264
86% you
Bruges by train, one night
Canals, waffles, and a very early train home. Cheap for a country away.
Belgium 1 night
Total for two, 1 night
from £268
90% you
Kraków, three nights
Old town, milk bars, and the cheapest good dinners in Europe.
Poland 3 nights
Total for two, 3 nights
from £286
94% you
Margate, two nights
Cold sea, Turner Contemporary, oysters and vintage shops.
Kent coast 2 nights Any month — quieter and cheaper Nov–Mar
Total for two, 2 nights
from £288
87% you
Edinburgh, two nights
Arthur's Seat at sunrise, whisky bar at night. Sleeper if you're brave.
Scotland 2 nights
Total for two, 2 nights
from £322
95% you
Porto, three nights
Port cellars, tiled churches, dinner for £25. Best value on the list.
Portugal 3 nights March–May, September–October
Total for two, 3 nights
from £348
89% you
Seville, three nights
Orange trees, tapas standing at the bar, warm in November.
Spain 3 nights October–November, March–April
Total for two, 3 nights
from £358
See everything in Explore
Filter the full catalogue by budget, category and how far you want to travel.