Best Staycations
20 February 2026
The idea of a British honeymoon might raise eyebrows. When the world is full of tropical beaches and Mediterranean villas, why would you spend the most romantic trip of your life in the country where you already live? The answer, if you choose well, is that Britain offers romantic experiences that are impossible to replicate anywhere else.
There is a particular kind of romance that belongs to ancient stone, to wild coastline, to the crackle of a fire in a room where the walls are three feet thick and the view from the window has not changed in centuries. It is the romance of place, of history, of landscape. It is not for everyone, and we would never suggest that a UK honeymoon should replace a dream trip to the Maldives if that is what your heart is set on. But for couples who value character over climate, and for whom the idea of waking up in a castle or a treehouse or a lighthouse is more thrilling than another infinity pool, Britain has extraordinary things to offer.
Why Choose a UK Honeymoon
There are practical arguments, of course. No jet lag. No long-haul flights. No risk of airline cancellations derailing the most important holiday of your life. You can take your car, which means freedom to explore without the constraints of hire car availability and unfamiliar roads. The money you save on flights can be redirected to upgrading your accommodation, which is where the honeymoon experience really lives.
But the real argument is emotional. Britain's landscape has a romantic quality that is entirely its own. The mist over a Scottish loch. The light falling through the windows of a medieval castle. The sound of the sea against Devon cliffs. These things create an atmosphere that no amount of sunshine and white sand can replicate. They are specific to this place, and they are extraordinary.
The Most Romantic Stays in Britain
Foxhill Manor, Cotswolds
If we could recommend only one property for a honeymoon, it would be Foxhill Manor. Everything about it, from the house-party atmosphere to the all-inclusive pricing, the deep roll-top baths to the Cotswolds views from every window, feels designed for romance. You are not just booking a room: you are booking a feeling. The kitchen sends up whatever you want, whenever you want it. The house is yours to explore. And the sense of being somewhere private, intimate, and beautiful never fades.
Nymetwood Treehouses, Devon
Waking up among the treetops with nothing but birdsong and the view through floor-to-ceiling glass is one of the most romantic experiences available in Britain. Nymetwood's Scandinavian design is immaculate, the hot tubs are private, and the sense of seclusion is total. For couples who want to disappear from the world for a few days, there is nowhere better.
Glencoe House, Scottish Highlands
Set against the most dramatic mountain scenery in Britain, Glencoe House is a grand Victorian property with just a handful of suites. The combination of Highland grandeur, impeccable interiors, and the vast wilderness on your doorstep creates a honeymoon experience that is both luxurious and adventurous. Wake early and walk into the valley while the mist is still low. Return to a fire and a whisky. It is profoundly romantic.
Roch Castle Hotel, Pembrokeshire
A twelfth-century castle with six suites, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Pembrokeshire coast, and the kind of intimate atmosphere that larger hotels cannot achieve. Roch Castle is exceptional for honeymooners: the setting is dramatic, the rooms are beautiful, and the sense of occasion is palpable.
Foyers Lodge, Scottish Highlands
A historic lodge on the shores of Loch Ness, Foyers Lodge offers intimate luxury in one of Scotland's most atmospheric settings. The lodge has been lovingly restored, and the rooms look out across the loch to the mountains beyond. It is quiet, remote, and deeply romantic, the kind of place where time slows down and the world outside ceases to matter.
Winston at Unplugged, Somerset
A honeymoon without phones, without notifications, without the temptation to check your email, is a honeymoon where you are fully present with each other. Winston at Unplugged offers precisely this: a beautifully designed off-grid cabin in the Somerset countryside, with no wifi and no mobile signal. You are left with each other, with books, with board games, and with the sound of the wind in the trees. It is romantic in the most fundamental sense: it gives you space to connect.
Weeke Barton, Devon
A country manor in the Devon countryside, Weeke Barton offers the kind of understated luxury that is the hallmark of the best British hotels. The rooms are beautifully decorated, the gardens are a delight, and the atmosphere is one of calm refinement. For couples who want to be looked after without fuss, Weeke Barton is excellent.
100 Princes Street, Edinburgh
For couples who prefer a city honeymoon, 100 Princes Street offers Edinburgh at its most romantic. The Georgian townhouse overlooks Princes Street Gardens, with views to Edinburgh Castle that are among the finest in the city. The rooms are decorated with bold confidence, and the rooftop terrace provides a setting for evening drinks that is genuinely unforgettable.
Haven Hall Hotel, Isle of Wight
A Victorian villa on the cliffs above Shanklin, Haven Hall offers old-fashioned romance in a setting of genuine beauty. The gardens, the sea views, the sense of being somewhere that time has not quite caught up with: it is the kind of place that creates memories.
A Place In The Pennines
For couples who love the outdoors, A Place In The Pennines offers luxury lodges and cabins in a stunning moorland setting. The hot tubs have views across the hills, the accommodation is beautifully appointed, and the walking from the doorstep is superb. It is romantic in the way that wild, open landscape is romantic: vast, free, and exhilarating.
Planning Your UK Honeymoon
When to Go
June to September offers the best weather and the longest days. July and August are warmest but also busiest, so consider June or September for a better balance of warmth and tranquillity. The Scottish Highlands are at their most beautiful in September, when the heather is in bloom and the tourist crowds have thinned.
For a winter honeymoon, December and January offer the romance of log fires, candlelit dinners, and the possibility of snow in the Scottish Highlands. January is also the quietest month, which means you will have the best properties largely to yourself.
How Long
A UK honeymoon does not need to be a marathon. Five to seven nights is ideal: long enough to truly relax and explore, short enough to maintain the sense of occasion. Consider splitting your time between two contrasting destinations: a city break in Edinburgh followed by a Highland retreat, or a coastal walk in Pembrokeshire followed by a Cotswolds manor house.
Budget
UK honeymoons can be surprisingly affordable. By eliminating flights, you free up significant budget for accommodation. A five-night honeymoon at a top-tier property like Foxhill Manor or Glencoe House, including dining and activities, will typically cost between two and four thousand pounds. This is competitive with a mid-range overseas honeymoon once flights, transfers, and the hidden costs of international travel are factored in.
The Little Things
The best UK honeymoons are defined by details. Ask the hotel in advance about special requests: champagne on arrival, flowers in the room, a particular dinner reservation. Most high-end properties are experienced at hosting honeymooners and will go to considerable lengths to make the stay special.
Pack for the weather, but also pack for the evenings. British country house hotels often have dress codes for dinner, and dressing up adds to the sense of occasion. Bring a good camera: the light in Britain, particularly in the golden hour, creates photographs that you will treasure.
