Perfect UK Mini-Moon Destinations
While honeymoons abroad sound marvellous, planning them can be a real pain. Imagine securing travel documents, getting immunizations, packing two weeks’ worth of clothes, figuring out foreign currency, and fitting as many activities as possible within your budget? Don’t you wish paradise is just a short drive away, and you bring nothing but an overnight bag and a few pounds in your account? Good thing there are minimoons.
Whether you’re saving for a grander future getaway or taking caution due to COVID-19, a minimoon allows you and your partner to relax and reconnect without the stress of a lengthy preparation.
The tropics have a distinct allure but trust us, a minimoon in the UK can be as fun and unforgettable. To prove our claim, here are seven places in the country that are perfect for your post-wedding vacation. Scrap your complicated travel plans and say goodbye to jetlag – welcome to the UK.
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The Lake District
The Lake District has all the trappings of a perfect minimoon destination: surreal landscapes, great food, and relaxation mixed with a little bit of adventure. With its rugged fells and glassy tarns, charming cottages, top-notch spas, and Michelin-starred restaurants, the Lakes is a blend of stunning nature, rustic charm, and low-key luxury.
Paddle across Ullswater on a kayak or wild swim in the tubs of Tongue Pot. Go on a breath-taking hot air balloon ride or get on board a steam yacht gondola. Want to tour the Lakes in style? Rent out a classic VW campervan and enjoy flexibility while you visit different attractions. If the road trip causes you to get a bit antsy, take a break, and explore scenic hiking routes. For a romantic ending to your day, park on a camping site along Lake Windermere and watch the fabulous sunset.
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Pembrokeshire
Why travel to an island half-way around the globe when you have Pembrokeshire? Well, maybe Pembrokeshire is a tad bit colder, but it never lacks for hidden golden sand coves, odd limestone formations, and random pristine rock pools.
If you think these are not enough to rival the distant tropics or the sunny Mediterranean, then envision the happy coastal towns, the magical Preseli Hills, the stunning Stackpole Park, the picturesque Bosherston Lakes, and – because you’re in Wales — the enthralling castles.
Pembrokeshire has a host of dreamy accommodations that would impress even the pickiest of newlyweds. It does not matter if you are in the pastel-hued seaside town of Tenby or the quaint market village of Narberth. You will find posh hotels with spectacular ocean views, private holiday cottages fit for serene escapes, and elegant country mansions surrounded by polished gardens.
Whether you want to try coasteering (an adrenaline-inducing local invention) for the first time or soak in a hot tub with a glass of your favourite wine, a minimoon in Pembrokeshire may just turn out to be your most romantic getaway ever.
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The Cotswolds
Paris has the Wall of Love, while Verona has Juliet’s Balcony. The Cotswolds needs neither to prove that it is made for romance. Its chocolate-box villages of honey-coloured stone cottages, sweeping meadows of lavenders, and rolling green landscapes are scenes straight out of a book. And we mean that literally. This piece of paradise has inspired some of the fictional worlds of Jane Austen and the Brontë Sisters, fired the imagination of William Blake, and is immortalized by Laurie Lee in Cider with Rosie. Where else would you spend your first moments of married bliss than in one of the prettiest places in the UK?
The dramatic scenery in Copse Hill Road, once voted the most romantic street in Britain, calls for a lazy hand-in-hand mooching. Head to Bourton-on-the-Water for an afternoon tea by the picturesque River Windrush. Take a tour of the Royal Gardens at Highgrove, explore the herbaceous borders, sculpted hedges, and lines of rare trees at Hidcote Manor, and brave the treetop walkway at Westonbirt Arboretum. Visit Corsham Court for its impressive Georgian staterooms, well-kept formal gardens, and remarkable collection of Flemish and Italian paintings.
Best of all, the Cotswolds offers an array of exceptionally delightful accommodations ideal for your post-wedding hideaway, from historic inns to intimate cottages to luxurious bed-and-breakfasts and glamorous hotels.
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Edinburgh
Edinburgh is every adventurous couple’s ideal urban hideaway. It is modern but not overwhelmingly so and different yet still familiar. Its fantastic festivals, thriving food scene, deep history, and distinctive landmarks, make the city a fascinating, albeit unusual, minimoon destination.
The historic Victoria Street will take you back in time with its narrow cobblestone lanes, its vibrant buildings, and its eclectic mishmash of pubs and shops. Walk the hallways of the brooding Edinburgh Castle and wander the palatial rooms of the Holyrood Palace. Dare to traverse the gloomy pits of the infamous Real Mary King Close, a series of underground alleys and spaces buried underneath the Royal Mile. Admire the masterpieces at the National Gallery of Scotland, then marvel at the neo-classical and Georgian design of Charlotte Square, Moray Place, and Heriot Row. Don’t miss the chance to see an outstanding panorama of the city from Arthur’s Peak.
Have you made up your mind on an Edinburgh minimoon? If you’re flying to Scotland from London or anywhere else, make sure to get travel insurance includes coverage for flight delays over 3 hours and cancellations.
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Cornwall
With its laid-back vibe, otherworldly beaches, and quaint coastal towns, Cornwall has the air of some island thousands of miles away. Yet, you could be enjoying the spectacular views of this county in less than 12 hours of exchanging I dos. Having your minimoon in Cornwall means less time spent traveling and more time spent together relaxing and exploring.
When you’re in Cornwall, you have a lot of exploration to do. After all, Cornwall is a haven for couples who love the outdoors, particularly those who want to try various water adventures. Surfing reigns supreme among the watersports, but if the sport is not for you, there are other exciting activities to choose from, including kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and wild swimming.
Take note that Cornwall has much more to offer than its beaches and watersports. The county is steeped in myths and colorful history, littered with ruins and intriguing monuments, and has one of the most celebrated cuisines in the UK. Wander around King Arthur’s Tintagel Castle, climb the stone steps of Minack Theather, be awed by the oddities in the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle, and roam the secret tunnels used by smugglers to transport their booty. Visit the tea plantation in Tregothnan Estate, then head to Eden Project, an indoor rainforest that grows tropical flora. Be sure to sample the famous Cornish pasty and clotted cream before going on a romantic sunset cruise at the Fal River.
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Derry, Northern Ireland
Not many people consider Derry a romantic destination and it makes for an unusual mini moon destination but should not be written off. But a closer look at the diverse highlights of the city would easily sway even the fussiest of newlyweds to add Derby to their minimoon bucket list. Sometimes, the most unexpected places hold the most surprises.
While in the city, it is a must that you soak up history, dreary the events might be. Join a tour of the historic Derry City Walls, look at the murals in the streets of The Bogside, delve into the city’s past at the Museum of Free Derry, and walk along Peace Bridge. Get a dose of beautiful architecture at Guildhall and St. Columb’s Cathedral. Take note that a visit to Northern Ireland is not complete without crawling into a pub.
Saunter into Peadar O’Donnell’s or Mason’s Bar for live music and a pint of Guinness.
If you’re clamoring for nature and adventure, escape the city and explore the wider county of Derry. Marvel at the bewildering Mussenden Temple and ruins of the once-grand Downhill House. Walk barefoot on Portstewart Strand, one of the best beaches in Northern Ireland, hike the trails in Ness Country Park, and commune with nature at Roe Valley Country Park. Add a little twist to your getaway by glamping on the banks of River Roe, where you can unwind in idyllic bliss. Sitting around a campfire and roasting marshmallows is not as fancy as having a private dinner at a posh restaurant, but it is arguably just as romantic.
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Derby
Whether or not Derby is rife with romance is open for debate. Derby may not have the English countryside charm of the Cotswolds or the fairy-tale flair of the Lake District, but the city is full to the brim with thrilling activities couples can do together.
If you love museums, you will love Derby. The list is endless: Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Pickford’s House Museum, Derby Gaol, East Midlands Aeropark, Royal Crown Derby Visitor Centre, and National Tramway Museum. Next to museums are gardens and parks. Drop by Kedleston Hall for its impressive architecture and superb landscaped gardens, Calke Abbey for its interesting state of elegant disrepair, Darley Park for its 400 varieties of hydrangeas, and Markeaton Park for its craft village and 18th-century orangery. Don’t forget to hike along Derwent River to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site Derwent Valley Mills.
For a special night out, watch a show at the Buxton Opera House. But if you prefer a casual, no-frills date, go to the arcade at Intu Derby for some fun rides and old-school games.
Many thanks to Penny Martinelli for this article.
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