DiscoverRomantic car-free city breaks and escapesAcross the UK
From famous architecture and meandering rivers to thermal spas and scenic gardens, the UK offers so many opportunities for romantic days out, date nights and minibreaks. Plan your romantic car-free escape with us.
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Romantic days out in gorgeous gardens
Say it with flowers: stroll through these beautiful gardens and relax among the walkways, fountains and acres of colourful flowers.
- There are five RHS gardens across the UK, each one offering a 30% discount to car-free visitors.
- London’s Kew Gardens offers acres of flowers and more than 50,000 different plants set among lakes, woods, and Victorian palm houses.
- Scotland’s Attadale Gardens is a highland garden with views of Skye. Wander meandering paths through water gardens and woodland. Keep your eyes peeled for red squirrels.
- Set in 568 acres of beautiful Carmarthenshire countryside, the National Botanic Garden of Wales boasts more than 8,000 plants from all over the world.
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Romantic UK city breaks
These city breaks offer plenty to capture the hearts of car-free visitors.
Bath
Bathe in the warm mineral water at Thermae Spa, enjoying views across the city from a rooftop pool. Visit some of the world’s best-preserved Roman remains. Walk in the footsteps of Jane Austen and admire glorious Georgian architecture. Enjoy boat trips, waterside walks, museums, gardens, parks and panoramas.
Brighton
Brighton & Hove is the unofficial LGBTQIA+ capital of Britain and hosts one of the biggest Pride festivals in the UK. Stroll through the famous narrow shopping lanes or stride through the nearby South Downs. Admire starling murmurations over the sea in autumn, winter and early spring. Enjoy a sea swim, coffees and ice creams galore, and buzzing nightlife.
Read our car-free guide to Brighton.
Cambridge
Admire the colleges as you stroll or punt along the River Cam in Cambridge. Wander through the city’s cobbled lanes where writers Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes famously first met. Or escape into the countryside to encounter ancient earthworks, stroll through fens and meadows or linger over a literary pint.
Edinburgh
Craggy castles, cobbled streets, sandy beaches, riverside walks, world-class museums and scenic train rides: Edinburgh offers so much to the car-free visitor, at any time of year. Fall in love with the magical city where Harry Potter was written.
See our car-free guide to Edinburgh.
York
See world-class museums and leafy gardens. Take riverside walks or tea on an ancient cobbled street. Every era has left traces in York and these layers of history are part of the city’s appeal.
Have a car-free adventure in York.
For more ideas and inspiration, take your pick from the full list of car-free city breaks.
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Romantic nights in
Get cosy in these luxurious and quirky holiday lets that welcome car-free visitors.
Bethnal&Bec are three luxury self-catering studios, each with outdoor hot tub baths and views overlooking the Hertfordshire countryside.
Snuggle up in a shepherd’s hut in the heart of Kent at Romney Marsh Farm. The family-run farm with over 1,000 sheep offers accommodation with stunning views and a hot tub.
For a cosy self-catering option, try Railholidays in Hayle or St Germans. Spend the night in a vintage train carriage with impressive eco credentials.
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Romantic car-free days out
Spend time together trying a new activity, exploring stunning landscapes and soaking up the best of the UK’s culture and nature. Here are some of our top picks for a romantic day out:
- Discover Norfolk’s vineyards and breweries
- Enjoy a car-free afternoon tea
- Soak up the views on a Windermere Lake Cruise
- Encounter art in a new way in an artists’ village in Surrey
- Take a ride in a cable car at Heights of Abraham
- Enjoy an award-winning distillery tour
- Have a cream tea and a wander at a National Trust property
- Get creative by making or painting pottery in London or Milton Keynes
- Take your partner to a palace: try Blenheim Palace, Hampton Court Palace or Eltham Palace.
Browse the full list of Good Journey attractions that offer rewards and discounts to car-free visitors.
