Romantic Filly Island sleeps two
(Picture: Unique Homestays www.uniquehomestays.com)If you were one of those annoyingly organised couples, you might have booked that V-Day escape back in December. But you aren’t, and guess what? It’s no big deal.
There are plenty of brilliant places still available (at the time of writing) for you to have a swoon-worthy break over Valentine’s Day week – and all within a two hour’s drive or train ride of the capital. Just get booking fast…
The Damselfly Treehouse, Hampshire
Get away à deux for a sojourn among the leaves at this lofty treehouse, cradled by a towering sycamore at the edge of a vineyard. Just 1h 45 minutes’ drive from central London, it’s made for cosy love-ins and super stylish. Between the wood burner, alfresco copper tub and minimalist-chic interiors the vibe is more Wallpaper* magazine than kiddie play-pad.
Out and about: There has to be wine-tasting; you’re overlooking the vines of award-winning Black Chalk Wine. But being the Test Valley the walking is also first-rate. Try a cheek-reddening two-hour loop from nearby Chilbolton Cow Common.
Come for… Grown-up treehouse glam
From £730 for two nights, canopyandstars.co.uk
Cabu by the Sea, Kent
Steps from the Kentish coast at seaside town St Mary’s Bay, Cabu’s collection of style-forward cottages gives you a sweet halfway house between hotel and self-catering. Book into one of the two-person cabins – complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, coastal-chic design and wood burners – and cook up a storm in the cosy kitchen; or simply fall back on treats from the snack-stuffed shop and café. Book a sunset soak in the hot tub to really heat things up; staff will even bring you drinks.
Out and about: Use the house bikes to cycle south along the seafront to austere Dungeness headland, all pancake-flat shingle and clapboard cottages. If it’s the weekend, grab a fish roll at cult fish hut Dungeness Snack Shack.
Come for… Artsy seaside cool
From £410 for two nights, holidays.cabu.co.uk
The Grand York, York
Swap London for the north – York might sound far, but speedy trains from King’s Cross can get you there in under two hours. The Grand York is the city’s five-star stay, primely placed by the River Ouse and giving grandeur with soaring ceilings, polished wood panelling and a bar stirring classic martinis. They’ve laid on a special ‘Escape Together’ package for V-Day which throws in afternoon tea, brekkie, spa access and welcome chocolates from £269 per room, too.
Out and about: This city oozes history so if sightseeing gets your hearts aflutter tick off the biggies; medieval Barley Hall, treasure-packed Yorkshire Museum and opulent York Minster, with its dazzling array of stained glass. Exceptional meals will be had at Fish and Forest where the menu is changed daily and written on a blackboard or splash out on the 8-course tasting menu at The Rattle Owl a few doors down the road.
Come for… Classic glamour in a city setting
From £290, thegrandyork.co.uk
Kingham Plough, Oxfordshire
This stay provides the perfect Cotswolds rural pub fantasy, with beamed ceilings, roaring fire and perfectly poured pints from nearby Hook Norton Brewery, all on a direct line from London Paddington. Meanwhile six cosy rooms are outfitted with homemade biscuits, rows of books and downy duvets, setting a high, V-Day-worthy bar above usual ‘pub with rooms’ standards.
Out and about: Tear yourself away from the roaring fire for a countryside yomp to nearby Daylesford Organic, where you can spend the day getting pampered in the Bamford spa. Or walk in the other direction for another fabulous pub lunch at The Kings Head Inn in Bledington.
Come for… Low-key pub vibes with Cotswolds charm
From £145 B&B, thekinghamplough.co.uk
Olea, West Sussex
Hear that? It’s the sound of pure, blissful serenity. Set in the pretty village of Amberley in the South Downs, this thatched-roof cottage lets you and your other half experience a V-Day full of bucolic bliss. Or should that be other halves; Olea sleeps up to four via a second mezzanine bedroom, so you can get away with your friends, with your kiddos or as a throuple (if that’s your thing). Even the dog is invited along to enjoy the exposed stone living room with wood burner, or antique-cluttered kitchen.
Out and about: No need to go far; Amberley is a lovely pocket for low-key exploring (and connected to London Victoria by direct train). Pop into the museum, try the tea rooms, hole up in the local pub… just chill.
Come for… Thatched throuple romance (or to just spread out as a twosome)
From £789 for a long weekend, boutique-retreats.co.uk
Pennyhill Park, Surrey
Get steamy – literally – this V-Day at this Surrey hotel’s sublime spa, kitted out with enough thermal facilities to fill a weekend. The highlight is the two-person Mud Experience, where you’ll coat each other in skin-softening mud (insert ‘getting dirty’ joke here), then steam in a private chamber to let it work its magic. Afterwards cap off the indulgence with a six-course tasting menu at Michelin-starred The Latymer before retiring to one of the plush, classically styled bedrooms; The Granary comes with a centrepiece copper tub for continued (private) spa-ing.
Out and about: Feeling lucky? Ascot is just a 12-minute drive away and has races on February 18.
Come for… Sultry spa-ing
From £445, exclusive.co.uk
Back to Analouge, Essex
There won’t be the distractions of Instagram or the tyranny of email when you check into this eco-cabin in Essex fields. Part of the deal is that your host will lock away your phones (you’re given a retro Nokia for essential outside-world contact) and a manual camera to document your twosome stay. And you’ll want to do that, because this off-grid spot is a real beaut: sharp minimalist lines, natural woods and plentiful hot water for showers.
Out and about: Nature is the point, so head out walking – your host will provide you with paper maps and a compass so you can find your way home.
Come for… Netflix-and-chill minus the Netflix
From £157 per night, plumguide.com
The Grove, Hertfordshire
Just 20 minutes train journey from Euston, The Grove provides full-on country house regalia – it’s the former home of the Earls of Clarendon – but in a convenient locale. Across its rambling grounds it’s got loads of activities to choose from, including golf, clay pigeon shooting and axe throwing, as well as a spa if you just want to take it easy. For Valentine’s Day a special Couples Retreat includes breakfast, dinner, spa access and a bottle of Champagne on arrival from £612.
Out and about: At nearly half-a-millennia old, surrounding Whippendell Wood is great for exploring if you really can’t sit still.
Come for… Reconnecting with your plus one over plentiful activities
From £370, thegrove.co.uk
Filly Island, Gloucestershire
Cast yourselves away to a private isle – in the Cotswolds. Set between a millstream and the River Church, and accessed via a humpback bridge, 18th century reimagined cottage Filly Island feels further away from Cirencester than just three miles. The cosy interiors toe the line between old-world and new, combining rolltop baths and A-frame ceilings with splashy Union Jack bedding. While you can’t quite believe it sitting out in the cosy garden, there are grocery stores and restaurants right around the corner, too.
Out and about: It’s all about the water! You’re right next to Cotswolds Water Park, where you can do kayaking, horse-riding or archery.
Come for… private island exclusivity without the Maldives price tag
From £795 for a short break, uniquehomestays.com
The Hand and Flowers, Buckinghamshire
Nothing says ‘I love you’ like surprising your food-loving squeeze with the world’s best pub grub. Celeb chef Tom Kerridge’s two-starred pub in Marlow is somewhere every self-respecting gourmet should experience at least once, especially given it’s just an hour’s train ride or drive from London. Check into one of the handful of bedrooms, scattered across town, that are still available for V-Day week, then get set to devour a menu featuring pork tenderloin with liquorice or 30-day dry aged beef with potato buttermilk waffle.
Out and about: You’re here to eat, right? So hit up Kerridge’s other starred pub, The Coach or take a taxi to nearby three-Michelin-starred The Waterside Inn to bag one of the last tables available for Valentine’s Day week.
Come for… Blow-out feasting
