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Just under two hours away from London with Mediterranean-style beaches, this getaway won’t break the bank

Britain is approaching the final stretch of winter, with warmer weather hopefully just around the corner.

Whilst you might assume a lovely getaway requires jetting off overseas, the UK boasts plenty of stunning destinations perfect for a weekend retreat – and this seaside gem stands out as the finest of them all.

This picturesque town sits less than two hours from London, with train tickets starting at just £14, making it wonderfully budget-friendly. It offers Mediterranean-style beauty featuring sandy shores, clifftop rambles and mouth-watering cuisine, yet retains quintessential British character through its Victorian promenades and harbour.

The beautiful spot in question is Broadstairs in Kent, is dubbed the jewel of Thanet.

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This sheltered coastal resort brims with sandy beaches, clifftop trails, independent cafés and seafood establishments, all conveniently accessible from its Victorian promenades and harbour.

For those who enjoy exploring on foot, there’s Viking Bay – a stunning horseshoe-shaped beach bordered by pastel-coloured huts.

Visitors can catch waves at Joss Bay, or traverse clifftop paths across Botany Bay for breathtaking vistas over the Channel.

If you’re after a more urban-style escape, there’s an abundance of independent retailers and dining spots to discover.

Independent cafés and seasonal eateries nestle alongside traditional fish-and-chip shops and family-owned institutions like Morelli’s Gelato, which dates back to the 1950s.

The town also boasts renowned literary connections. Charles Dickens spent his summers here at Bleak House.

This delightful coastal town brims with character, and the beauty of it is you won’t need to shell out hundreds of pounds or mess about with passports to experience it — eimply jump on a train and discover what’s on offer.

Pete Walls, Co-Founder of Split My Fare, remarked: “Broadstairs shows that you don’t need to go abroad for that coastal escape because clean beaches, local culture and atmospheric streets are right on our doorstep, and the train makes it easy to get there.”

Winning tip: Out-of-body experience in Sorrento

We had our wedding reception at the Grand Hotel Royal in Sorrento, south of Naples. We danced to two guitarists playing Justin Bieber’s Despacito with our 50 guests singing and dancing along with us. We watched as the sun began to melt into the Mediterranean Sea from this time-capsule hotel balancing on the edge of a cliff. I floated out of my body and felt a rush of euphoria – perhaps it was the limoncello spritzers. We’ve returned many times and I get the same rush – the gelato, the pizza, the people, it feels as if I’m in a Richard Curtis film.
Charlotte Sahami

A cosy whisky bar amid the majesty of Skye

Skye’s dramatic landscape and stunning viewpoints make the perfect romantic getaway. It’s steeped in history and captivating walks, such as the otherworldly Fairy Pools and the isolated Neist Point. We stayed at the Cuillin Hills Hotel where there’s a cosy drawing room with a fireplace and a great whisky bar. The rooms are comfortable, stylish and each one has a super-king-sized bed. However, the highlight is the Michelin-recommended restaurant which offers exquisite food with expansive views out over Loch Portree and the pretty harbour.
Nic

The silence of Slovenia’s Lake Bled

My girlfriend rowed us across the glassy water of Lake Bled in a wooden pletna, the only sound the creak of oars and the occasional splash of a swan settling nearby. The place is famously picturesque, but the island in the middle of the lake itself felt like a secret; quieter, stiller. It felt like ours for the evening. We climbed up the 99 steps to the Church of the Assumption, then sat on the worn stone as the sun dropped behind the Julian Alps, turning the lake amber and rose. Neither of us spoke. We didn’t need to.
Tom Cowie

A second honeymoon in San Sebastían

San Sebastián always does it whatever your romantic life stage! Amazing food (of course); two iconic, beautiful, sweeping beaches; views to die for; hotels to fit all budgets. My partner and I went first in 2001, pre-kids and marriage. We enjoyed the cheap wine and clubbing till 4am. We went back in 2013 – a second honeymoon – Hotel Monte Igueldo on the cliff top (reached by funicular) still has the best view of any hotel we’ve ever been to. We went back in 2023, with our late-teens kids renting an apartment – they did their own thing (loved it), and we recreated those bar crawls and walks on the beach – wonderful.
James

Chilling on the Seine in Paris

The best place for a romantic weekend? Off Paris Seine is a floating hotel and bar, permanently docked on the Seine River near the Gare d’Austerlitz, with an infinity swimming pool. It does brilliant breakfasts that are worth every euro. Walk it off by heading out to stroll along the quays to Île Saint-Louis. Hopefully, you’ll work up an appetite in time for wonderful Bouillon de l’île, a vegetarian restaurant only open to 3pm. So delicious. Carry on strolling Le Marais and then chill with the Monet water lilies at Musée de l’Orangerie. The city centre is a lot more pedestrian and cycle-friendly these days. Paris has been transformed.
Sarah Ackroyd

Fairytale gardens near Stuttgart

The Ludwigsburg Palace Gardens close to Stuttgart has an area called the Fairytale Garden where fairytales have been recreated in beautiful surroundings. You can ask Rapunzel to let down her hair and see Hansel and Gretel’s house. This may sound childish, but it is actually a very nice outing, including for couples who can be childish together (and are perhaps inspired about future sons and daughters!).
Asa

A roof terrace sunset in Venice

Two bedraggled tourists; after hours spent tramping the streets of Venice in the rain, we had one mission remaining. Arriving at the Danieli Hotel in soaked kagouls but sporting our most charming smiles, we pleaded with the concierge to be allowed up to the hotel’s renowned roof terrace. Our reward? As the clouds finally parted, a glorious sunset and unrivalled panoramic views over tiny gondolas in San Marco basin, the Grand Canal, and the Venetian lagoon beyond. With a couple of gins, we celebrated 30 years of love, life, and the thrill of romance.
Kate Harris

The love language of Seville

The gardens of the Real Alcázar in Seville are exquisite with their orange tree-lined avenues and pristinely kept paths – perfect for an afternoon walking hand-in-hand in the Seville sunshine. It’s easy to find a quiet corner of the enormous grounds to sit and contemplate life together or while away an afternoon at the easygoing cafe enjoying the warm air and each other’s company. The palace is also a maze of fabulous courtyards and if your love language involves visiting scenes from Game of Thrones together, then this also ticks the boxes (the Real Alcázar was the setting for the Martell family’s gardens and palace in Dorne).
Layla Astley

IF the bright blue waters and white sands of the Maldives are a little out of reach, then apparently you should head to Scotland instead.

The archipelago of Orkney happens to be one of Lorraine Kelly’s favourite holiday destinations, and even compared it to far-flung hotspots.

Talking to The Times, Lorraine Kelly revealed: “One of my favourite places is Orkney, where I’ve been going annually since 1985 and I still haven’t seen everything.

“It’s fascinating if you’re interested in prehistory, with Skara Brae — a stone neolithic settlement — Maeshowe tombs and wonderful ancient sites.”

She added: “I hosted the opening ceremony of the Orkney International Island Games last year and the sun shone like it was the Maldives.

“You need to pack your bikini and a balaclava. It can be sunshine in the morning and snow in the afternoon but it’s beautiful and I would live there in a heartbeat.”

GO SEA IT

£9.50 holiday spot with shipwrecks, seals offshore & horseshoe-shaped waterfalls

SIGHT SEA

£9.50 holidaymakers’ favourite Skegness activities… away from the beach

Orkney is an archipelago of around 70 islands and scattered across them are some incredible Maldives-like beaches.

Some of the top ones are Rackwick Bay on the north west of the island of Hoy.

The beach is surrounded by cliffs and heathery hills – and on the beach is fine sand and boulders.

The island of Sanday is known for extensive white sand with popular beaches including Backaskaill Bay and Whitemill Bay.

Another of the islands, Stronsay, is known for its quiet, untouched coastline with one of the standout beaches being the Sands of Rothiesholm.

Aside from beaches, there are small towns dotted around the island that can be explored too, starting with Kirkwall.

Kirkwall is the capital and of the Orkney Islands and a few years ago was declared the friendliest place in the country.

It was so friendly that locals even left their doors unlocked.

In 2023, it was voted the number one most welcoming destination by Booking.com, Kirkwall climbed from its previous second position.

When it comes to where to stay, Lorraine’s hotel of choice is the Foveran – just a few miles outside of Kirkwall.

Visitors can stay at the hotel with a bed & full Orcadian breakfast stay from £135 per night (single), or £175 (double).

A full Orcadian breakfast typically includes sausages, bacon, fried eggs, and black pudding, along with Orcadian bere bannocks (a rustic barley bread), smoked fish, and Orkney cheddar.

Each room has a TV, tea and coffee making station, free Wi-Fi and luxury Scottish Fine Soaps products in the bathrooms.

When it comes to other spots to explore, visitors often head to The Old Man of Hoy – on the island of Hoy.

The Old Man of Hoy is a 449ft sea stack made of Old Red Sandstone – it’s the UK’s tallest sea stack and a popular spot for rock climbers.

Visitors can get to Lamb Holm from one of the causeways in the Orkney islands.

Orkney is also a popular place for wildlife. And while you might not spot all the marine life that you get in the Maldives – there are some, like dolphins.

There have been over 12 species seen in Orkney over the years, like the bottlenose, white-beaked and Risso dolphins.

If you want to see them – peak viewing season is May to September.

Orkney is a prime destination for whale watching, with 90 per cent of orca sightings occurring there.

You’re likely to see lots of birds there too like puffins, guillemots, and razorbills.

The island of North Ronaldsay is home to its own breed of sheep with the same name.

They live on the rocky shores and exist on a diet that is made up of seaweed – which is incredibly rare.

When it comes to getting to Orkney, you can fly directly to Orkney with Loganair – the airline has direct routes to Kirkwall from Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.

There are three main ferry routes to and from Orkney – NorthLink Ferries sail between Aberdeen and Kirkwall.

Here are more of the UK’s best islands that have been named, and they look more like the Caribbean and Maldives.

And here are five islands off the coast of the UK you can visit without needing your passport.

Surrounded by stunning Georgian architecture, it feels like you’ve stepped back in time, and it’s no wonder this city has been used as a filming location for Netflix’s Bridgerton

Britain boasts countless cities, each with its own unique character, but one historic gem stands out as possibly England’s most stunning. Its streets exude a timeless charm and relaxed atmosphere, featuring an eclectic mix of independent boutiques and upmarket retailers, while food lovers will find themselves spoilt for choice.

Now, Bath in Somerset looks set to become an even bigger draw for tourists as visitors discover this enchanting city has served as the backdrop for some of Netflix’s most talked-about releases. The globally acclaimed series Bridgerton filmed scenes throughout this Georgian city – and with the latest series now available on Netflix, eagle-eyed fans might recognise some Bath landmarks.

The city also played host to the three-part Agatha Christie Netflix adaptation ‘Seven Dials’, featuring Mia McKenna Bruce, Helena Bonham Carter and Martin Freeman.

I paid a visit last year, though it wasn’t my first trip as I’m based in a nearby county – yet this magnificent place never fails to leave me awestruck. While it has an affluent feel, ordinary residents call Bath home, too.

The city appears pristine and secure, with no shortage of distinctive shops to peruse or purchase from. Magnificent residential areas such as the Royal Crescent in Bath harken back to the 1700s, serving as perfect filming locations for costume dramas, reports the Express.

Properties on Bath’s Royal Crescent have an average selling price of £585,000, as per Rightmove. However, if that’s a bit steep for you, there are plenty of stunning period holiday homes available for short stays while you explore these famous filming locations.

You can actually step foot inside No. 1 Royal Crescent, the fictional home of Bridgerton’s Featherington family. This curved street also served as the backdrop for many of the show’s most memorable scenes.

The Georgian property, No. 1 Royal Crescent, has been converted into a museum, adorned and furnished in the style of the late 1700s, allowing visitors to “step into the lives of the Featheringtons”.

With recent releases from Netflix and BBC, Bath is being tipped as the UK’s “next biggest tourism destination” for 2026. But the city has long been a popular spot for tourists, thanks to its historical landmarks, unique Roman Baths and connections to famed English author, Jane Austen.

To help fans plan the ultimate getaway and immerse themselves in the worlds of Bridgerton and Seven Dials, a UK holiday lodge provider has delved deep into the internet to uncover the Georgian city’s most iconic filming locations from both hit shows.

According to research by holidaylodges.co.uk, there are five must-visit filming locations in Bath.

At the city’s North Parade Buildings, you can follow in the footsteps of Martin Freeman and Mia McKenna Bruce. These honey-coloured old buildings form part of a Grade II listed Georgian terrace.

The leafy location sits near Bath Abbey, which also features in Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials.

The stunning North Parade Buildings can be seen during a sequence where ‘Bundle’ (portrayed by Bruce) tails Superintendent Battle (Freeman).

Meanwhile, Bath’s Great Pulteney Street serves as the setting for Seven Dials’ action-packed car chase sequence. This thoroughfare is frequently described as the city’s most impressive street, stretching towards the magnificent Pulteney Bridge.

This location also serves as an excellent starting point for enthusiasts keen to discover Bridgerton filming locations, with the Holbourne Museum and the Royal Crescent just a brief stroll away.

The cobblestoned Abbey Green square in the city appeared in both Seven Dials and Bridgerton, making it essential viewing for period drama enthusiasts. In Bridgerton, the Abbey Deli frontage in this location doubled as the ‘Modiste’ dress boutique.

Meanwhile, at The Holbourne Museum, guests can discover Lady Danbury’s rather grand home, wandering around the refined exterior and stunning grounds of the museum as though visiting Lady Danbury’s opulent residence in Bridgerton.

The finest accommodation options near Bath, for enthusiasts wanting to transform their screen-inspired visit into a rural retreat, features gorgeous lodging just 30 minutes’ drive from the city, according to holidaylodges.co.uk.

Midnight Moon, a chic, luxury timber-framed lodge boasting a peaceful setting and stunning outdoor area, serves as an ideal base for a restful and scenic retreat near these thrilling filming locations. Rates begin at £465 per night.

The Barn in Wiltshire presents another excellent choice for a peaceful rural escape close to Bath. Featuring French doors opening onto a private courtyard, this superb wooden-clad barn is well-suited for a family, small group or two couples, with prices starting from £171 per night.

This unspoilt beach is dog-friendly all year round and offers pristine golden sands, dramatic Jurassic cliffs and ‘unreal’ walks – visitors say the ‘gorgeous’ water feels worlds away

A hidden beach boasting vast stretches of pristine golden sand, encircled by striking cliffs and crystal-clear blue waters, is being praised as essential viewing by tourists.

This secluded beach in North Yorkshire, situated between Filey and Scarborough, offers unspoilt vistas and picture-perfect scenes that seem almost too beautiful to be real – yet it’s right here in Yorkshire.

Found just off the A165, approximately three miles from Scarborough, this remote retreat is truly idyllic, particularly for dog owners, as it’s exempt from the seasonal dog ban enforced by North Yorkshire County Council which affects other well-known beaches in the area.

The seaside panoramas at this beach are utterly breathtaking, showcasing a fusion of Yorkshire’s wind-swept rolling countryside and sweeping expanses of golden sandy shoreline.

It comes as no surprise that Cayton Bay Beach was recognised as one of Britain’s finest beaches in 2024.

A significant attraction for visitors, this coastal gem is delightful to explore whatever time of year you decide to go. It’s a spot of untouched natural magnificence and provides an ideal base for discovering the Yorkshire Coast, reports Yorkshire Live.

Cayton Bay Beach tends to remain relatively tranquil throughout the year and avoids the noise of crowded hordes.

With its serene ambience and abundant golden sands, tourists have described feeling as though they’ve been transported far from the rugged North Sea, with many even suggesting it resembles a holiday beach overseas.

A favourite destination for surfers, birdwatchers, adventure enthusiasts and fossil hunters, or simply those looking to unwind and recharge, Cayton Bay Beach offers the ideal retreat to enjoy peace and breathtaking views, with its dramatic limestone cliffs dating back to the Jurassic period over 150 million years ago.

Equally cherished by surfers and windsurfers alike, this bay confronts the full force of the North Sea. The beach is home to one of Britain’s oldest surf schools, with The Scarborough Surf School conducting surf lessons at Cayton since 1989.

Cayton Bay Beach boasts crystal-clear waters perfect for paddling and is also regarded as a popular location for learning to surf and kayak. It’s worth noting that the current at this beach can be rather powerful, so swimmers are cautioned against venturing too far from shore.

Today, the northern stretch of the coastline still reveals several World War II pillboxes discovered by beachgoers, with that section of the bay known as Johnny Finton’s Harbour.

It’s not difficult to understand why many have dubbed Cayton Bay Beach North Yorkshire’s hidden treasure, nestled amongst undulating hills. Visitors can wander for hours across the sand whilst savouring peaceful coastal walks, taking in Cayton Bay’s magnificent beauty.

Rocky formations at one end offer possibilities for climbers, whilst vast stretches of sand and sea extend along the shoreline. It truly is regarded as an idyllic beach – and when the weather’s on your side, you could easily imagine you’ve been transported to some far-flung paradise abroad rather than Cayton Bay Beach.

Holidaymakers can’t help but rave about this ‘hidden gem’, with one sharing on Tripadvisor: “What a stunning place the walk to it was unreal. It looked like a holiday beach water was gorgeous just stunning all round we had a lush day here definitely going back”.

Another beach fan said: “A beautiful stretch of England’s East Coast, a bay that allows a peaceful retreat in outstanding natural beauty. Nice sandy beach with grassy hills to sit. A great cafe (Salty Dog) with nice staff offering a wide range of treats at expensive prices.”

A satisfied visitor wrote: “A stunning beautiful beach, great for a walk when the tide is out. The children love running on the beach. It is a steep walk back up but well worth it.”

Meanwhile, one guest added: “Stunning scenery. Gorgeous beach. Lots of surfing going on. Great for walking the dog when the tide is out. You need to be reasonably fit to get back up the hill.”

It’s worth bearing in mind that both the descent to the shore and the ascent back are quite challenging, and those with restricted mobility, along with wheelchair and pushchair users, may struggle considerably with the route.

Additionally, there are numerous steps near the final stretch of the walk leading to the beach, which takes you through a picturesque woodland setting.

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