10 Most Romantic Towns and Villages in the UK

Portmeirion was purpose-built as a tourist village, with design work starting in 1925. While not explicitly based on the fishing village of Portofino on the Italian Riviera, you can definitely see an influence in the design of the colourful streets, pretty squares and iconic buildings.

If you’re visiting as a couple, be sure to take a walk around the striking Castell Deudraeth and its beautiful gardens. You should also take the time to enjoy afternoon tea at Hotel Portmeirion. Head to Battery Square for the best selection of souvenir shops.

Whitstable’s fresh sea air, even fresher seafood, and laidback charm has been attracting over-stressed Londoners since the 18th century. The annual oyster festival is a particular highlight, celebrating the town’s long tradition as a place with the highest quality shellfish.

With its steady pace and chilled-out atmosphere, Whitstable earns its place among the most romantic towns in the UK, especially for couples looking to enjoy each other’s company without distractions. Take a walk on the pebbly beach (with a stop for a drink at The Old Neptune), check out the little boutiques along the High Street and taste fresh oysters at The Lobster Shack or The Sportsman. They’re supposed to be an aphrodisiac, after all!

Portree may be the largest town on the Isle of Skye, but that certainly doesn’t make it a big, bustling place. The pastel-coloured houses clinging to the cliffs around the harbour conceal a very modest web of streets, most of which are lined with delightful guesthouses and seafood restaurants.

If you’re visiting the Isle of Skye as a couple, Portree is certainly a fantastic place to rest your heads at the end of a busy day taking in the island’s sights. Be sure to take a drive to the Fairy Pools, Talisker Bay, or the fairy-tale Dunvegan Castle & Gardens.

Abereiddy is very little more than a handful of houses along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path yet it ranks among the most romantic towns and villages in the UK. The star attraction is the Blue Lagoon – a coastal pool with water that appears as blue as a tropical sea. It’s not technically a lagoon since the wall between the pool and the sea collapsed, and it’s also technically not blue water as the colour comes from the slate that used to be quarried here.

Aside from checking out the lagoon and the ruined slate buildings around it, couples visiting the area should certainly check out the nearby Blue Flag beach. Taking a walk along the coastal path is also worth it for the striking views of one of the UK’s most beautiful shores.

Bourton-on-the-Water got its nickname of the “Venice of the Cotswolds” from the 5 beautiful old bridges crossing the gentle waters of the River Windrush. The little Gloucestershire village has a long history and some bizarre traditions. Visit over the August Bank Holiday to see the local football team having a kick about in the river.

For couples visiting Bourton-on-the-Water, there’s the charming riverside and picturesque streets lined with stone cottages to explore. There’s also a Grade II-listed church and an interesting selection of shops to check out, including a local perfumery, a jeweller, and a pottery. There are also a few family-friendly attractions like The Model Village and the Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection.

Fort William is a lively town on the shore of Lock Linnhe, in the Scottish Highlands, perhaps most famous for being the nearest town to Ben Nevis. The peak of the highest mountain in the British Isles is just over 4 miles away, with a footpath leading directly there from town.

If you’re looking for natural beauty, you’ll certainly find it all around Fort William, which really earns its nickname as the outdoors capital of the UK. If climbing mountains doesn’t do it for you, consider exploring the West Highland Peninsulas or the picturesque Glencoe. If you’d rather stay in town, take in the historic castles and distilleries.

The little town of Rye is located close to the coast in East Sussex with no shortage of historical charm. The old cobbled streets at its centre are lined with medieval half-timber houses, old pubs, and lovely little boutiques. Be on the lookout for local ceramics and pottery – the town’s speciality.

Built at the confluence of the rivers Tillingham, Brede, and Rother, there’s naturally plenty of boats and bridges dotted around Rye. Other highlights include the Rye Castle Museum, which includes the striking Ypres Tower. Some of the exhibits in the former prison are a little ghoulish, but the view from the top is lovely.

Bakewell is a beautiful market town in the Derbyshire Dales, with historical country estates and natural wonders all around it. The Monday market itself is a popular pull, as is the Grade I-listed All Saints’ Church, the medieval bridge over the River Wye and Haddon Hall just down the valley.

Take a walk around the quiet streets of Bakewell to discover charming boutique shops and eateries. Don’t forget to grab a slice of the town’s unique Bakewell Pudding. Take your pick between the Bakewell Tart Shop, The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop, or Bloomers of Bakewell, all of which claim to have invented the recipe.

St Ives may be known as one of the UK’s premier surf destinations, but it’s also one of the more romantic towns and villages along England's south coast. Even just getting there, coming in along the shore-hugging railway line above the white-sand beach, is an experience. Once you’re actually here, you have quaint cobbled streets, striking coastal paths, and that beautiful blue sea to enjoy.

St Ives has quite an impressive choice of first-class restaurants to try as well as a lively arts scene to discover – there’s even a branch of the Tate gallery here. There’s also a good array of shops and some cosy pubs and bars to enjoy in the evenings.

Richmond has been described as the most romantic place in the North East of England, and it’s not hard to see why. The little Yorkshire market town is ideally situated on a bend along the River Swale, with the town’s well-preserved Norman-era castle dominating the hillside, overlooking the babbling water and the delightful waterfalls.

Still need more reasons to rank this place among the most romantic towns and villages in the UK? How about the fact that it’s right on the doorstep of the Yorkshire Dales? If you don’t want to stray out of town, the narrow, cobbled streets are lined with a good selection of historical attractions, shops, and plenty of little pubs and eateries.