Weekend Away

April 4, 2006 8:47 AM

1st Wedding Anniversary help. Have read all of the other threads on idea's for 1st anniversary gifts and have decided on booking a weekend away. Now the bit I need your help on. Where to go for a romantic weekend in the UK (not London, both of us work there). Complication is, my wife will be 7 months pregnant, so bonus points for nice relaxing things to do whilst we're away. Weekend in question is last weekend in April.

This will be our last weekend away before the baby is born, so I want to make it special for her. Budget isn't unlimited but is healthy. Any advice on really nice hotels in suggested areas appreciated as well.

posted by lloyder to Travel & Transportation around United Kingdom (10 answers total)

This book is filled with really decadent, romantic hotels in the UK and Ireland. It's definitely worth a look if you're into that sort of thing.

Alternatively, Bath is a great city - lots of really nice places to stay, eat and relax. Because it's quite small, it's a managable trip, and shouldn't involve stupid amounts of walking.

I stayed there a few years ago, and stayed in a really lovely B&B where they would actually come into your room in the morning and lay out a silver service continental breakfast on a table at the bottom of your bed. Though I can't remember the exact details..
posted by ascullion at 9:32 AM on April 4, 2006

I can recommend the Tresanton near St Mawes in Cornwall. It's not cheap but the hotel is astonishingly nice - properly luxurious and wonderfully relaxing. There are lovely gentle coastal walks straight from the hotel if you fancy an amble, a few really good pubs nearby as well as all the good places to visit nearby (Eden project etc.). It's a fairly long drive down to Cornwall on a Friday evening so perhaps take Friday afternoon off and go earlier if you can.

On preview: Mr & Mrs Smith is a great guide (the Tresanton is in there I think) and their website, though not very easy to use, has lots of good places.
posted by patricio at 9:37 AM on April 4, 2006

Consider Brighton. It is so close to London travel time about 1hour 20 minutes. It is easy to walk around and there is plenty of sight-seeing for one weekend. Also you won't arrive back in London completely exhausted from the trip, which a 7 months is a big factor believe me! The atmosphere at night is good, interesting mix of options. Nice hotels, great shopping.
posted by Wilder at 10:03 AM on April 4, 2006

I can't offer any location specific information, but if you can work a spa visit into your trip I'm sure your bride would love a nice massage or other spa treatments.
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 10:39 AM on April 4, 2006

softsummer: might that be dangerous during pregnancy?
posted by Izzmeister at 12:16 PM on April 4, 2006

Lavenham Priory in Suffolk (about 2 hours drive from London) is beautiful.
posted by essexjan at 12:54 PM on April 4, 2006

Prenatal massage, barring highrisk pregnancies , is fine after the first trimester of pregnancy and is often incouraged. I would avoid therapists who work in spas as few are well trained in prenatal massage. Lloyder if you decide to go the massage route I would first check with your wife's ob/gyn then hunt down a massage therapist who specializes in prenatal massage.
posted by a22lamia at 1:08 PM on April 4, 2006

Izzmeister: Spas are generally ok for pregnant women. The Sanctuary in Covent Garden has a special deal for expectant mothers called "Baby Love"
posted by patricio at 1:08 PM on April 4, 2006

I wouldn't recommend Brighton. On the first warm weekend of the year half of London ends up here, and there's a fair chance that's going to be soon. So it's going to be anything but relaxing.

I second the country hotel & spa ideas. Somewhere like this perhaps? (very close to London, and they offer pregnancy treatments too!)
posted by ClarissaWAM at 1:16 PM on April 4, 2006

The north Yorkshire Dales would be great, especially if you stay on a farm. However, I would recommend this place in deepest Devon. I confess I haven't been there for ten years but it used to be the favourite romantic getaway spot of my ex-wife and I. It's countrified, a bit remote (well, as much as you can ever be remote in England, picturesque, warm... and the restaurant and bar used to do fine foood and good beer.
posted by Decani at 5:02 PM on April 4, 2006