Stuck for ideas for Valentine’s Day?
If a steamy night in a London hotel or an oyster-tasting session (they’re aphrodisiacs, apparently) don’t suit, why not go cross country?
We’ve planned out a romantic road trip that you could do with your partner, taking you through some of the UK’s prettiest spots.
Starting in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, our route takes you through the gorgeous Cotswolds to the historical town of Bath in Somerset.
The 70 mile trip only takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes, so there is plenty of time for some pit stops along the way…
Drink at…The Old Stocks Inn, Stow-on-the-Wold
Quaint but definitely not twee, The Old Stocks Inn is a modern take on a Cotswolds classic.
Honey-coloured, grade II listed and taking pride of place on the main square in chocolate-box village Stow-on-the-Wold, it ticks all the traditional boxes but is really hip too.
The new cocktail lounge is its pièce de résistance – a 1930s-inspired art deco hangout with bright sofas you can sink into and a cool black-and-white chessboard floor.
Grab a Waterlily (£12.50), a heady blend of Cotswolds Dry Gin, Cointreau, violet liqueur and lemon, and watch the world go by.
Stroll by…Bourton-On-The-Water
If you can’t take your loved one to Venice this Valentine’s Day, take them to the Venice Of The Cotswolds, Bourton On The Water, which is awash with pretty sandstone cottages and 18th-century bridges that straddle the River Windrush.
If model villages are your thing (and since their hilarious appearance in the film Hot Fuzz, they are for us), the one here is seriously impressive, and is the only grade II listed one in the UK.
If it isn’t, a scour though the antique shops and a stroll by the water will set you up between the Insta moments.
Unwind at…The Gainsborough Bath Spa Bath
The only hotel spa with direct access to Bath’s natural thermal waters, The Gainsborough’s acclaimed Spa Village is worthy of the hype.
With three big, bubbling thermal pools, the largest of which sits under a glass-roofed atrium, its looming columns and mosaiced walls give a Romanesque feel that’s stylish and not forced.
A sauna, steam room and 11 treatment rooms complete the swanky set-up. Treat yourself to the Gainsborough signature massage, a classic full body Swedish treatment involving frankincense with rosemary and pine essences (no gold or myrrh, sadly).
From £120pp.
Walk about…Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Whatever you want out of a walk, you will find it in the Cotswolds, England’s largest officially designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a rural jigsaw of river valleys, water meadows, beech woods, ancient limestone villages and historic market towns.
The Cotswolds and Burford circular walk is a gentle six-miler, starting from the mellow stone buildings of medieval town Burford, before winding its way around unmade farmland paths and back via a peaceful stretch along the banks of the River Windrush.
Prepare for a bit of mud but nothing too taxing besides a few stiles, a cattle grid or two and, of course, a kissing gate.
Visit…Heythrop Zoological Gardens, Heythrop
This private zoo and animal training centre has the largest collection of exotic animals in the UK and is home to lions, tigers, zebras, monkeys, wolves and even a two-toed sloth.
Dedicated to its three core values of inspire, educate and advance, Heythrop’s mission is to educate visitors on animal welfare and behaviour, advance animal training standards worldwide and inspire the next generation to be the guardians of the animals they protect.
All of the animals are clearly happy, healthy and incredibly well cared for.
Learn about where they all came from on a guided tour or book in advance to get up close – but not too close – to Cori, its very rare pygmy hippo.
For prices, contact the zoo at heythropzoologicalgardens.org
Must see…Castle Combe, Wiltshire
There’s quintessentially English and then there’s Castle Combe, arguably the prettiest village in the whole of the country – so fairy-tale, in fact, that it starred as the picture-postcard backdrop to Steven Spielberg’s epic movie War Horse.
Nestled in a wooded valley, architecturally not much has changed here since the 15th century. There are no street lights, TV aerials or electricity cables, just sleepy streets of golden Cotswolds stone cottages built either side of the ambling Bybrook river, which flows gently through its heart.
Head to St Andrew’s Church and spot the faceless clock, which is one of the oldest working clocks in Britain.
Take a pic at…Roman Baths, Bath
Just a few minutes from the equally Instagrammable Pulteney Bridge, which incidentally got its 15 minutes of fame masquerading as part of the River Seine in the film adaptation of Les Mis, you’ll find the city’s mind-blowing Roman Baths.
Other than the addition of a few emperor statues, the 2,000-year-old Roman Baths and the ruins of the temple of goddess Sulis Minerva have been impeccably preserved and are a sight to behold.
The Great Bath, an enormous pool flanked by imposing columns, is the jewel in the complex’s crown. Open until 10pm, it’s torchlit as night falls, creating a flawless spot for your Insta-worthy snap.
From £17.50.
Eat at…Thyme Southrop
Thyme, on the gorgeous Southrop Manor Estate, ticks some seriously cool boxes: Kate Moss used to prop up the bar at its ivy-clad sister inn down the road, The Swan (due to reopen in May), but more importantly, it’ll feed, water and treat you and your better half to some sumptuous home-grown goodies.
As the name suggests, the menu is modern seasonal British, with ingredients coming from the estate’s farm, herb and vegetable gardens and fruit and nut orchards.
Blitz it in the 19th-century Ox Barn, before browsing Thyme’s Botanical Bothy and Bertioli beauty ranges for an emergency ‘I love you’ gift. Win-win.
Detour to…Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire
Home to 2,500 species of trees gathered from the far corners of the world and five national tree collections, Westonbirt is a multicoloured natural wonderland that’s not only renowned for its botanical beauty but also for its commitment to conservation.
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