Top Valentine’s Day experiences at the UK’s most romantic filming locations
Looking for a weekend away with your other half this Valentine’s Day? Here are the six most romantic cities, plus the movies and TV shows filmed there.
When you think of the most romantic scene in a film, where is it set? For this Digital Writer, she always thinks of Mr Darcy walking through a field in the morning fog to meet Elizabeth Bennet, for Digital Writer Olivia it’s the Kate Moss exhibition in About Time, and we’d like to give a special shout out to Cameron Diaz for running to Jude Law’s cottage in the snow.
And what do all of those romantic scenes have in common? They’re all set in the UK! With Pride and Prejudice filming in locations like Kent, Derbyshire, Berkshire, and Stamford, About Time taking place in the hustle and bustle of London, and The Holiday’s setting is peaceful Surrey.
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, travel agent TourScanner conducted a study to find out which UK city has the highest percentage of romantic films and TV shows shot on location, making it the most romantic spot to spend Valentine’s Day with your loved one this year.
This survey is right up RadioTimes.com’s street; the 100 year Radio Times magazine is devoted to television and radio listings, and the Going Out team are dedicated to finding ways our readers can experience their favourite movies and series in real life. Just take a look at our Peaky Blinders tours, Harry Potter tours, Downton Abbey tours, plus film and TV studio tours guides.
So, we’ve listed the most romantic UK destinations below (complete with which movies and TV shows were filmed there), and suggested some fantastic experiences you can do with your other half when you visit those places. If your Valentine’s Day getaway leads to a proposal, the Going Out team will happily accept our invite!
For more romantic ideas to do in February, take a look at our best Valentine's Day ideas and gifts guide, plus here are the most romantic movies on Disney Plus.
Where are most romance movies filmed?
If you're a romance film connoisseur, such as the RadioTimes.com team, you'll know that romance movies are shot all over the world; from Ireland's PS I Love You and Tokyo's Lost in Translation, to When Harry Met Sally taking place mostly in New York and In the Mood for Love being shot in Bangkok, although it's set in Hong Kong.
However, Italy and Paris remain some of the most popular destinations for romance films. After all, the beautiful Before Sunset takes place in Paris, and Eat Pray Love in Rome.
However, you don't have to travel too far for a spot of romance, there's plenty right on your doorstep! In TourScanner's survey to find out which UK city has the most romantic films and TV shows shot on location, West Yorkshire’s Keighley took the top spot. Then in second place is Bath, with Worthing, Cheltenham, and Salisbury also having honourable mentions in the most romantic UK city list.
Experiences in the UK’s most romantic filming locations at a glance:
- Bridgerton Guided Tour of Bath for Two | £32
- Bagden Hall Hotel Deluxe Afternoon Tea for Two | £46
- Vineyard Tour and Tasting for Two at Woodchester Valley | £50
- Visit to Kew Gardens with Cream Tea for Two | £50.50
- York Sightseeing River Cruise with Afternoon Tea at Revolution Bar for Two | £55
- Afternoon Tea for Two at The Nook On Five Rooftop Restaurant | £55
- Afternoon Tea for Two at Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa | £60
- Essentials Spa Day with Lunch or Afternoon Tea at the Chakra Spa | £65
- Full-Day Stonehenge & Bath Tour with Roman Baths Museum Upgrade | from £94
- Heavenly Half Spa Day with Treatment and Lunch or Afternoon Tea at the Chakra Spa | £95
- Theatre and Dinner for Two in London | £99
- Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen Street Lounge Dining and Cocktail for Two | £100
- Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa for Two | £111
- Twilight Wellness Evening with Dinner for Two in the Spa Garden at Iveridge Hall | £120
- The Kingsbury Overnight Break with Afternoon Tea for Two | from £120
- Cotswolds: Full-Day Tour with Two-Course Lunch in 17th Century Bibury Hotel | from £128
- Ritual Spa Day with Treatment and Lunch or Afternoon Tea at Chakra Spa | £135
- Six Course Tasting Menu with Champagne at The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa for Two | £295
What are the UK’s most romantic filming locations?
Keighley, West Yorkshire
What’s filmed there? Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Emily and Downton Abbey
You’d be forgiven for not having heard of Keighley before, but once you learn this town is the UK's most romantic film location, it's sure to be on your radar. After all, the unsuspecting West Yorkshire market town has hosted 69 movies and almost 25 per cent of them have been romantic.
In the town, you’ll find beautiful buildings like the Dalton Mills, Cliffe Castle, and Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, so you can live out your period drama love story in picturesque surroundings.
While you’re in West Yorkshire, it might be a good idea to book an experience or two to really make the most of your time in the county. We’ve selected some of the most romantic activities below, and all of them involve food — lucky you!
- Buy Twilight Wellness Evening with Dinner for Two in the Spa Garden at Iveridge Hall for £120 at Virgin Experience Days
- Buy Bagden Hall Hotel Deluxe Afternoon Tea for Two for £46 at Virgin Experience Days
- Buy York Sightseeing River Cruise with Afternoon Tea at Revolution Bar for Two for £55 at Virgin Experience Days
If the spa experience has caught your eye but you're based in London, then take a look at the best London spa experiences.
Bath, Somerset
What’s filmed there? The Other Boleyn Girl, The Duchess, Persuasion, Bridgerton and Poldark
If you’ve visited Bath before, you won’t be surprised to learn that this beautiful city comes in at number two in the most romantic filming locations. 29 romantic films and TV shows are set in Bath, and with its historical roots and Georgian buildings, it has a great backdrop for period films.
Once you’ve finished visiting the romantic spots, perhaps posing for photos in front of National Trust property Great Chalfield Manor, which features in historical romance movie The Other Boleyn Girl, take a look at our hand-picked romantic experiences to do in Bath, including the Bridgerton Guided Tour.
One of our Digital Writers actually experienced the Bridgerton Guided Tour with her boyfriend, and she would wholeheartedly recommend it: “The Bridgerton Guided Tour was such a fun and immersive tour that showed off every gorgeous corner of Bath.
"Our guide was brilliant at balancing facts about the city with his (dare we say) spot-on Bridgerton impressions — it was perfect for me (the super-fan) and my boyfriend (who knew nothing at all).”
- Buy Bridgerton Guided Tour of Bath for Two for £32 at Buyagift
- Buy Six Course Tasting Menu with Champagne at The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa for Two for £295 at Buyagift
- Buy Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa for Two for £111 at Buyagift
Fancy a night at the theatre this Valentine's Day? We know the best London theatre shows.
Worthing, West Sussex
What’s filmed there? Empire of Light
The coastal town of Worthing, which is between Portsmouth and Eastbourne, is the location of romance movie Empire of Light. Empire of Light is an Oscar-nominated movie which focuses on how powerful human connection is, particularly during trying times, and it stars Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward and Colin Firth.
While we hope your Valentine’s Day plans in Worthing are a little cheerier than this film, it is the seaside in February after all! So for relaxing experiences at West Sussex’s Chakra Spa, step right this way, please.
- Buy Ritual Spa Day with Treatment and Lunch or Afternoon Tea at Chakra Spa for £135 at Virgin Experience Days
- Buy Essentials Spa Day with Lunch or Afternoon Tea at the Chakra Spa for £65 at Virgin Experience Days
- Buy Heavenly Half Spa Day with Treatment and Lunch or Afternoon Tea at the Chakra Spa for £95 at Virgin Experience Days
If you're a fan of watching romantic films at the cinema, take a look at the best luxury cinema experiences.
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
What’s filmed there? Atonement and Emma
Cheltenham is so much more than a horse racing town, it’s a great Valentine’s Day getaway location for true romantics, too. Although poppies bloom in late spring to mid-summer, you could still visit the scenic poppy field at Whittington Lodge Farm near Cheltenham, which provides a backdrop for James McAvoy’s character.
There’s also plenty of romantic days out for you and your other half in Gloucestershire county, and we’ve selected a few for you below. It's worth noting that the Cotswolds full-day tour is valid for one adult and one child, so if you're bringing your little one with you on your Valentine's Day plans, this could be a fantastic option.
- Buy Cotswolds: Full-Day Tour with Two-Course Lunch in 17th Century Bibury Hotel from £128 at Luxury Escapes
- Buy Vineyard Tour and Tasting for Two at Woodchester Valley for £50 at Virgin Experience Days
- Buy Afternoon Tea for Two at The Nook On Five Rooftop Restaurant for £55 at Virgin Experience Days
If you and your other half are art fans, we'd recommend taking a look at the best London art exhibitions and best immersive experiences. Plus, did you know The Moonwalkers with Tom Hanks has opened in London?
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Salisbury, Wiltshire
What’s filmed there? Pride and Prejudice, The Princess Diaries and Sense and Sensibility
If you’re anything like the RadioTimes.com Going Out team, you grew up watching romance movies such as Pride and Prejudice and The Princess Diaries, and you also convinced yourself that — like Mia Thermopolis — an estranged paternal grandmother was going to show up on your doorstep to tell you that you’re the sole heir to the kingdom of Genovia… Just us?
As well as being the destination for romantic films, like 2005's Pride and Prejudice, the medieval city is also home to a 13th-century cathedral, a working 14th-century clock, and an original copy of the Magna Carta, as well as being just nine miles from the historic Stonehenge.
- Buy Afternoon Tea for Two at Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa for £60 at Virgin Experience Days
- Buy The Kingsbury Overnight Break with Afternoon Tea for Two from £120 at Into The Blue
- Buy Full-Day Stonehenge & Bath Tour with Roman Baths Museum Upgrade from £94 at Luxury Escapes
Like with the Cotswolds tour, the Stonehenge tour is for one adult and one child, and for more activities to bring the whole family to, take a look at the best family days out UK.
London
What’s filmed there? Love Actually, Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Rye Lane and Bridget Jones’s Diary
Although London didn’t make TourScanner’s top five most romantic filming locations list, we couldn’t not include this capital city in our guide.
The Big Smoke has seen many great movie scenes, from Andrew Lincoln’s character confessing his love to Keira Knightley’s character via signs in Love Actually, and David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah walking through the streets of Peckham in Rye Lane.
As well as these great movie locations, there are also plenty of experiences in London to take your date on this Valentine’s Day, such as the best London walking tours, best London art exhibitions, and best London immersive experiences.
- Buy Theatre and Dinner for Two in London for £99 at Virgin Experience Days
- Buy Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen Street Lounge Dining and Cocktail for Two for £100 at Virgin Experience Days
- Buy Visit to Kew Gardens with Cream Tea for Two for £50.50 at Virgin Experience Days
Looking for a fun activity in the Big Smoke for you and your partner? Then look no further than the Balloon Museum with its giant ball pit, and the best London escape rooms.
