Marrying the person of your dreams might be the icing on the cake for you, but why not add some more luck to your lives by honeymooning in England? You don't even have to be even a little bit Irish or interested in history to thoroughly enjoy what this country has to offer. From the lush rolling hills to the cozy pubs and dreamlike cottages, this is a setting meant for adventure, exploration and relaxation. Plus, if you and your partner have always wanted to visit another country, this is the perfect excuse to get far away and take on another area of the world together.
Follow the Rainbow to Your Romantic Accommodation
Deciding on an accommodation can be difficult, because there are so many romantic options. For instance, do you see yourself honeymooning in a contemporary luxury hotel or quaint cottage near the seaside? What makes you comfortable and how pampered you want to be on this getaway are two questions that will most likely help you decide. For example, if you're both feeling lazy, there won’t be a front desk at the cottage to serve you breakfast in bed. On the other hand, who needs breakfast in bed when you can whip up an omelet and breathe in the fresh ocean air right off of your deck?
The One Aldwych, in the center of London, is a modern hotel with extraordinary amenities. Accommodations include fresh flowers and fruit daily as well as air-conditioning and use of the 56-foot lap pool (it has underwater music!), gymnasium, sauna and steam rooms. Not to mention the hotel also has a private art collection with over 400 pieces. So if you’re a young, hip couple looking to spoil each other, this might be your calling.
How can you go to England without thinking about the Beatles? If the two of you are fans, stay at the Hard Day's Night Hotel in Liverpool, England. The John Lennon suite displays a white piano, which would be perfect for a late night serenade. There are also two restaurants close by called the Blakes and Brasserie, so if you don’t want to leave your hotel for too long, you can have a quick casual dining experience.
A more classic choice is the Green Lawns Hotel, which is on the Cornwall countryside. This hotel has the award winning Garras Restaurant, sub-tropical gardens and a blend of Victorian and modern architecture. Another popular wedding site is the Holbeck Ghyll, which is a romantic country house hotel in the English Lake District. At this hotel, you can be pampered at the spa or take part in croquet and woodland walks. Oh, and your dog can come along too!
A hotel might be too much unlike home for your preference, so check out the thousands of charming rental cottages, condos, homes, bungalows and apartments. You can find ones close to the places you plan to sightsee, or you can track down more secluded ones close to the beach where you can lay in the sun and take pleasure in midnight swims.
Luck of the Draw: Everywhere is Magical
When you're with your prince or princess, anywhere can be an amazing experience as long as you're together. Since England has both ancient and ultramodern appeal, it has different types of entertainment to offer. You might prefer the traditional experience or create a balanced view of England by taking in its historic landmarks and awing at the modern upgrades.
A natural tourist attraction is the Cotswolds, which was designated as an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.' This region of 790 square miles has river valleys, gentle hillsides, water meadows, beech woods, ancient limestone villages and historic market towns. Here you can take in the scenery while horse riding, walking, cycling, golfing, camping and caravanning. Giddy up, right?
Don't miss the Leeds Castle in Maidstone, Kent, especially if you want more romance, intrigue and majesty mixed into your honeymoon. The castle sits on 500 acres and is a time capsule full of art, antiques and history. Some features include the maze, aviary, the Dog Collar Museum and Culpeper Garden.
There are endless historic sites to see and museums to visit depending on your particular interests, but you can also research where you came from at the UK Genealogy Archives. How can you and your partner know what the future holds if you don't look back on where the two of you came from?
Maybe going back in time isn't your thing, so discover the supernatural side of England and visit the London Dungeons, Blicking Hall or Berry Pomeroy Castle for a frightful time. If you hear something go bump in the night, don’t forget to go running off with your mate in tow!
Four Leaf Clovers: When the Luck Runs Out
There are only four leaves on a clover, so the luck has to run out sometime. Although you might want to escape to England and live a romantic life happily ever after with your partner, you will need to return home eventually. But at least you will have the pictures and memories of an extraordinary adventure, which was either traditional, modern or a little bit of both. Before you fly out, be sure to visit a local pub and share a pint of ale so you can make a toast your future and a promise to come back soon.
-- Marina Hanes