With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, couples across the UK are on the hunt for the perfect romantic getaway. A new study has now revealed the most love-filled city destinations, ranking 50 locations based on hotel quality, affordability, and availability.

The study, conducted by FJewellery, analysed key factors such as the number of romantic hotels per 10,000 residents, average hotel rating, number of reviews, and price per night. The results might raise some eyebrows, as lesser-expected cities take the top spots over traditionally romantic destinations.

Topping the list is Ipswich, which claims the crown as the UK’s ultimate romantic retreat. With an impressive average hotel rating of 8.02 and nearly 642 reviews per hotel, the city strikes a winning balance between quality and affordability.

Though it only boasts 2.6 romantic hotels per 10,000 residents, Ipswich makes up for it with a high overall score of 76.51, proving that couples don’t need a sprawling selection of hotels to find a charming, intimate escape. Coming in a close second is Blackpool, known for its nostalgic seaside charm.

While it actually has the third highest number of romantic hotels per 10,000 residents (12.8), its slightly lower hotel rating of 7.88 pulled it just behind Ipswich with a total score of 76.26. However, with an affordable average price of just £84 (second cheapest in the study) per night, Blackpool offers lovebirds plenty of budget-friendly options for a weekend away.

Taking the third spot, Milton Keynes boasts a high hotel rating of 8.29 and over 1,200 reviews per hotel. However, with just 2.5 romantic hotels per 10,000 residents, it falls behind on variety, resulting in a total score of 60.31.

While not traditionally thought of as a romantic escape, its well-rated hotels indicate that couples visiting can still enjoy a quality stay. Cambridge, which ranks fourth, actually has the highest concentration of romantic hotels in the top 10 (14.1 per 10,000 residents).

With its historic architecture and riverside charm, it’s an undeniably dreamy destination. However, its higher hotel price (£169 per night) brings its total score down to 59.68, making it a pricier option for romance-seekers.

Rounding out the top five is Birkenhead, which offers 7.2 romantic hotels per 10,000 residents at an average price of £128 per night. With an 8.25 hotel rating and over 1,400 reviews per hotel, the city strikes a respectable balance between quality and affordability, earning a total score of 54.79.

Other Cities in the Top 10:

  • Swansea (6th): Despite having the lowest number of romantic hotels in the top 10 (2.2 per 10,000 residents), Swansea maintains a decent 8.05 rating and an average price of £125 per night, resulting in a total score of 52.46.
  • Aberdeen (7th): With 5.8 romantic hotels per 10,000 residents and a rating of 8.16, Aberdeen is a strong option for couples, though its lower total score (52.27) suggests it’s not quite at the top for romance.
  • Telford (8th): Despite having the best hotel rating in the top 10 (8.4), Telford’s low number of romantic hotels (1.6 per 10,000 residents) holds it back, placing it at 50.91.
  • Birmingham (9th): The largest city in the top 10, Birmingham boasts the highest number of reviews (over 4,000), but a lower hotel rating (7.72) and total score of 49.88 make it less of a go-to romantic destination.
  • Bournemouth (10th): With 9 romantic hotels per 10,000 residents and a rating of 7.77, Bournemouth rounds out the list, though its total score of 48.65 suggests it’s less romance-focused than some of the higher-ranking cities.

The study evaluated 50 major UK cities using four key factors, each weighted to reflect their importance to couples:

  • Number of romantic hotels per 10,000 residents (40%)
  • Average hotel rating (30%)
  • Average number of reviews (20%)
  • Average hotel price per night (10%)

By balancing affordability, quality, and availability, the ranking highlights some surprising yet delightful destinations for romance-seekers in the UK.