VisitEngland's Top 5 Places to Propose

If you’re planning to pop the question this Valentine’s Day, we hope you’re putting plenty of thought into your proposal. A romantic short break should help get you the answer you want – after all, who doesn’t want a partner with plenty of romantic surprises up their sleeve? – so here are our top places to propose on holiday in England.

With countless romantic spots among the elegant Georgian streets and a heritage reaching back to pre-Roman times, Bath is the fail-safe choice for a proposal. At its centre is Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths, heart of Bath’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Right next door is Thermae Bath Spa, with a rooftop pool overlooking the city’s smoking chimneys and honey-coloured buildings – it’s incredibly romantic. If you’re worried about dropping the ring in the water, head to the Palladian Bridge, which stretches over the tranquil lakes in the majestically landscaped grounds of Prior Park. With its own little roof, the charming 18th century bridge is the perfect secluded location to pop the question.

You may feel some extra anxiety over your choice of ring in York, hoping that it reflects the majestic finery of York Minster.  After climbing all 275 steps to the top of this gargantuan cathedral you might also find yourself a little light-headed and find it hard to get up again after you take bended knee but it’ll be worth it for those breathtaking shared views out across the medieval city.  

It’s quite rightly the most popular place to propose in the UK, but you can still find an isolated part of this idyllic landscape to make your move. With the looming mountain peaks and glistening lakes, there is nowhere else quite like the Lakes. Derwent Water is a stunning body of shimmering tranquillity, perfect for a little private boat trip. Hire a boat and float away to a remote spot and try not to rock the boat as you get down on one knee.  

The magical Puzzlewood has been the setting for a number of BBC dramas and has to be seen to be believed. A geological oddity, the sinuous woodland path twists through this mysterious and enchanting setting taking you between moss-covered rocky outcrops and beneath ancient trees, meaning there are countless hidden nooks to seize your moment in. In fact, JRR Tolkien is said to have taken inspiration for the forests of Middle Earth from here, so this place is perfect for proposals to fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings! If you’re planning to catch your partner off guard after Valentine’s Day, during the bluebell season Puzzlewood an even more mesmeric location with the forest floor carpeted in vivid bright blue.

In Norfolk the skies are endless and the horizon stretches on and on in every direction. A place of breathtaking natural beauty with the awe-inspiring Norfolk Broads and a bewitching coastline, it’s easy to get happily lost in nature here. The Windmill at Cley is cast majestically against the skyline. Now a hotel with an intimate little restaurant and comfy rooms, the mill tower looks out across the reed beds and salt creeks. The wooden viewing platform which wraps its way around the outside of the structure might just be your perfect place…