Don’t wish you were sunning yourself on a beach or strolling through Paris with your Valentine today. Believe it or not, Britain is officially seen across the globe as a great place to wine and dine your loved one.
VisitBritain’s post-2012 Games research indicates that along with our world renowned culture and heritage, the country is full of hopeless romantics.
The findings come from a survey where 15 countries were asked to choose from a series of adjectives they think most accurately describes visiting the UK. The research followed extensive worldwide coverage of the Royal Wedding (above), The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In the “romance” category, high spending Chinese along with equally affluent UAE visitors top the table with 28 per cent of respondents seeing Britain as a romantic place to visit. India, another of the BRIC countries, came a close second with 27 per cent, joint with South Korea. But it’s not quite “from Russia with love” as the Russians and Japanese battle it out for third place with a quarter seeing Britain as a place to share with your nearest and dearest.
As an average across all markets, one in five suggested Britain is a romantic location. According to the country ranks, European markets dominate the top 10 list of destinations considered to be “romantic”, with France and Italy regularly vying for top spot and the UK coming a creditable seventh.
Patricia Yates of VisitBritain said: “Why go to Paris, Bruges or Venice when we have London, the majestic Highlands and the natural beauty of Snowdonia to enjoy?
“Whether it’s Michelin-star dining right across the country, a marriage proposal at the top of the Shard or being treated like royalty in a Scottish castle, there’s plenty to indulge in – no matter what visitor tastes or budgets are.”
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, VisitBritain has put together some romantic suggestions for visitors, whether it’s a first holiday as a couple, a marriage proposal, a honeymoon or just an excuse to treat your loved ones.
