Embracing Love In The Best Destination Wedding Locations
6 Best Minimoon Destinations In The UK For Post-Wedding Relaxation
You’ve heard of a honeymoon, but do you know what a minimoon is? As the name suggests, it’s a smaller version of your honeymoon. Tradition dictates that the happy couple get married and then jet off on a honeymoon. Couples did this for decades before realising something profound: you don’t always want a long holiday after the stress of planning a wedding. So as part of our honeymoon tips, in this post, we’ll delve into some of the best minimoon destinations in the UK.
The average couple spends 15 months planning their special day. That’s over a year of dealing with countless vendors, searching for the ideal destination, making a guest list, picking table settings, etc. It ends up in the happiest day of your life – but there’s a big comedown after the wedding that most people don’t talk about. It burns you out, so the last thing you want to do is hop on a plane and deal with the stress of a holiday.
That’s where the idea of minimoons became popular. They’re smaller trips that you take after your wedding to relax and unwind. You don’t go anywhere far – they tend to be staycations – and the idea is to spend time as a newly married couple before getting back to your lives, yet without the added stress of a massive holiday. You plan your honeymoon for a few months later (or even a couple of years down the line), ensuring you get the best of both worlds.
Now that you know what a minimoon is, where are the best places to enjoy one? Here are some of the top minimoon destinations in the UK for a chilled-out experience after your wedding day:
Minimoon in London
London is the obvious choice in any worldly list of best minimoon destinations. It might be a busy city, but there are plenty of relaxing and enjoyable things to do as a couple. For starters, it has a large array of luxury hotels and spas for you to stay in. This is the type of accommodation you dream of after a busy year of wedding planning. Let all the stress melt away in a hot tub or steam room while you wait for the first of your multiple daily massages.
London is on almost every list of best Minimoon Destinations. Photo by Ksenia Shibakova on Pexels.com
Spend the entire minimoon locked away in your spa hotel or head out into London to enjoy some fun couple’s activities. If your looking for a romantic trip down the river on a magnificent boat, you can try one of the beautiful Thames River cruises in London. Most of these cruises include dinner and drinks, maybe with a smattering of live music. It’s wonderfully romantic and would be the perfect first date for a married couple!
You also have endless restaurants for delicious evening meals – not to mention the gorgeous West End theatre. London is a bundle of things to do with the freedom to plan your minimoon around how you’re feeling.
Watch this video to get a glimpse of a lovely Thames River cruise:
Minimoon in York
York would easily be among my top favorite minimoon destinations. If you want a relaxing and peaceful minimoon, then pack your bags and head to York. It’s one of the oldest cities in the UK, and Roman walls still surround parts of it. The architecture here is fantastic – it’s like you’re walking through a massive Diagon Alley from Harry Potter!
York’s sheer beauty is enough to make even the most stoic person crack a smile. You’ll love wandering the streets with your new husband/wife, pointing out huge Gothic cathedrals or quaint boutique shops. There’s a lot to do in York and its nearby areas, as it’s a prime place for walking, eating, and taking in some local culture.
Watch this video to get a glimpse:
Most of the hotels or Airbnb’s here are very beautiful and reasonably priced. You can hole up in a cute room for two and take yourself away from the hustle and bustle of normal life for a few days. It’s the perfect minimoon destination in that you won’t need that long to experience the city’s biggest wonders. An extended weekend away will do the trick as you unwind from your wedding and enjoy a few fun days together.
Minimoon Edinburgh
There’s a beauty to Edinburgh that makes it one of the UK’s most romantic cities, and therefore one of the most romantic minimoon destinations in the country. It’s also always at the top of the “best cities to visit in the UK” lists made by popular travel blogs and magazines. There’s enough to do to keep you occupied without it feeling like you’re rushing around. Edinburgh is a mixture of modern delights that meet traditional wonders – and it could be a great location for your wedding anyway!
Like any big city, Edinburgh is home to a suite of luxury hotels with all the home comforts you could need. Again, set yourself up in one of the spa hotels for the ultimate relaxation experience, or venture slightly outside the city for a nice Airbnb in the countryside.
Watch this video to get a glimpse of a minimoon in Edinburgh:
Edinburgh is one of those cities where you can walk around for hours and stumble upon great things to look at or do. It’s a city made of stunning views – so make sure you head to Edinburgh Castle for the best scenes. You’ll find this atop Castle Rock, with panoramic views across the entire city. It’s one of those moments where you put your arm around your new spouse and feel truly lucky to be where you are in life.
Minimoon in The Lake District
England’s largest National Park is located in the northwest. It gets its name thanks to the vast lakes dotted around the area, making for some truly scenic views. The Lake District is the perfect weekend or week-long getaway for all couples, especially when you’ve just got married.
Being a National Park means there are many things to do, yet also not that many. You’re mainly going on long walks around the lakes or heading out for activities on the water. Stargazing is a hot activity here, thanks to a lack of cloud cover and year-round clear skies. Can you think of anything more romantic than sitting with your new husband/wife as you gaze up at the glittering night sky?
Watch this video to learn more about what you can do in the Lake District:
By far the best thing about a minimoon in the Lake District is the accommodation. As a place that’s basically in the middle of nowhere, you’re unlikely to find traditional hotels. Instead, you’re looking at Airbnb for a choice of delightful cottages, chalets, shepherd’s huts, cabins and everything in between. There are some extremely cosy and romantic places to stay, with hot tubs and splendid views across the lake.
Minimoon in Cornwall
The county of Cornwall is found in the southwest of England and is famed for many things. There’s Cornish clotted cream, fudge, beaches, surfing and much more. It’s a popular summer destination for UK families who don’t want to go abroad but still want to experience sandy beaches and summer vibes.
However, go there for the rest of the year, and you’ll find a peaceful place with the perfect setting for a minimoon. Cornwall is like the Lake District in that it’s peppered with little cottages and romantic places to stay. Some of these places have large bathtubs overlooking the beaches or big hot tubs to help you stay warm and cosy.
Watch this video to get a glimpse of minimoon in Cornwall:
The entire Cornish area is absolutely wonderful, and you’ll find loads of top walking routes. It’s one of those places that’s impossible not to love. Also, and this may sound strange, but the fact it’s so far southeast makes you feel detached from the rest of the country. This gives you the illusion of feeling even further away from your normal life, which is just what you need for a minimoon.
Minimoon in Bath
The elegant city of Bath is nestled in Somerset and surrounded by areas of outstanding beauty. The city itself is small and rather peaceful, yet it’s also packed with things to do. The Roman Baths should be at the top of your list – and there are also lots of modern spas in the city as a nod to its heritage.
Bath is a stunning city that’s perfect for a short weekend away after your wedding. You can stay centrally, but broaden your scope to some surrounding towns/villages and it becomes even better. The nearby area of Bathampton is small and full of lovely local pubs and great walking routes. You can walk to Bath along the canal in 20 minutes – but this gives you a chance to stay in some wonderfully romantic abodes.
Watch this video to learn more about what you can do in Bath:
It’s worth looking for shepherd’s huts or log cabins as fields and wildlife surround Bath. You wake up in a very cosy bed with your loved one as you hear the sounds of deer or sheep nearby. It’s as peaceful as it gets – but you’re still not far from the centre of Bath and all the shops, cafes and restaurants this city produces. Those of you planning a winter wedding will love a Bath minimoon even more as it has some of the best Christmas Markets in the country.
Which Minimoon Destinations Will You Pick?
Remember, your minimoon shouldn’t replace your honeymoon! You still need to go on one of those, but there’s less pressure to plan a trip alongside your wedding. Save your big honeymoon for a time when you’re less stressed, and keep the post-wedding blues at bay with a lovely minimoon. You don’t have to go far to find somewhere magical!
