The experts looked at factors such as the number of romantic hotels and Michelin restaurants.
Scotland Now Alexander Smail Tourism Writer 14:57, 13 Apr 2025
A Scottish city has been named the best in the UK for honeymoons. All over Scotland, there are picturesque cities, towns, and villages that would be perfect for a romantic getaway, but one has come out on top.
On Tuesday, Bridebook shared a list of the cities that are the best for a honeymoon getaway. The experts considered factors such as the number of honeymoon hotels, Michelin star restaurants, and scenic hikes.
Coming in at number one for the whole of the UK is Edinburgh. The city was described by Bridebook as "the perfect place to indulge and unwind after the big day".
Receiving an overall score of 60, the Scottish capital was singled out for its history, culture, and luxury. According to the experts, it is also home to 34 Michelin-starred restaurants, 141 spas, and three well-known hikes.
The only other Scottish city to feature on Bridebook's list of 15 is Glasgow. It placed seventh, with a score of 36.
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Meanwhile, coming in second place, with a score of 56, is London. According to the experts, the English capital features a vast choice of almost 200 luxury honeymoon hotels and 168 Michelin-starred restaurants.
Meanwhile, Manchester ranks in third place with a score of 52. This northern city was described as "another great option for those looking to unwind and put their feet up", with 84 spas to choose from—more than 15 per 100,000 people.
Bridebook’s recent 2025 Wedding Report showed that more than one in six newlywed couples last year decided to have their honeymoon in the UK rather than travelling abroad. With the UK embracing the trend of sustainable travel, many newlyweds are opting to support local tourism by staying within the country,
Edinburgh
According to the report, honeymooning in the UK is also a great way to save extra pennies. It revealed that the average staycation honeymoon costs 42 per cent less than other European destinations, and 65 per cent cheaper than a trip to America or the Caribbean.
Co-founder and CEO of Bridebook Hamish Shephard commented: "The increase in UK honeymoons is part of a wider shift we are seeing across our Wedding Report. We are seeing a growing split between the maximalists and minimalists.
"With an increasing number of couples choosing unplugged ceremonies and smaller celebrations, it’s clear that some couples are turning their back on the Instagram hype and are choosing to have a more dialled-down, authentic day in each other’s company closer to home. You can see a similar reflection in the honeymoon shift too.
"It’s great to see that there are some amazing honeymoon destinations across the UK. Not only are staycations often cheaper options for couples, it’s also a great chance to explore a new city a little closer to home.
"It proves that couples can look after their pennies but still have a honeymoon to remember."
READ MORE: The Scottish seaside resort town once named 'worst' that is perfect for day outTo put together their list, the experts used TripAdvisor and the Michelin Star Guide to find the number of number of "romantic" hotels, spas, Michelin Star restaurants, and hikes in each UK city. They then compared this to the population to give each city a score for each data point, this was then combined to give the overall ranking for the best honeymoon destinations.
Read on for the full list of the the top UK cities for honeymoons. More information can be found on the Bridebook website.
The top UK cities for honeymoons
1. Edinburgh
2. London
3. Manchester
4. Leeds
5. Cardiff
6. Liverpool
7. Glasgow
8. Sheffield
8. Newcastle
10. Coventry
10. Bristol
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10. Birmingham
