TripAdvisor Reveals the Top Ten Romantic Hotels in Britain

LONDON, February 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- From North Yorkshire to Windermere, Hotels That Ignite the Flame of Love

TripAdvisor is getting Britain loved up. The world's largest travel site today reveals the ten most romantic hotels in the UK, as decided by TripAdvisor travellers.

Despite the fact that a recent TripAdvisor poll revealed that (49%)* of Brits do not even plan to celebrate Valentine's this year, it doesn't mean Brits are devoid of romance.

"Perhaps Brits are just too savvy or Valentine's Day is too busy or too expensive for many to justify a lavish celebration, but the hotels in this list offer Britain's best romantic escapes whenever the urge may strike," comments Emma O'Boyle TripAdvisor spokesperson.

Whether booking before, on or after Valentine's Day, these hotels are romantic 365 days a year.

1. Yorebridge House, Bainbridge, North Yorkshire, England

Yorebridge House is picturesquely situated on the riverside at the edge of beautiful Bainbridge. The hotel, perfect for a romantic rendez-vous, is set amidst the breathtaking scenery of the North Yorkshire Dales with rooms featuring private gardens and outdoor hot tubs. One TripAdvisor traveller said ''We fell totally in love with the Yorebridge, so booked to go back for our wedding anniversary later in the year."

2. Dormy House Hotel, Broadway, Worcestershire, England

Dormy House is a uniquely converted farmhouse dating back to the 17th century. Situated high above the village of Broadway, the hotels grounds are in a rural setting overlooking the beautiful Cotswold countryside. As one TripAdvisor traveller explains, ''Back from one night with my boyfriend at the Dormy House in Broadway. One word to describe our weekend - FANTASTIC.''

3. Hassop Hall Hotel, Bakewell, Derbyshire, England

Hassop Hall Hotel is located in the picturesque village of Hassop, near Bakewell. Set in beautiful gardens and rolling parkland, the hotel is a relaxing retreat. According to one TripAdvisor traveller, ''This is country house living of the highest order and I recommend Hassop Hall to anyone who enjoys a luxury break.''

4. Velvet, Manchester, England

Located in Manchester city centre, Velvet is set in a vibrant and lively area. The hotel boasts 19 individually designed bedrooms and three luxurious suites, decked out in four poster beds, sumptuous fabrics and chandeliers. As one TripAdvisor traveller explains, ''We arrived at the hotel for our engagement celebrations and we were thoroughly impressed with the hotel.''

5. Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons by Orient-Express, Great Milton, Oxfordshire, England

Le Manoir, nestled in the picturesque Oxfordshire village of Great Milton is surrounded by lawns, flower borders and orchards. Created by celebrated chef Raymond Blanc, Le Manoir has been delighting guests since 1984. One TripAdvisor traveller comments, ''We spent the weekend at Le Manoir to celebrate a significant wedding anniversary. Everything was perfect.''

6. Oakley Hall Hotel, Basingstoke, North Hampshire, England

Built in 1795, Oakley Hall has a distinguished past. Formerly owned by the Bramston family, it is mentioned fondly in Jane Austen's letters to her sister Cassandra at the turn of the 19th Century. Oakley Hall is a fine venue for a country retreat. A TripAdvisor traveller comments, ''A perfect romantic stay, shame we couldn't stay longer.''

7. The Arden Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Arden is located in the heart of historic Stratford-upon-Avon, directly opposite the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company Theatres. The luxuriously renovated Arden boasts chic new spacious suites with beautiful views over the River Avon. One TripAdvisor traveller recalls, ''The whole experience was a pleasure for my wife and I on our wedding anniversary.''

8. Merchant Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Situated in the heart of Belfast city centre's historic Cathedral Quarter, the Merchant Hotel is a harmonious blend of Victorian grandeur and Art Deco inspired sleek modernity. The Merchant is a short distance from a host of visitor attractions including Victoria Square Shopping Centre, and the Odyssey Arena. One TripAdvisor traveller explains, ''All in all we had a fantastic weekend away and would highly recommend The Merchant for a special couples getaway.''

9. The Marine Hotel, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England

The Marine Hotel was opened in May 2008 on Whitby's Habourside and features opulent rooms with sea views and private balconies. According to a TripAdvisor traveller, ''We have just returned from having a fantastic weekend that I booked for my fiancée for Valentines. Perfect in every way.''

10. Holbeck Ghyll Country House, Windermere, Cumbria, England

Built in the 19th Century, Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel is one of the Lake District's finest luxury hotels, boasting breathtaking views over Lake Windermere. A TripAdvisor traveller comments, ''We stayed here for our honeymoon, and would love to go back. It was the best place I have ever stayed.''

"This list recognises Britain's most romantic hotels as decided by TripAdvisor travellers," said Emma O'Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. "They're perfect for a loved-up weekend not just on Valentine's Day, but whenever couples crave a cosy few days away."

Britain's most romantic hotels were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor's Popularity Index and traveller ratings of specific property attributes.

*Poll taken 1,500 TripAdvisor.co.uk users between 27th January and 2nd February 2011

Notes to Editors

Britain's most romantic hotels were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor's Popularity Index and traveller ratings of specific property attributes. TripAdvisor's Popularity Index is a proprietary algorithm that determines traveller satisfaction based on a variety of sources, including TripAdvisor hotel reviews. The hotel review process on TripAdvisor also allows travellers to "grade" hotels based on a variety of attributes, including cleanliness, value and suitability for specific types of travellers.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor(R) is the world's largest travel site, enabling travellers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travellers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.

TripAdvisor(R) Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million unique monthly visitors* across 17 popular travel brands**. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 40 million unique monthly visitors***, 20 million members, and over 40 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 27 countries worldwide****, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travellers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.

TripAdvisor Media Group websites have been recognised as top travel resources in 2010 by Condé Nast Traveller, Good Housekeeping, TIME magazine and Travel + Leisure.

TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Group are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).

TripAdvisor, More Flyerpower and the TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

(c)2011 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Media Group Sites, Worldwide, August 2010

** In addition to TripAdvisor, The TripAdvisor Media Group of websites includes: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.cruisecritic.com, http://www.familyvacationcritic.com, http://www.flipkey.com, http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk, http://www.holidaywatchdog.com, http://www.independenttraveller.com, http://www.onetime.com, http://www.seatguru.com, http://www.sniqueaway.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.travel-library.com, http://www.travelpod.com, http://www.virtualtourist.com and http://www.kuxun.cn.

***Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, Worldwide, August 2010

**** TripAdvisor sites operate in 27 countries worldwide: http://www.tripadvisor.com, http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk, http://www.tripadvisor.ca, http://www.tripadvisor.it, http://www.tripadvisor.es, http://www.tripadvisor.de, http://www.tripadvisor.fr, http://www.tripadvisor.jp, http://www.daodao.com, http://www.tripadvisor.in, http://www.tripadvisor.se, nl.tripadvisor.com, http://www.tripadvisor.com.br, http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr, http://www.tripadvisor.dk, http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx, http://www.tripadvisor.ie, http://www.tripadvisor.com.au, http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg, http://www.tripadvisor.co.kr, no.tripadvisor.com, pl.tripadvisor.com, th.tripadvisor.com, http://www.tripadvisor.ru, http://www.tripadvisor.com.gr/, http://www.tripadvisor.co.id and http://www.tripadvisor.com.ar.