TripAdvisor Reveals the Top Ten Romantic Hotels in Britain

By Tripadvisor, PRNE
Tuesday, February 8, 2011

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

LONDON, February 9, 2011 - 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: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com,
www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com,
www.flipkey.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk,
www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveller.com,
www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.sniqueaway.com,
www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com,
www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com and
www.kuxun.cn.

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

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

For further information please contact: Laurel Greatrix, TripAdvisor, +44-(0)777-8013639 / lgreatrix at tripadvisor.com

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