WHERE TO STAY

The Reading Rooms (from £140; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-thereadingrooms) is just a stone’s throw from Margate’s sandy beach. This restored Georgian town house exudes pared-back grandeur with a dash of French shabby chic and hints of the industrial. Breakfast is always served in the room – perfect for a lazy morning on a romantic getaway.

19. THE ISLES OF SCILLY

Britain’s answer to a glorious island getaway, the Isles of Scilly are transformed when the sun hits their shores, turning the water to topaz and the sand a chalky white. Glinting off the south-west coast of Cornwall, these cosy isles are the perfect spot for a getaway for two. The lack of other people is conducive to a bit of alone time, with unspoilt beaches and windswept coastal walks in almost every direction. Hop on a small boat, or if you’re feeling adventurous a kayak, and venture out to one of the uninhabited islands like Teän for a secluded picnic on your own private slice of Britain.

20. THE LAKE DISTRICT

The birthplace of English Romanticism, the Lake District’s undulating snow-dusted fells, vast glacial lakes and whimsical market towns like Hawkshead, Windermere and Ambleside have inspired writers, artists and poets for centuries. From Ambleside, follow in the footsteps of misty-eyed bards Wordsworth, Southey and Coleridge and take a leisurely six-mile (9.6km) romp over Wansfell to Troutbeck to cosy up in one of the fireplace snugs in the Mortal Man (themortalman.co.uk), a rugged pub overlooking Windermere. Or dine out on local rare-breed meat and Whitehaven seafood at the Old Stamp House (oldstamphouse.com) in Ambleside.