Luxury Overnight Getaways from the UK: 5 Perfect Weekend Escapes

Sometimes a day trip is not quite enough. One night gives you time for a proper dinner, an unhurried drink and a slow breakfast before flying home. That makes these breaks ideal for couples squeezing more from a weekend and parents who have managed to arrange an overnight escape. Palma brings adults-only beachside comfort, Copenhagen combines design with exceptional food, Limoges offers a quieter French interlude, Lausanne pairs Swiss calm with lakeside scenery, and Lisbon delivers views, atmosphere and late-night energy.

1. 01

   Palma — adults-only relaxation beside the Mediterranean

   Palma works when the hotel is part of the holiday, not simply somewhere to sleep. Iberostar Waves Bahía de Palma is an adults-only beachfront option in Playa de Palma, close to the airport and within easy reach of the old city. Its rooftop pool, spa, buffet restaurant, Mediterranean-inspired dining and bars create the polished, switch-off experience that a one-night parent getaway needs. Check the board basis carefully, as inclusions can vary.

   1. Explore Palma Cathedral and the old town. Start around La Seu, then wander the lanes, courtyards and small shops behind the waterfront before stopping for coffee in a shaded square.
   2. Make lunch a Mallorcan occasion. Look for pa amb oli, local seafood and a glass of island wine around Santa Catalina or La Lonja rather than rushing between attractions.
   3. Leave time for the hotel. Return to Playa de Palma for the beach, spa or rooftop pool, followed by sunset drinks and dinner without needing to plan another journey.
   4. Walk the seafront in the morning. A gentle promenade before breakfast gives the trip a final Mediterranean moment without putting your return flight under pressure.
2. 02

   Copenhagen — art, design, palaces and destination dining

   Copenhagen is the city break for couples who want every part of the weekend to feel considered. Stay centrally — Hotel Sanders is a smart boutique splurge near Kongens Nytorv — and the airport metro, museums, royal sights and restaurants all remain easy to reach. Book Sticks’n’Sushi before travelling, especially for a Saturday evening, and keep Sunday for art or design rather than trying to race through both museums.

   1. Choose art at SMK. Denmark’s National Gallery brings together Danish, Nordic and European collections in an elegant setting beside the Botanical Garden.
   2. See Danish design up close. Designmuseum Danmark is the place for furniture, craft, fashion and the ideas behind the clean-lined objects associated with Copenhagen.
   3. Walk between the royal palaces. See Amalienborg and the Marble Church, then continue through the old centre towards Christiansborg for towers, courtyards and harbour views.
   4. Have dinner at Sticks’n’Sushi. Order a mix of sushi and grilled yakitori-style sticks, then finish with cocktails in one of the group’s atmospheric Copenhagen restaurants.
3. 03

   Limoges — porcelain, medieval lanes and a slower French weekend

   Limoges is the understated choice: compact, characterful and far calmer than France’s headline weekend cities. It suits couples who would rather browse a market, linger over lunch and discover local craft than work through a long list of blockbuster sights. For a special stay, look at La Chapelle Saint-Martin outside the centre; a central hotel is more practical if you want to explore entirely on foot.

   1. Discover Limoges porcelain. Visit the Adrien Dubouché National Museum to understand the craft that made the city famous, then browse local porcelain shops for a lasting souvenir.
   2. Wander the Quartier de la Boucherie. Explore the Upper Town’s narrow streets and half-timbered buildings before stopping at Les Halles Centrales for regional produce and lunch.
   3. Walk through the Cité district. See Saint-Étienne Cathedral, the Bishop’s Gardens and the quieter old lanes that descend towards the River Vienne.
   4. Admire Limoges-Bénédictins station. The city’s domed Art Deco station is a sight in its own right and makes an unexpectedly grand final stop before the journey home.
4. 04

   Lausanne — Swiss peace and quiet above Lake Geneva

   Fly into Geneva, follow the signs to the railway station inside the airport and take a direct train to Lausanne in around 50 minutes. The easy transfer gives you Geneva’s flight choice without having to stay in the busier city. Once you arrive, Lausanne feels calmer and more restorative: choose an elegant lakeside hotel in Ouchy, slow down and let the views across Lake Geneva towards the Alps become the main event.

   1. Stroll along the lake at Ouchy. Walk the landscaped waterfront, stop for coffee or a glass of Swiss wine and watch the boats crossing Lake Geneva beneath the mountain skyline.
   2. Visit the Olympic Museum. Lausanne is the Olympic Capital, and its interactive museum and sculpture-filled grounds make an engaging cultural stop beside the lake.
   3. Explore the old city and cathedral. Take the metro uphill, wander the historic lanes and visit Lausanne Cathedral for broad views over the rooftops, lake and Alps.
   4. Make time for a peaceful dinner. Book a lakeside table or dine in the old city, then return to Ouchy for an evening walk without the pressure of a packed nightlife itinerary.
5. 05

   Lisbon — tiled streets, river views and a glamorous evening

   Lisbon earns the extra night because its evenings are as important as its monuments. A central stay such as Bairro Alto Hotel puts Chiado, the riverfront and late dinner within easy reach, while a rooftop drink makes the overnight feel like an occasion. The city is hilly, so group sights by neighbourhood and leave space for coffee, pastries and a long Portuguese meal.

   1. Climb through Alfama to the castle. Begin high at Castelo de São Jorge, then walk downhill through Alfama’s tiled lanes towards the viewpoints at Portas do Sol and Santa Luzia.
   2. Spend a morning in Belém. Visit the Jerónimos Monastery, walk along the Tagus towards Belém Tower and stop for a warm pastel de nata before returning to the centre.
   3. Watch sunset from a miradouro. Choose São Pedro de Alcântara or Santa Catarina for a drink and a broad city view as Lisbon’s rooftops begin to glow.
   4. Make the evening last. Book a special dinner in Chiado or Bairro Alto, then find live fado or a rooftop cocktail — the pleasure of staying overnight is not watching the clock.