Paris

Truly the City of Romance, Paris has it all when it comes to sweeping your lover off their feet. The food, wine, culture and language all combine to make you feel extra special and there are lots of opportunities for soaking up the wonderful atmosphere.

Everyone knows about the Eiffel Tower, but there are two other ways to get high with your honey. The Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame both provide stunning views of the city. There are few better places to put your arms around your lover than atop these two attractions. Some would even argue you get a better view, because the Eiffel Tower is so tall the city is too small from that height. And at Notre Dame, you get the bonus of being close to the gothic gargoyles.

There are, of course, endless opportunities to eat and drink well in Paris, at venues to suit every budget. You could try a coffee at the infamous Deux Magots cafe, frequented by Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso, or visit the Cafe Procope, allegedly the world’s oldest restaurant. Be sure to notice Nelson’s hat while you are there, which he is supposed to have left when he could not pay the bill!

Venice

Some would argue that this incredible city has to be the most romantic destination of all time. It has barely changed since Marco Polo’s time and you really feel that you might bump into Casanova round the next corner.

Of course a gondala ride is the most famous way of wooing your lover, but if you don’t want to take out a second mortgage to do it, why not take a traghetto (gondola ferry) across the Grand Canal for less than one Euro each? Or catch the vaporetto (water bus) up and down the Grand Canal and even across to the Lido and the other islands.

Venice herself is the main attraction here, although of course the Doge’s Palace and Piazza San Marco are iconic landmarks; and you can stop by for a drink in the world-famous Harry’s Bar. Just remember you might need to pack an extra suitcase full of money if you expect to eat or drink in St Mark’s Square!

New York

For a romantic break that simply oozes style, it has to be New York.

Swoon over Central Park – enter at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue (just across from the Plaza Hotel, where Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones got hitched), then head north past Wollman Rink (featured in the tearjerker Love Story) before catching a ride on the antique carousel. Merge onto the Literary Walk, a path lined with statues of Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, and the like. Up ahead is the Naumburg Bandshell, which played a part in Breakfast at Tiffany’s; to the west (beyond Lilac Walk) is Strawberry Fields, the teardrop-shaped green space adopted by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. And you haven’t even left Central Park yet!

It is easy to find stylish boutiques, stunning food and cosmopolitan bars in the city that never sleeps. Try the Russian Tea Room, where the political elite have rubbed shoulders with writers, actors and artists since 1927, or eat in style at the critically acclaimed Blue Ribbon Sushi in Manhattan.

Rome

There are some incredibly romantic places you will not want to miss, especially if you visit the Eternal City during the summer. Visiting these places with your loved one can provide a lifetime experience, a Thousand and one Night story to be told to you friends and make them envious for decades!

From the Gianicolo, Rome unrolls in front of your eyes on this popular yet always cosy and full of atmosphere belvedere. Walk slightly further, and you can sit on the quiet steps of the amphitheatre Quercia del Tasso. Who cares if there’s no show while you’re there. The company will be enough!

When you start to get tired, experience Rome’s romantic beauty by letting yourself glide on the waters of the Tiber with your other half. Starting from Ponte Duca d’Aosta and ending on Isola Tiberina and back, you will see some of the city’s jewels, such as Saint Peter’s or the Gianicolo, from an unusual standpoint and of course have time to snuggle up to your lover!

Polperro

For something a little closer to home, but just as romantic, head to the beautiful historic fishing town of Polperro in Cornwall. Cosy in winter and dazzling in summer, the narrow winding streets lead down to a bijou working harbour which still brings fresh fish every morning.

You can snuggle in front of the real fire and tuck in to some of that fresh fish with real ale in the Three Pilchards, or enjoy fine dining in Couch’s Great House. Get your walking boots on and follow the stunning coastal paths over the bright turquoise sea, or visit some of the local attractions such as the award-winning Eden Project, where you can wander hand-in-hand through the mists of a tropical rainforest!

Wind tunnels have been used for years to test the aerodynamics of cars. Then some bright spark came up with the idea of flipping one upright and jumping into the airflow – and body flying was born. The wind tunnel is a 120mph wall of air, easily strong enough to support your weight, so that you can experience freefall without the need to jump out of a plane. You’ll start off with a safety briefing from your instructor before being kitted out with your specialist flight suit. Then step into the wind tunnel with your instructor, where you’ll be lifted into the air for two incredible 60 second sessions of body flying. As a comparison, during a skydive from 10,000 feet, you would experience around 30 seconds of freefall. If you’re lucky, your instructor will jump on the flow and show you some astonishing freefall acrobatics. Your flying session will end with a debrief, and you’ll also get a DVD of your flight to take home.

Lots of people assume that the most exciting thing you’re likely to see in the coastal waters round Britain is a mackerel. In fact there is a staggering variety of marine and bird life living happily round our shores – and with this experience you’ll get the chance to see it for yourselves. You’ll be welcomed at the marina, before going aboard your boat and heading out. You might see bottlenose, common or striped dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks, minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales (yes, whales and sharks around Britain!), atlantic grey seals and visiting seasonal sea birds including skuas, sabine’s gulls and the fabulously-named sooty shearwaters. Of course these are all wild animals so we can’t guarantee which ones may make an appearance on the day, but we can guarantee a fascinating and eye-opening experience.

Get your competitive spirit going with close yacht racing – combining the freedom of the open water with the thrill of racing and the satisfaction of hands-on involvement. You’ll be on board a modern Sigma 8 metre keelboat, a performance boat. First you’ll meet your instructor and the crew, before heading to the yachts for a safety briefing. Training includes hoisting sails, helming, practising the most efficient methods of manoeuvring the yacht and learning how to keelhaul landlubbers (or maybe not). Then you’ll be briefed on the rules of the race, which takes place on a floating ‘race track’. And it’s all hands on deck – you’ll participate fully in crewing the yacht during the race, putting into action everything that you’ve learned and pitting you against the competition and the elements. Afterwards you’ll retire to the clubhouse for results, and you’re welcome to go for a well earned drink with the instructor and crew in one of the local bars afterwards.

An excellent, centrally located base for exploring the many delights of London, these exclusive apartments sit conveniently just 3 minutes' walk from Liverpool Street Station. Stylish and spacious, with a designer feel, the open plan apartments feature solid wooden floors, leather sofas, sleek modern kitchens and marble-clad bath suites. Enjoy a relaxing, contemporary home-from-home whether you're staying on business or for pleasure. Shops, restaurants and cafes abound at nearby Broadgate, Leadenhall Market and Petticoat Lane, while Oxford Street and the bright lights of the West End are just a short tube trip away.

Just minutes away from the O2 and ExCel venues, this new development of luxury apartments enjoys easy access to Central London and Canary Wharf – perfect for either business or pleasure. Boasting a space ten times that of a typical hotel room, each exquisite apartment features a contemporary design, beautiful furnishings, its own balcony, broadband and complimentary Molton brown products. A 24 hour concierge service truly completes the luxury! With excellent transport links via the Central and Jubilee lines and Docklands Light Railway, this is an ideal base for enjoying the numerous bars, restaurants, shops and attractions cosmopolitan London has to offer.

Enviably located in 3 ½ acres of peaceful private gardens in the centre of London, these luxury serviced apartments are bordered by the Thames, surrounded by bustling Westminster and boast a fantastic array of on-site facilities. Contemporary chic meets effortless charm here – sofas by leading interior designers and superking-size beds are among the features creating a sophisticated, relaxing ambience for business trippers and leisure seekers alike. Tate Britain, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace are within easy reach. A short walk to Pimlico station means Oxford Street, the London Eye and many fine restaurants are only 10 minutes away.

Very few spectator sports are quite so thrilling as horseracing (and not just because you've put a week's wages on at 33-1). But an incredible amount of hard work goes into racing before the horses even get to the racecourse, and you'll get a glimpse of it during your morning with top racehorse trainer Charlie Mann at his Lambourn stables, in the heart of horse racing country. You'll have an early start – but at least the experience begins with a hearty farmhouse breakfast with Charlie and one of his jockeys. Then you'll head out to the gallops, where you'll watch the horses being put through their morning training session. You'll learn about the training and groundwork that it takes to turn a horse into a champion – and get some tips on spotting a winner. Charlie has trained over 400 winners and can answer all your questions. We can't guarantee that it will turn your donkeys into dead certs, but we can guarantee a morning of enjoyment and insight.

Very few spectator sports are quite so thrilling as horseracing (and not just because you've put a week's wages on at 33-1). But an incredible amount of hard work goes into racing before the horses even get to the racecourse, and you'll get a glimpse of it during your morning with top racehorse trainer Charlie Mann at his Lambourn stables, in the heart of horse racing country. You'll have an early start – but at least the experience begins with a hearty farmhouse breakfast with Charlie and one of his jockeys. Then you'll head out to the gallops, where you'll watch the horses being put through their morning training session. You'll learn about the training and groundwork that it takes to turn a horse into a champion – and get some tips on spotting a winner. Charlie has trained over 400 winners and can answer all your questions. We can't guarantee that it will turn your donkeys into dead certs, but we can guarantee a morning of enjoyment and insight.

Horse riding isn't just spoiled little girls cajoling fat ponies round the gymkhana course – it's relaxing, exciting and refreshingly outdoorsy. So whether you're a novice or an experienced rider we're sure that you'll love this riding day. Staff always appreciate an early arrival so that you can all get registered and help make sure the experience begins promptly and runs to time. You'll start off with a half hour lesson within the grounds of the riding school, during which your instructor will assess your abilities to plan your next activity. Then you'll either continue with your lesson or go out on a hack (including walk and trot) in lovely English countryside or woodland. On your first visit, cantering is not allowed outside the arenas. Over the course of the experience you'll have three hours' riding, taking place before and after a hearty three course lunch, which you'll thoroughly deserve – riding is pretty physical and there's nothing like fresh air to make a person hungry!