A clutch of the best couples retreats peppered up and down the UK to help you reconnect with your partner
19 March 2023
When we’re young, imaginations dancing with fairytales and fanciful dreams for the future, the idea that falling in love and living ‘happily ever after’ might take work seems as far removed from reality as the notion that our favorite teddy doesn’t love us back. As teenagers making our first foray into the world of romance, it is often too easy for our friends to dub a union that feels less than perfect a waste of time. Yet, I viscerally remember the thunderbolt realization that— as my grandmother put it— the best and most sustaining relationships do take work.
This is not to say we should ignore important markers, like gut instinct, when determining whether to work on or walk away from a bond that feels a little frayed. Acknowledging that the honeymoon phase is called as such for a reason—it’s a finite, almost dreamlike period—is crucial. In today’s world, with distractions aplenty, carving out time to nurture our relationships is more challenging than one might anticipate. Consequently, couples retreats offer a remedy for twosomes looking to elevate themselves above the daily grind and dedicate meaningful time to each other.
Here, we’ve curated a selection of the best couples retreats to help you reconnect with your partner and rediscover love. True romance is all about this depth of connection.
The Life Change People’s Therapy Retreat, Essex Coast
If participating in group workshops and revealing your feelings in front of others seems daunting, The Life Change People have devised an alternative: private sessions. Their unique therapy retreat features a customized 20-hour program that progresses at your pace, allowing you and your partner to access sessions with relationship counselors and life coaches. By the end of your stay, you will have created a personal Relationship Change Plan, outlining what changes to make and how to implement them, thus providing a roadmap for moving forward together.
The Arrigo Programme, Somerset
Boasting over 35 years of experience with couples and individuals, the Arrigo Programme is an award-winning formula of rest, healing, and recovery, tailored specifically for each participant. While many attend alone, the retreat caters to couples aiming to re-engage or navigate significant life challenges. Accommodations are self-contained, nestled in the tranquil surroundings of rural Somerset. Though the lodgings may not be five-star, they focus on life’s simple comforts—fresh flowers, candles, and wood-burning fires. Each morning, breakfast is taken care of, allowing you to find space to simply ‘be’ while also learning about self-care by attending to your individual needs.
Y42 Radical Loving Couples Retreat, Lincolnshire
This immersive four-day retreat takes place several times a year in a 400-year-old manor house by the North Sea. Conducted by life coaches and breathwork instructors, the retreat specializes in helping couples enhance intimacy and rejuvenate their connection. Throughout the program, couples will challenge limiting beliefs that hinder their bond and learn to articulate their needs as individuals and partners. Engaging heart-opening workshops alongside sea walks, garden strolls, and visits to nearby temples enrich the experience.
Total Immersion Couples Therapy Programme, various UK locations
Ideal for those looking to get ‘unstuck’ in their relationship or breathe new life into their union, this immersive program spans four or five consecutive days of intensive sessions with dedicated therapists across various UK locations (as well as at a dedicated retreat in France). The program emphasizes rapid engagement, enabling couples to confront deeper, long-standing issues that may not surface in traditional weekly therapy settings. This escape is particularly beneficial for couples who have felt lost in search of solutions.
Yoga Nidra Meditation Retreat For Couples, Isle of Mull
Escape to the Inner Hebridean island of Mull for an enriching five-day experience of reconnection with nature. Nestled just a five-minute walk from the harbour, the retreat offers a serene environment conducive to shedding daily stresses. Although not structured specifically for couples nor featuring therapy sessions, the program allows participants to reset and engage in self-discovery through bodywork, breathing techniques, and meditation practices. This toolkit of relaxation and rejuvenation will last long after your stay on the island.
Relationship Retreats, Sussex & Kent
Offering both individual and small-group retreats, the objective of this program is to support every couple in need, regardless of their situation or budget. Led by experts with over 25 years of industry experience, their expertise extends to media acknowledgments. The retreat collaborates with Champneys and also provides immersive 24-hour retreats across the South East of England. Uniquely, ongoing support is offered, allowing couples to continue coaching and therapy beyond the retreat, alleviating pressure to fully resolve issues in a limited timeframe.
BirthTactics Bump, Bubbles and Bonding Retreats, Northamptonshire
Initially held at The Falcon Hotel in Northamptonshire, these retreats assist expectant couples in relaxing while discussing aspects crucial to pregnancy, labor, and birth preferences before welcoming their baby. Blending spa treatments with guided antenatal classes and one-on-one support, these retreats provide invaluable quality time for couples in anticipation of their new arrival.
