A romantic getaway for £1 — fancy it?

Hello Doux Hiboux,

Today we're talking about our absolute favourite topic in the whole world: holidays. Romantic holidays. CHEAP romantic holidays.

Are you with us?

We've got 5 (genuinely) original ideas to help you escape on a shoestring, because the intensity of an experience clearly has nothing to do with the number of zeros on the bill.

Whether you're after thrills, reconnection or something out of the ordinary, we've brainstormed 5 exclusive concepts for a romantic getaway for a symbolic £1.

The Urban Safari

Become undercover tourists in your own city

WE SEE EVERYDAY LIFE IN A NEW LIGHT.

Pick a trendy, bucolic or historic neighbourhood you never visit and… invent yourselves a life. Become, for an afternoon, a couple of art critics or foreign travellers on a stopover between two trains.

Wander into grand hotel lobbies, visit free galleries and end your adventure sharing a £1 pastry on a bench in front of a landmark. This instant role play creates a bubble of intimacy and a fresh sense of excitement. If proof were needed that adventure begins just around the corner…

The Starry Night

Wild Camping on Your Balcony (or Garden)

Why pay for a room with a view when you can sleep under the Milky Way? Pile up mattresses, duvets and a mountain of cushions on your balcony or in a friend's garden. The idea is to cut out all artificial light and rediscover the silence of the night.

Download a free astronomy app and have fun naming the constellations.

This impromptu bivouac offers a unique sense of vulnerability and closeness, ideal for reconnecting physically and emotionally under the protection of the moon.

The Terminus

Adventure at the End of the Line

Grab a public transport map, close your eyes and point in a direction. The aim is simple: ride to the terminus of a line you never normally take.

Once you arrive, explore the surroundings as if you were in the middle of nowhere.

Look for a trail, unusual architecture or a hidden park. This low-cost expedition breaks the routine of your usual commute and turns a simple £1 ticket into a real urban road trip where the unknown becomes the engine of your desire.

The Key Swap

"Mystery Box" with Another Couple

It's the ultimate concept for a free change of scenery. Ask a couple of friends to swap flats with you for a night or a weekend. Sleeping in a different bed, discovering a new view and cooking with someone else's crockery is enough to trick the brain and create the illusion of a faraway trip. The extra little thrill? 

The "permitted voyeurism" angle of discovering your friends' intimate world. Leave little challenges dotted around the flat to spice up the experience a notch.

The "Blackout" Retreat

Awakening the Senses Without Electricity

For this last concept, no need to go anywhere… BLOW THE FUSES → literally cut the electricity for 24 hours. Without screens, wifi or artificial light, time stretches out. You live by the rhythm of the sun and candles (your only £1 investment). This return to basics forces conversation, games and above all touch. Without digital distractions, you start looking at each other again. It's a powerful sensory experience that puts the body and pleasure back at the heart of your love life.

As you've gathered, a romantic getaway for £1 is above all about giving yourselves quality time and a taste of the unexpected. Whether you choose urban adventure or a full digital detox at home, what matters most is the curiosity you bring to your partner. Luxury isn't about the destination — it's about how fully you inhabit the present moment together. So, ready to take off without leaving the ground?

Let us know in the comments which option you want to try <3

X O X O