Best British Rom Coms…Do you love a good romantic comedy? The best can instantly lift your mood and even bring a tear to your eye. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner we’ve put together our guide to the best of British romantic comedies – so grab a snuggly blanket, light your favourite Noble Isle candle and join us for a cosy night in.

Four Weddings and a Funeral

A round-up of the best British Romantic Comedies wouldn’t be complete without this Richard Curtis classic. Starring Hugh Grant as an eligible bachelor who, romps his way through a series of weddings and a funeral, running into an American, played by Andie MacDowell who captures his heart along the way.

Sense and Sensibility

The 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel was scripted by Emma Thompson and directed by Ang Lee. It’s filled with elegance, passion, scandal and beauty. Thomson and Kate Winslet play the female leads while Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant take on the role of the charming gentlemen falling over themselves to captivate their attention. There’s also lots of clever, funny moments to offer plenty of light relief from the main dramatic storyline.

About a Boy

The film adaptation of the novel with the same name by Nick Hornby starred Hugh Grant. A romantic comedy with an unlikely friendship at its heart. Will (played by Grant) is a rich, irresponsible child-free Londoner who, on the hunt for a girlfriend, invents an imaginary son and starts attending a single parent’s meeting. He ends up meeting Marcus an awkward 12-year-old boy who’s having a tough time at home and school.

Notting Hill

Released in 1999, Notting Hill is still the highest-grossing British film of all time. Starring Hugh Grant as a London bookseller and Julia Roberts as a famous America actor – who happens to walk into his eclectic bookshop. Follow along with the Romance and take a tour of London as you go.

The Holiday

A feel-good transatlantic romance set between sunny California and a snowy England, starring Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet and Jack Black. The picture-postcard perfect English village scenes are filmed in Godalming and Shere in Surrey where The White Horse is indeed a real pub. Set at Christmas, the crew didn’t expect real snow so had hired a snow machine but it really did snow three times during filming.

Emma

The 2020 version of Jane Austin’s Emma was directed by music video specialist Autumn de Wilde.

It stars Anya Taylor-Joy as clever and rich Emma Woodhouse whose match making schemes find her in the middle of a love-triangle. Austin is quoted as saying that in Emma she had created, “a character whom no one but myself will much like”, but today’s audience seems to appreciate Emma as an antiheroine.

Love Actually

Another feel-good Christmas favourite, written and directed by Richard Curtis with an all-star cast including Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant and more. The film, which follows ten love stories, received mixed reviews but was a box office hit and continues to attract high viewing figures, especially at Christmas.

Shakespeare in Love

A romance about one of the greatest romances ever written. 1998’s Shakespeare in Love sees a young Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) out of ideas and out of luck when he meets the beautiful and betrothed Lady Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow) who becomes his muse in this tale of joy and tragedy.

Pride & Prejudice

The 2005 Pride and Prejudice was directed by Joe Wright and stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth, one of the five sisters from a family of landed gentry who tackle marriage, misunderstanding and morality in this captivating tale. Matthew Macfadyen is a dashing Mr Darcy who at the time of the film’s release was a relative newcomer.

About Time

A more recent (2013), Richard Curtis film which is currently available on Netflix. About Time is a romantic comedy starring Domhnall Gleeson as Tim, who on his 21st birthday discovers that the men in his family have the ability to Time Travel. Tim decides to use his time-travelling gift to go back in time and try to win the heart of the woman of his dreams.

Wimbledon

This 2004 film starring Paul Bettany and Kirstin Dunst received mixed reviews from the critics but continues to be a popular download. Somewhat predictable there are still lots of heartfelt moments and some great tennis scenes thrown in too.

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