The novel tells the story of Lucy Honeychurch, a young upper-middle class Englishwoman who travels to Italy with her cousin Charlotte Bartlett. While staying at a pension in Florence, Lucy meets the unconventional Emerson family - an eccentric older man and his free-spirited son George.
During her trip, Lucy experiences a brief romance with George, but upon returning to England, she becomes engaged to the wealthy but stuffy Cecil Vyse, a match encouraged by her social circle. However, Lucy is torn between following her heart and the expectations of her rigid social class. The Emersons move near Lucy's home, and George reappears in her life, causing her to question her engagement.
After much inner turmoil and lies to herself and others, Lucy breaks off her engagement with Cecil and elopes with George to Italy. The novel ends with the couple staying in the same pension in Florence, in a room with a view, symbolizing Lucy's newfound freedom and embrace of passion over convention.