A couple of years back I started my Dates with Dads feature, partly to inspire readers, and partly to give my other half a nudge with some date ideas in London. When you’re knee high or elbow deep in raising kids, it’s hard to find time for romance. Time to remember what got you in all this trouble from the start.
But London is one of the most romantic cities on earth, and there are so many sweet spots and hot zones to explore. I thought I’d challenge myself to come up with 101 Dates Ideas in London, as a special Babes about Town Valentine’s Day feature — also good for any time of year.
So I present this guide to you (with a bitter sweet feeling as my BAHD man is away for V-Day, slinging his dogs at an Abu Dhabi street food festival). Luckily he’s suggested we shift our Valentine’s Day celebration forward by one month, so that gives plenty of time to dream… Meanwhile, take a look at my guide and let me know about your perfect date night in London.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
101 Date Ideas in London
Eat
Book a dinner date or a lunch break bite at one of these romantic foodie spots…
1. Is chocolate better than sex? Weigh it up at Hotel Chocolat in Borough Market
2. Feel the roots, rum and romance vibes at Rum Kitchen
3. Snuggle up for a roaring fire and a Sunday roast at The Albion
4. Tickle each other’s taste buds at J Sheekey’s Oyster Bar
5. Get steamed up at a Burlesque Afternoon Tea
6. Book for one of the Grub Club romantic supper clubs
7. Dine with stunning views at Aqua Shard
8. Share a banquet under blossoms at ultra romantic Clos Maggiore restaurant
9. Treat your sweetie to gold standard ice cream at Marine Ices
10. Feast on global flavours at Street Feast street food night markets
11. Try and beat the queues for an amazing brunch at Sunday
Drink
Milkshakes or something harder, take your pick…
12. Say cheers to whining wining and dining at Vinoteca
13. Meet for coffee (and more) at Soho Grind
14. Shake don’t stir at top cocktail bar 69 Colebrooke Row
15. Go on a gin safari at Mr Fogg’s Tavern
16. Frothy milkshakes bring all the boys to the yard at The Love Shake
17. Explore a secret speakeasy at Exmouth Market
18. Take him on a London Literary Pub Crawl
19. Toast to a rare night out at St Pancras Grand Champagne Bar
20. Indulge in Aztec Spiced hot chocolate at Paul A Young
21. Sip on The Wild One at Radio Rooftop bar
Go
Take a little trip and experience the Capital from a different perspective…
22. Board a romantic river cruise with City Cruises
23. Soar over Greenwich in an Emirates Air Line cable car
24. BYOB on a Hidden Depths Canal Cruises boat trip
25. Travel back in time on a steam or diesel train
26. Book a couple’s special Mini Cooper Tour of London
27. Take a Champagne Flight on the London Eye
28. Buckle up for a Thames RIB Speedboat ride
29. Hit the Serpentine lake on a pedal boat
30. Go behind the scenes on a Romantic Comedy London Bus Tour
31. Cycle a romantic route from Tower Bridge to Greenwich
Play
Fun and games for an alternative date night…
32. Get your rollerskates on for a Friday Night Skate through London
33. Game for a laugh? Try a ping pong and pizza night at Bounce
34. Swap another fight over laundry for a lyrical battle at Hip Hop Karaoke
35. Turn up for board games, bagels and bottomless Bloody Marys at Drink Shop Do
36. Putt a hole in one (fnar fnar) at Birdie’s Crazy Golf
37. Tune in together for a Classic Album Sundays session
38. Go Kite Flying on Parliament Hill
39. Glide at Skate at Somerset House, London’s coolest ice rink (or Ally Pally rink open year-round)
40. Rediscover the lost art of letter writing at Letter Lounge
41. Come over all Ghost like in a couple’s pottery class
Watch
Settle in for a show or movie and stimulate your minds…
42. Sign up for an out of this world immersive Secret Cinema experience
43. Crack up with London’s best stand-ups at beautiful Union Chapel
44. Snuggle up for Pillow Cinema or strip off for sister event Hot Tub Cinema
45. See a West End show. We fancy Guys and Dolls
46. Catch a movie with Rooftop Film Club or head down for their Underground Film Club in winter
47. Summer nights call for a date at Regent’s Park’s romantic Open Air Theatre
48. Pull an all-night movie marathon at Prince Charles Cinema
49. Feeling fancy? Glam up for a night at the opera
50. Share popcorn and a love seat or sofa at an Everyman Cinema
51. Have a riotous dinner date at Fawlty Towers The Dining Experience
Shop
Share some retail therapy and maybe pick up a love token…
52. Snap up gorgeous blooms at Columbia Rd Flower Market
53. Find love hearts and other old school sweets at Hope & Greenwood
54. Order a personalised hamper from Fortnum and Mason
55. Ditch those maternity bras for some racy lingerie at Agent Provocateur or Coco de Mer
56. Trawl for quirky treasures at Portobello Market
57. Get your hands on some Holy F*ck hot sauce from The Rib Man on Brick Lane
58. Choose each other’s signature scents at Floris perfumery
59. Vinyl lovers? While away the hours at Sounds of the Universe
60. Shop for vintage pieces in Camden Passage
61. Who doesn’t love stationery? Look for quality kit at Quill London
Explore
Hand in hand, exploring some of London’s top attractions and scenes…
62. Wander around the South Bank, gorgeous views at any time of day
63. Take a stroll in and around stunning Tower Bridge after dark
64. Spend the night at a Museum of London sleepover for adults
65. Walk the treetop walkway at Kew Gardens
66. Tackle a challenge together: climb Up at the O2
67. Board the Tate to Tate boat for a museum double date
68. Try a Segway Rally at Alexandra Palace
69. Get starry-eyed at Royal Observatory Greenwich
70. See free street theatre at Covent Garden
71. Go for crowd-free viewings, DJ and drinks at National Portrait Gallery, one of London’s many Museum Late Shifts
Discover
Hideaways, hikes and not so secret hangouts to discover with your date…
72. Visit London’s biggest beach at Ruislip Lido
73. Scope out street art in action at Leake St tunnel
74. Hike across scenic woodland trails in Highgate Wood
75. Pack a picnic and get lost in Hampton Court Palace maze
76. Look out for fish, flora and fauna at the Barbican Conservatory
77. Marvel at the ’Sistine Chapel of the UK’ aka The Painted Hall at Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich
78. Take an evening candlelit tour through Sir John Soane’s Museum
79. Curl up with your bookworm at Daunt Books
80. Find an urban oasis and Michelin starred restaurant at Petersham Nurseries
81. Explore a labyrinth of tunnels at Chislehurst Caves
Escape
Romantic hotels and couples spas…
82. Share a bathtub in a bedroom at Dean St Townhouse
83. Indulge in luxury pampering and hot tub on a couples spa date at The Athenaeum
84. Sleep like Kings and Queens at glamorous St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
85. Go for the Bed Flicks and Chill package at Andaz London Liverpool St
86. Have a cheeky lunch break at one of London’s Day Use hotels
87. Settle in for grown-up Bedtime Story Nights at 40 Winks Hotel
88. Order a personalised and engraved perfume at The Ampersand Hotel
89. Relax with affordable Turkish hammam, plunge pool and body treatments at York Hall Day Spa
90. Splash out for spectacular views and an infinity pool at Shangri-La at the Shard
91. Chill out at cool urban escape K West Hotel and Spa
Home
For when babysitters are thin on the ground…
92. Order in from London’s finest restaurants with Deliveroo
93. Or get a gourmet picnic hamper delivered to your door
94. Whip up a meal with ingredients and recipe cards from Hello Fresh
95. Send fresh flowers through the letterbox via Bloom & Wild
96. Make him a virtual mix tape or stream a playlist on Soundcloud or Spotify
97. Cosy up for movie night with these ideas from Pinterest
98. Read to each other from your favourite books, or something new on your list.
99. Get creative (or call in a professional) for a boudoir photography session
100. Spice things up with The Game of Love from East Coast Creative
101. And finally… foot, hand or head massages are a cinch when you’re sleep-deprived, and they go down a treat! Here’s one of our favourite toys
P.S. Of course you don’t have to be a dad (or date a dad) to enjoy these dates ideas in London…
P.P.S. Many of these ideas are kid-friendly, if you must bring the little munchkins along!
What are your favourite date ideas in London (or beyond)?
Love seeing Ruislip Lido being on there too, do you know it’s very close to us? We take our girls there all the time. Love this post, feel like printing it out and having it like a list to do things with my man, thanks for this great inspiration. We really need to make more effort. BTW, we are flying the CR, so will not be spending valentines with hubby either. have a fab break lovely x
What an incredible post darling, I will be your date while your man is away! In fact we already had our Hotel Chocolate/Pret fuelled date didn’t we! LOVE you babe, Happy Valentine’s x
What a fabulous list. So much that I want to do. I am bookmarking for future – I can see it’s going to become my go to list. Petersham Nurseries is such a lovely spot – very romantic and you have just reminded me that I need to get back there soon. Haven’t been for ages. I’m so keen to try out Secret Cinema – have you been ? A friend of mine went and she said it was fab. Great recommendations – now where do I start?! xx
Hi Nomita, yes my friend did Secret Cinema Star Wars edition and said it was AMAZING. I’ve experienced Future Cinema at an event that was slightly smaller scale, but still pretty epic. So many spots to try, love London and will definitely be hitting some of these joints up in future. Glad you like the post x
Haha we certainly had our chocolate date (with cake too yum!), and now loads more ideas to try. Happy Valentine’s to you too xoxo
Oh how cool Mirka, didn’t know you lived near Ruislip Lido, I definitely want to check it out when it’s warmer. Do print it out and stick it on your fridge haha, he’ll have no more excuses ;-) Enjoy your break x
These are SO GOOD!!!! Can we please, please, please, PLEASE go to the secret speakeasy in Hoxton when we have our BML meet up??? xxx