Looking for some fun date ideas in London? We’ve got you covered.
Although it may not be famed for romance when compared to some of the other cities in Europe (ahem, Paris and Venice), London has its own charm, not to mention a helluva lot going on.
From sophisticated wine bar dates and cultured museum mornings to hiring your own canal boat and taking a cable car ride across the skyline, London is filled with fun and romantic date ideas.
Whether you’re planning your regular date night and want to spice things up, or it’s going to be the first time you meet someone, even if you don’t fall in love with your date, you’ll definitely fall for this city. Several of them double as birthday bookings.
Brilliant date ideas in London
Head to a swanky cinema
First up, the classic cinema date. But don’t just go to a standard chain, London has plenty of swankier options that will really impress.
Everyman Hampstead is a top pick, the chairs are unbelievably comfy and the cinema resembles a luxe theatre. Oh, and you can have cocktails and food while you watch.
If you’re lucky with the weather, you could always visit an outdoor cinema in the capital, our personal favourites are Rooftop Film Club and Secret Cinema. While these often don’t show newly released films, they usually have fun events that can make for an elevated cinema date.
Hire your own canal boat
For an afternoon of fun, hire a boat and float you and your date around London.
There are a few companies that let you rent canal boats, but GoBoat is the best. Start at Merchants Square and navigate your way towards Camden Lock along Regent’s Canal. You’ll pass Little Venice, Maida Vale Tunnel and London Zoo on the way, so there will be plenty to talk about. Once you’re done, there’s lots to do in the area, finish with a drink in a nearby bar for the ultimate date experience.
Stuff your face on The Cheese Barge
If you like the idea of a barge date but don’t fancy controlling one yourself, The Cheese Barge in Paddington is a terrific opportunity for you and a date to indulge your love of cheese.
Not only is the menu focused on cheese dishes, with everything from posh toasties to decadent spätzle making the cut, but you chow down while on a 96ft double-decker barge docked at Regent’s Canal.
For a really special date, opt for the roof terrace between March and October, which treats you to views of Paddington Basin.
Play crazy golf
A round or two of crazy golf at Swingers is a fail-safe option, and especially perfect if you’re still getting to know your date. It’s brilliant at avoiding any dreaded awkward silences that can occur in the early days, and it’s also really fun.
We’d argue this is one of the best options if you’re still getting to know each other, but leave your pride at the door, because you will probably be really terrible. And your date will definitely laugh at you, but hey, what better way to break the ice?
Have a park picnic
We’re lucky in London, having so much gorgeous parkland to explore, and a picnic in one of London’s many parks is one of our favourite things to do.
Not only is this a really thoughtful date idea (bring their favourite snacks and flowers for bonus points), it also allows you to get to know someone in a relaxed environment.
We’d opt for Richmond Park, there’s plenty to see and do once you’ve eaten, spotting deer together among them. That said, Victoria Park and Dulwich Park are very pretty options too.
Relax in a wine bar
An impressive wine bar date isn’t too hard to pull off in the capital, there are so many bars to choose from.
We recommend getting out of central and heading to Peckham Cellars, south of the river, a classy brasserie with a killer wine list. Make sure to swot up on wine knowledge in advance to really impress your date.
Wander around a museum
Dating in London doesn’t need to be all fine dining and glamorous wining. If you’re on a budget, dating doesn’t come any cheaper than free entry at most of the capital’s major museums.
A safe option is the National Gallery, handily located in Trafalgar Square with some pretty famous artwork on the walls. Or head to the Natural History Museum and spend an afternoon together learning about some incredibly rare artefacts.
Chat over coffee
If you want to impress during the day, head over to Shoreditch and spend a few hours chatting over coffee in one of the uber-cool coffee shops in the area.
We’d go for classic London chain Grind, the coffee shop is large enough that you don’t feel like everyone is listening in on your conversation, but cosy enough to still feel like a proper date.
Marvel at Sky Garden
We love Sky Garden and think it’s a great place to take a date, whether it’s your first time meeting up or cementing a longer-term relationship.
Many people don’t realise it’s free to enter, you can treat your date to stunning views from London’s highest public garden without paying a penny. It’s no longer the single highest viewpoint in the city (Horizon 22 has that title now), but for a garden with a view, it’s still unbeaten.
If you want the complete lowdown on Sky Garden, including how to beat the queues and the best food spots, read our full guide.
Take a cable car ride
While it’s not really long enough to class as a whole date, taking a cable car ride in London is a brilliant way to kick things off.
Book your tickets for the London Cable Car and be transported across the Thames. It’s just a snippet on your Oyster card, so this is a very affordable experience, especially if you pair it with one of the other cheap date ideas here. Honestly, we can’t quite believe romance and TfL go together either, but here we are.
Look up at the stars at Greenwich Planetarium
Remember that scene in Friends where Ross sneaks Rachel into the planetarium after hours for a romantic picnic under the stars? You can’t do that, but you can visit the planetarium during its normal hours.
They run daily tours of the night sky, and even if you don’t have the whole place to yourselves, it’s still pretty magical. Afterwards, take in the view from the top of Greenwich Park and talk about how one day you might own an apartment together somewhere out there in the big city. You can even tie this in with the cable car for a full day out.
Do an immersive cocktail experience
Cocktails are a pretty standard go-to when it comes to dating. The booze helps oil the social cogs, and it’s a chance to show a little class. But if you really want to get to know someone, you have to see how they act under pressure.
The ideal place to do this won’t be one of London’s fantastic cocktail bars, but one of its immersive cocktail experiences. Would your date help out the natives in an Avatar-esque realm? Can they handle themselves in a gunfight? These are the kind of questions you should really be asking about your next romantic interest, just in case.
Make chocolate
Chocolate is a romantic device as old as, well, who knows how old. All we know is that it works.
In the cutthroat world that is London dating, sometimes just a box of chocolates isn’t enough. So maybe the answer is to provide your date with the skills to make chocolate whenever they fancy it. Give a man a fish, and all that. At this chocolatier you can take classes in how to make the most romantic food of them all. No doubt your interest in kitchen-related activities will also score you some major points. Just try not to do the licking-chocolate-off-each-other’s-fingers thing in public, OK?
Explore Camden Market
Okay, so exploring Camden Market may be a tad overdone on a date. But it’s a classic for a reason, and you can combine it with a gentle cruise down Regent’s Canal ending at Little Venice.
There’s plenty to do, stop for some street food, shop at Buck Street Market, or head over to Inverness Street Market. Go during one of the quieter times, we’d recommend Friday morning, or your date will be crashed by hordes of visitors very quickly.
Quaff drinks in a rooftop bar
Sipping champagne while being treated to stunning views of the skyline is about as luxurious as an evening out gets.
Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a handy guide to our favourite rooftop bars in London, everything from cool joints offering craft beer and games of table tennis to swanky bars with a matching price tag. Top picks include The Nest at the top of the Treehouse Hotel and The Castle in Islington for their incredible Aperol Spritz.
Rent a bike
If you’re looking for a London date to break the ice, rent a bike and cycle your way through Hyde Park, chaos and laughter are pretty much guaranteed.
The easiest way to do this is via Santander Cycles, with docking stations dotted around the edge of Hyde Park. Just tap your card like you would on the Tube and you’ll be charged accordingly.
Lose yourselves in a VR experience
If you’re looking for a totally different kind of date, book a VR experience at Otherworld.
You and your date will get taken to a private experience room where you’ll be transported to another world. Don your VR headset and explore your virtual island, which is fully customisable. Best part? You can earn in-game currency to spend on real-life drinks at the bar.
Discover Columbia Road Flower Market
For a relaxed Sunday morning date, head to Columbia Road Flower Market and check out the gorgeous blooms.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll and marvel at the rows of tulips and roses on offer, and we’re sure your date would love it if you picked them up a bouquet. Once you’ve finished at the market, check out some of the cafes and bars nearby.
Indulge in bottomless brunch
Is there anything more fun than day drinking with someone you fancy? We think not.
These brilliant bottomless brunches in London let you do just that. From high-class prosecco and avo toast to fried chicken pancakes, there’s something to suit all budgets and tastes.
Get lost in God’s Own Junkyard
It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of God’s Own Junkyard, there’s something so fun about oohing and aahing over the neon lights at the warehouse.
Situated in Walthamstow, this funky joint is filled to the brim with catchphrases and images, which makes it so fun to explore. Grab a drink at the Rolling Stones cafe on site too. It can get a little busy, since the warehouse is only open on weekends, but get here early and you should have a really enjoyable date.
Get out of your comfort zone at Kitchen Theory
Embark on a multisensory experience at Kitchen Theory’s Chef’s Table Supper Club.
Chef Jozef Youssef guides you through a weird and wonderful ten-course meal, tucked away in a private Victorian loft. This is perhaps not the ideal place for a first date, since there’s not much chance to get to know each other, but it’s a really cool experience we’d highly recommend.
Head to the beach
Looking for something a bit different that doesn’t involve the usual bar or restaurant? Head to the beach at Ruislip Lido.
This one’s definitely weather dependent, but if you find yourself looking for an impromptu date location on a hot day, what better way to relax with someone than on the beach? It’s free to enter, so bring a picnic along too and you’ve got yourself a very cheap, but genuinely different, date.
Ride the Sunset Steam Express
For a luxury date experience, board the Sunset Steam Express and tour the Surrey hills while having a fine dining experience (or bring a picnic along).
Trains depart from London Victoria, and the journey takes around three and a half hours, allowing you to soak in the sights of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Check current pricing and dates before booking, this one runs seasonally.
Book a restaurant with a view
This one suits all budgets. Book one of these restaurants with a view and enjoy great food while perched in an ideal spot.
From people-watching at Lockside Camden to sweeping views of the city from a table at Aqua Shard, this is a date that impresses.
Paddleboard along Regent’s Canal
Paddleboarding is possibly one of the most fun, and random, activities London has to offer. And let’s face it, what could be more amusing than watching a date continually topple helplessly into the water?
There are actually many companies offering paddleboard rental in the capital, across plenty of different areas. If you’re a beginner, head to Kew Bridge or Limehouse Basin for easy waters and a relaxed experience.
Play ping pong at Bounce
With a few locations across London, Bounce is a quirky bar that lets you play ping pong.
Prepare to unleash your competitive side and take on your date over a few games of table tennis, all while sipping cocktails. After you’ve built up an appetite, order a pizza from the bar, which is totally delicious.
Watch the sunset from Primrose Hill
A total cliché? Yes. Ultra romantic? Also yes. It just wouldn’t be a London date guide without at least one sunset spot.
The Primrose Hill area itself oozes romance, filled with pastel houses and charming cafes where you can grab some snacks before setting up camp on the hill. Bring a blanket to perch on and a bottle of wine, and you’ve got yourself one of the cheapest evenings out London has to offer. All it costs is the Tube fare to get there and the bottle of wine (and if you go Dutch, it’s even cheaper).
Visit the theatre
London has plenty of theatres, mainly around the West End, and a visit is the perfect way to spend a date night, especially if you go for drinks after.
A trip to the theatre can be pricey and requires advance planning, but it’s genuinely one of the most fun date nights London has to offer. Our top picks: Les Misérables at the Sondheim, or Six at the Vaudeville Theatre, a night filled with pure girl power and one of the shorter, punchier shows if you want to fit dinner in either side of it. Fancy something a bit more of a guilty pleasure? Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre never fails to deliver.
Take a romantic stroll
London is filled with pretty walks that provide the perfect backdrop to a casual date. Low fuss, free, and as long as you want to make it, what’s not to love?
Whether you fancy getting off the beaten track in Sydenham Hill Wood or want to explore more of the city via the South Bank, there’s a walk to get everyone’s heart racing.
Visit London Zoo
A date at London Zoo is as adorable as it is fun. Spend an afternoon wandering around and admiring some of the funniest, cutest and rarest animals in the world.
Keep an eye on the website for special events too, such as twilight sessions with champagne during the summer months, which sounds like a great date if you ask us.
How to go: Book directly with ZSL London Zoo.
Try your hand at pottery
Pay a visit to Skandihus and spend a morning attempting (we say attempting, because ours have ended in disaster more than once) to make your very own piece of pottery with your date.
If the pressure of being in a class is too much, grab one of their clay kits and make the pots at home instead. Either way, it’s a great way to get creative, lose your inhibitions and maybe end the night with a custom-made gift from a loved one.
Enjoy the fun of the fair
We’ve all seen those US high school rom-coms where girl meets boy and they end up at the local fairground, riding roller coasters, playing sideshows and winning goldfish in a bag. You might not get the goldfish, but you can replicate these romantic scenes at Babylon Park.
Located in Camden, this attraction has rides, arcades and games where you can win your date a prize that’ll win their heart, all while having a rip-roaring time. Best of all, Babylon Park is open seven days a week and, because it’s indoors, you won’t need to make a run for it when the inevitable British climate brings the rain.
Cruise the Thames
Regular readers will know that one of our favourite ways to enjoy London is on the water. With the Thames running through the heart of the city, taking in some of the most beautiful views the capital has to offer, a cruise is a fittingly romantic way to spend time.
Take a one-way tour between Westminster and Greenwich with City Cruises, or hop on and off the Thames Clipper with unlimited all-day travel between Barking and Putney. Best of all, take a twilight cruise to see the riverside skyline all lit up while enjoying a glass of wine.
Take afternoon tea
Afternoon tea is the quintessentially English romantic date experience, and luckily for us in London, we’re spoiled for choice on top-class afternoon tea spots across the city.
Tea, cupcakes, square sandwiches with indulgent and tasty fillings, and, if you want to add a little sparkle, a glass of something fizzy to go with it. The best experiences can be found at the big London hotels, like The Ritz or Claridge’s, or the quirky option at Lyaness. If your date is into Harry Potter or Alice in Wonderland, a themed afternoon tea will really blow their socks off.
Head to a gallery
London is not short of outstanding galleries to visit with a date who shares your artistic taste. From the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and Tate Modern, to niche exhibitions such as those at the Brick Lane Gallery and Sophie Tea’s gallery on Carnaby Street, there’s something for you if you and your date are into art.
Peruse, observe, scrutinise, talk about what you see and what wows you, share your interest and revel in your partner’s. Marvel at what you both love and talk about your differences, it’s a genuinely good way to build a picture of your date’s artistic taste.
Get down and dirty at the farm
Although London is a sprawling metropolis, it’s not without spots where animals can roam and be cared for at a city farm.
Bringing rural life into the heart of the city, Hackney City Farm is a genuinely lovely option for lovers of all things animal, without having to travel out of London’s confines. Learn about caring for animals, growing fruit and vegetables, and take part in one of their regular workshops and activity classes. A brilliant way to get closer to nature, and each other.
The London x London Take: the immersive cocktail experiences and Kitchen Theory genuinely tell you more about a date than dinner and a film ever will, if you want a proper read on someone early on, put them under a bit of pressure and see how they handle it.
