11 Of The Best Alternative Date Ideas

Moonshine Saloon

Dust off your cowboy boots and head to the Wild West at Moonshine Saloon, an immersive cocktail experience where you must hide your illicit liquor from the local Sheriff.

You’ll be welcomed into a world of card games, Stetson hats, and Southern hospitality as expert mixologists create personalised drinks from your smuggled stash. The theatrical setting and Western charm provide a fantastic conversational backdrop, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.

Where: 28-30 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7DB
Website: www.moonshinesaloon.com

Hexmoor

For those who fancy a touch of the supernatural, Hexmoor offers a world-first wizarding prison experience in the heart of Hackney. You and your date will be handed jumpsuits to wear before being locked inside a cinematic set where live actors bring a story of dark magic and rebellion to life.

The experience includes three handcrafted cocktails, making it a spellbinding choice for fans of immersive theatre and high-end mixology.

Where: Unit 11, 127 Hackney Rd, London E2 8GY
Website: www.hexmoor.com

Swingers Crazy Golf

Forget everything you know about those scruffy seaside mini-golf courses from your childhood. Swingers has given the game a serious glow-up, turning it into a high-end social club that’s well worth paying a visit to.

Situated in the heart of the city’s West End, you’ll find yourself putting through 1920s-style greenery while staff deliver cocktails directly to you on the course. It’s the perfect blend of competitive fun and sophisticated atmosphere, making it an easy win for a second or third date.

Where: 15 John Prince’s Street, London W1G 0AB
Website: www.swingers.com

Bounce

Ditch the standard dinner table for a night at Bounce, where the furniture is literally the game. It’s a high-energy, vibrant playground where you can trade awkward small talk for a fast-paced game of table tennis under the glow of UV lights.

Beyond standard ping pong, they also offer Wonderball, a high-tech version of the game that uses projection mapping to turn the table into an interactive playground. With a massive bar and a kitchen serving up excellent pizzas, it’s a reliable go-to for a fun, low-pressure night out.

Where: Venues across London
Website: www.bounce.com

Avora

Embark on an otherworldly adventure at Avora, where stunning cocktails are brought to life by environmental storytelling. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed to Roscorp Laboratory, where they are given specifically designed uniforms made for missions to Avora.

You will then be given drinks which change colour, shimmer, and smoke to help you acclimatise to the new world you are about to enter.

A cocktail experience like no other, Avora is perfect for those looking for alternative date night plans.

Where: 5C, 127 Hackney Rd, London E2 8GY
Website: www.avora.com

Electric Shuffle

Electric Shuffle has taken the classic game of shuffleboard and given it a futuristic, tech-infused makeover. The high-speed cameras and automatic scoring take the stress out of the game, allowing you to get competitive with your date. With venues across the city, it’s sleek, stylish, and incredibly addictive.

Where: Venues across London
Website: www.electricshuffle.com

L’oscar

For a date night that feels both exclusive and a welcome change from the standard dinner and drinks procedure, book a seat at L’oscar.

It is currently hosting a brand new event series, which takes place on the first Friday of each month, and offers an immersive, theatrical dining experience like no other. Expect a bespoke wine menu, cabaret performers and feast served up by Executive Chef Arturas Kondratjevas.

Where: 2-6 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AA
Website: www.loscarlondon.com

Chat Noir by The Lost Estate

If you’re looking to swap the modern world for the smoky, velvet-draped glamour of 1890s Paris, Chat Noir is the ultimate time-travelling date night. Tucked behind a nondescript door in West Kensington, The Lost Estate has meticulously recreated the world’s first cabaret club. It’s a one-of-a-kind immersive evening where you aren’t just a spectator, but a bohemian citizen of Montmartre, dining on a decadent three-course French feast while the show erupts all around your table.

Where: The Lost Estate, 9 Beaumont Ave, London W14 9LP
Website: www.chatnoir.com

Sixes Cricket

You don’t need to be a sports pro to enjoy Sixes, a high-tech cricket simulator that brings the thrill of the game to the bar.

Guests take turns in the batting nets, aiming for targets to rack up points while a digital leaderboard keeps the competitive spirit alive. Paired with a menu of hearty burgers and cocktails, it’s a high-energy spot that’s particularly great for double dates.

Where: Venues across London
Website: www.sixescricket.com

Poolhouse

If you thought a game of pool was reserved for sticky-floored pubs and pints, Poolhouse is here to completely change your mind. Nestled in the heart of buzzy Liverpool Street, this venue has taken the classic game and given it a high-end makeover.

Every detail has been considered, from the bespoke glassware to the smart tables that help keep the game moving. It’s a sophisticated, high-energy upgrade to a classic night out, perfect for those who want to keep their hands busy while enjoying some seriously good cocktails.

Where: 100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT
Website: www.poolhouse.com

Alcotraz

If you’ve ever wondered how you’d fare behind bars, Alcotraz is the ultimate test of your smuggling skills. This prison-themed cocktail bar requires you to sneak your own spirits past the eagle-eyed Warden, where they will then be transformed into bespoke creations by the inmate bartenders.

Where: Unit 3B, 127 Hackney Rd, London E2 8GY
Website: www.alcotraz.com