Summer Lovin’: 15 Romantic Date Ideas For London In The Sun

1. Show Off Your Sporting Skills At London Shuffle Club

Ready to impress? Book a lane at London Shuffle Club when the sun is shining. The game’s easy to learn (so a perfect ice-breaker activity for a first or second date!) and the outdoor terrace means that beers, cocktails and freshly made sourdough pizza are never too far away. 

If your date’s going well and you want to keep it going, head down to their secret basement bar, Crazy Eight. The home of table shuffle, Crazy Eight’s a little more intimate than the main venue and is the ideal spot to get to know each other better over a classic Espresso Martini or late night Negroni. 

2. Rendezvous On A Rooftop

Where better for a romantic date night than a hidden rooftop, under the stars, overlooking the lights of the city? From Seabird’s rooftop boasting London’s longest oyster list (and you know what that means…), to Skylight’s rooftop games and Bōkan’s sunset sips, London’s rooftops make the perfect place to woo your date with killer views and delicious cocktails.

These are the rooftops to be seen at this summer.

5. Cosy Up In Front Of An Outdoor Film

Sit back, cuddle up, and get ready to enjoy some of your favourite films in a cinema under the sky as London’s best outdoor cinemas are back with an epic summer line up. Head to the Bussey Building in Peckham or Roof East Stratford where Rooftop Film Club screen film favourites like The Breakfast Club, Little Miss Sunshine, and Top Gun. Meanwhile, at a roster of iconic locations such as Chiswick House and Hampton Court Palace, Luna Cinema will be screening the likes of Grease (the perfect summer lovin’ movie for date night), The Banshees Of Inisherin, and Moulin Rouge.

No need to worry about you and your date getting peckish as there’s plenty of delicious grub up for grabs.

6. Treat Them To A Magical Balloon Dining Experience

If your date cares as much about their insta feed as they do al fresco dining, they’ll adore Beaverbrook’s whimsical hot air balloon dining experience. Six beautiful balloons have popped up in the estate, each beautifully embroidered with magical love hearts framing the Italian Garden. Plus, the hotel’s Japanese menu delivers on taste just as much as style, complete with a Yakiniku grill for an interactive dining experience.

8. Score A Hole-In-One

Want a can’t-go-wrong date? Then mini golf is your answer. I mean, who doesn’t love mini golf? No one I want to go on a date with, that’s for sure.

Head to Battersea Power Station for the par-fect mini golf date under (oh-so-flattering?) neon lights. Every weekday, Birdies Battersea host Date Night, which for £25 gets you a round of crazy-in-love golf & prosecco for two.

And with all that putting bound to make you peckish, there’s a host of alfresco options nearby for post-game cocktails and food. Enjoy delicious Italian cuisine at Fiume whilst sitting on an Amalfi Coast-inspired outdoor terrace; tuck into tasty Spanish sharing plates over a glass of vino at Tapas Brindisa; go all out with £17 bottomless sourdough pizza at Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza; or devour some Mediterranean food and cocktails on Megan’s riverside terrace.

10. Go On A Central London Ice-Cream Crawl

Instead of a pub crawl, guarantee a fun day-date in the sun by making your way through Central London’s finest ice-cream establishments. From Chin Chin Dessert Club in Soho serving up salted caramel sticky toffee pudding topped with chocolate ice cream & buttery hazelnut sand, to Covent Garden’s Milk Train and their iconic candy floss ice-cream cone, you’ll find most of London’s best ice-cream parlours are all within a short walk of each other. Perfect for a walking-and-talking date, and so much more delicious than your average pub crawl.

Get the scoop on London’s best ice cream parlours.

12. Sip Cocktails On A Secret Covent Garden Balcony

I love to think that this one’s my little secret, but the word is out – the most perfect balcony in Covent Garden can be found at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Flipping traditional theatre hours on their head, The Lane is a theatre can be enjoyed all day long. From coffees in The Garden and afternoon tea in The Grand Saloon to theatrical tours of the building. But to top it all off, their balcony is the perfect place for soaking up some cocktails and culture whilst looking over Covent Garden. We recommend making a day of it by booking a Regency-inspired afternoon tea and tour of the building, before whiling away an hour or two on the balcony. They also play some brilliant classical versions of modern pop (Bridgerton soundtrack-style) in the adjacent Grand Saloon. It’s an all day-date spot that’s sure to impress – especially if they’re a theatre fan.

14. Feast On A Picnic In The Park

You can’t beat a classic picnic date in the sun. Treat your date to a lazy afternoon in Kensington Gardens, accompanied by an Afternoon Tea or Picnic Feast from The Milestone Hotel, served in a traditional wicker basket and filled with delicious al fresco fare.

Expect a selection of delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with Devonshire clotted cream and homemade preserves, French pastries, a smoked salmon and cheese platter, mixed charcuterie and freshly baked bread – all from £95 for two people. Day-date perfection.