With the abundance of new restaurants in London catering to every kind of diet and indulgence, dinner and drinks is always a classic option for a date. But if you’re meeting someone new and you’d like an icebreaker, there’s nothing like planning something slightly different.
With the weather warming up, there are opportunities for outdoor dates and a host of activities that London has to offer. From ice-cream parlour crawls and summer terraces, to shuffleboard, picnicking and shows under the stars, here are 17 fun date night ideas.
1. See A Theatre Show In The Open-Air
Looking for the perfect cultural date night under the stars? Make it one to remember and book in for one of London’s best al fresco theatre experiences. From Much Ado About Nothing to The Secret Garden there are plenty of options to choose from this season.
The perfect cultural date night under the stars.
Find more open-air theatre shows here.
2. 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.
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Get the scoop on London’s best ice cream parlours.
3. Learn To Make Pasta
La Scuola, Eataly’s cooking school for hands-on classes, organises cook-a-long sessions with Eataly’s chef where you can attempt to master the art of pasta-making as you sip on Italian wine and nibble on tiramisu. You’ll be eating your work at the end of the session, so be prepared to give it your best shot.
Where: across london
Website: eataly.co.uk/classes-events/
4. Play Billiards At Sanderson London
Pretty much one of the coolest spots to play pool in the city, The Billiard Room at Sanderson London is actually a (very impressive) pool room. With lodge-style interiors, an antique silver-leafed billiard table and 1950s stained glass, it’s a great place for a very elegant date night when you’re trying to impress.
Where: sanderson london
Website: sanderson.com
5. Outdoor Swimming
We couldn’t talk about summer dates in London without including one at the park, could we? Throw in something extra special with an adventurous outdoor swimming date. Hampstead Heath has three natural bathing ponds which have changing rooms, outdoor showers and lifeguards on duty. It’s recommended only for experienced swimmers though so make sure you’ve checked with your date before hand.
Where: Hampstead Heath
6. Visit An Activity Bar
Whether you’re into cricket, mini golf, table tennis or F1, there’s an activity bar in London for you. Bounce offers tables for bookings for two upwards for friendly (and not so friendly) table tennis over drinks. Puttshack is your go-to mini-golf place that brings a tech-based experience to your game. If you love cricket, Sixes challenges every stereotype of the game with a thrilling, multi-player batting challenge. At Shuffle Club, you can enjoy a supercharged game of table shuffleboard over cocktails – they’ve also got a lovely brunch if you’re planning a day-time outing.
Where: Venues across London
7. Attend An Oyster Masterclass
This one’s bound to impress. Every Saturday morning, Federico Fiorillo, Head Shucker at Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill and also, officially the world’s best shucker, hosts a masterclass that teaches you how to shuck your own oysters. You’ll explore flavours from different coasts, with champagne on arrival and expertly paired wines to taste. Plus, you’ll leave with goody bags – everyone loves goody bags, so will your date.
Where: Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill, Mayfair
Website: www.bentleys.org
8. Challenge Your Date To A Tennis Match
Tennis is a game best played between two people rather than three (although the film Challengers might disagree). So leave your ex behind and get in a game of tennis on a sunny day. There’s nothing like some healthy competition to break the ice. There are tennis courts available to book without a membership across London, including places like Park Sports at Regent’s Park, All Star Tennis at Wandsworth Park and Golden Lane Tennis Courts, City of London.
Where: Across London
9. Get Hot & Steamy in Kew Gardens’ Tropical Greenhouses
You won’t find a more romantic setting than Kew Gardens. From leafy plants and picturesque balconies in the Palm House, to buzzing bees at The Hive, and yummy cakes at The Orangery, a day spent in these glorious gardens is a day well spent.
And if that day’s spent with your other half, well, what could be better?
You won’t find a more romantic setting than Kew Gardens.
WHERE: RICHMOND, LONDON
WEBSITE: WWW.KEW.ORG
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10. An immersive cocktail experience
Join mixologist Silviu Stan, as you and your date master your very own cocktails at The New York Bar. Enjoy a glass of champagne before making two cocktails of your choice, accompanied by sharing plates that include lobster rolls, Peking duck steamed buns, soft shell crab and jackfruit bao buns.
Where: The RUbens at the palace, Buckingham Palace Road
Website: rubenshotel.com
11. Cabaret At Crazy Coqs
There’s nothing like an entertaining show to save you from awkward silences on a date. At Crazy Coqs and Brasserie Zédel, there are a host of performances including cabaret, live music, theatre, comedy, magic shows and literary events that take place throughout the week.
Where: West End
Website: www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs
12. 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.
Where: 4 Ebor St, London E1 6AW
Website: www.londonshuffle.com
13. 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 lineup. Head to the Bussey Building in Peckham or Roof East Stratford where Rooftop Film Club screens film favourites like Grease, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Notebook. No need to worry about you and your date getting peckish as there’s plenty of delicious grub up for grabs.
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Where: Multiple Locations
Website: www.rooftopfilmclub.com / www.thelunacinema.com
14. 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. 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 sourdough pizza at Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza; or devour some Mediterranean food and cocktails on Megan’s riverside terrace.
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Where:6 Arches Ln, Nine Elms, London SW11 8AB
Website: www.playbirdies.com
15. Karaoke At Lucky Voice
Live out your High School Musical dreams and sing a duet with your date at Lucky Voice. It doesn’t matter if you don’t really sound like Troy and Gabriella – it’s the sentiment that counts. With private rooms to hire that can be booked for two people or more, it’s a great way to compare music tastes and just have fun.
Where: Across London
Website: www.luckyvoice.com
16. 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 – prices start from £150 for two people. Day-date perfection.
Where: 1-3 Kensington Ct, London W8 5DL
Website: www.milestonehotel.com
17. Hire A Pedalo In Regent’s Park
Of all the pedalo locations in all the world, Regent’s Park is my favourite. In summer the park really comes to life, and the views from your little pedalo on the lake are truly stunning. The lake isn’t huge, but you have plenty of space on the water and an hour on it goes by quickly, so pull up a pedal and get to know each other as you meander around.
As you can’t bring food or drink with you, we recommend grabbing an ice cream afterwards and going for a stroll around one of London’s prettiest parks.
Where: Regents Park, London
Website: www.royalparks.org.uk
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