15 Cute Date Spots And Ideas In London
I love London. Everyone does, in some way – it’s a majestic city, and I say that both sincerely and sarcastically.
One fantastic thing about London is just how much of everything there is here. From the most gorgeous cafés, to the most quirky escape rooms, London has it all. It’s quite difficult to be bored; it doesn’t matter if you’re into fashion, into some specific cultures, into video games or comics or burlesque – you will find what to do and where to do it over here.
It would be a pity to not abuse the overabundance of activities and timepasses available in London when it comes to love-life. The amount of activities and spots available for exploration in this wonderful megalopolis.
So, without further ado, here goes: from the best ideas of what to do, to the best spots to do it on a date with someone you fancy.
The classic idea: wine and dine
Going for a lunch/dinner date in some pretty café, or some posh restaurant has always been a classic when it comes to going on dates.
Not my favourite concept, personally – I feel like it makes things more tense and awkward than they need to be – but I understand why people like it, and why it’s become such a staple nonetheless.
London is notorious for having an eclectic abundance of different spots where you can have a wonderful meal and a chat in style. Now what style is up to you.
Here are some of the most quirky, unusual spots:
Dans Le Noir ?, Clerkenwell
Dans Le Noir ? restaurant offers quite a unique dining experience. Not only does it offer very unique dishes that you might not be able to try anywhere else – like zebra or kangaroo meat, it does so… completely in the dark.
As the name of the restaurant suggests, this place provides the visitors with quite a hectic dining experience, whereas people cannot see neither the food, nor each other. In addition to that, dishes can be served at random, from a surprise menu of your choice.
Nothing to look at, yet everything to discuss – that’s quite wild yet comprehensive for a date, isn’t it?
30-31 Clerkenwell Green, Farringdon, London EC1R 0DU
OTHERWORLD, Haggerston
If you and your date are less into the intricacies of romance, and more into having fun together, then OTHERWORLD might be for you.
A gorgeous location in London that looks like it walked straight out of a sci-fi movie, this video game-centred bar offers a lot of delicious cocktails and foods for a reasonable price, while allowing you to partake in some otherwordly (ha!) VR-gaming experience.
It allows multiple people to link up, too, so you and your partner can have all the fun in the world, together.
336 Acton Mews, Haggerston, London E8 4EA
Searcys, The Gherkin
Here’s the thing: The Gherkin might be disliked by a lot of Londoners because of its distinct appearance that a lot of people believe to be very unflattering to the London skyline, it still has one of the best spots for a date in London.
Atop of The Gherkin, you can find Searcys, a rooftop bar with a 360° panoramic view of the London skyline (without The Gherkin itself in it which, hey, is always welcomed).
A gorgeous and romantic spot, it is a perfect location for you to drink some wine and witness the beautiful sunsets of London with your partner at.
30 St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8EP
Gordon’s Wine Bar
A 19th century styled bar located below the ground, Gordon’s Wine Bar is the oldest wine bar in London. Its cozy interior and delicious wines will surely let you have a good time, intimately, without breaking your bank.
47 Villiers St, Charing Cross, London WC2N 6NE
Petersham Nurseries Café, Richmond
A one-of-a-kind dining experience in a plant-filled glasshouse, surrounded by nature and gorgeous, bohemian, flowery interior, with dishes complemented beautifully by real edible flowers, this place might be it for the best romantic lunch-date.
Off Church Ln, Petersham Rd, Richmond TW10 7AB
The tested classic: Cinema date
Now, I’m not talking your basic cinema date. Frankly, I think they’re quite boring – you don’t even talk?!
However, London having everything plays into this quite nicely.
A number of cinemas in London, including – yet not limited to – Everyman, Canary Wharf and Electric Cinema, Notting Hill, offer slightly more unique and intimate experiences: they have sofas where you can cuddle, and they offer foods and alcoholic drinks that they will serve you.
Electric Cinema also happens to beone of the oldest working cinemas in Britain, and that’s always worth a shot.
Everyman: Level -2, Crossrail Pl, London E14 5AR
Electric Cinema: 191 Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 2ED
The slightly less orthodox, but still a basic idea: Escape Rooms
If you and your partner are into something more tense and exciting, then London is just the place for you to go wild at.
It has hundreds of escape rooms for you to explore; here are some of them, that would be the best for a date – in my opinion. (Don’t take it very seriously – although I would be honoured.)
The Grid
The Grid is a ‘cocktail infused escape room’ that, by some visitors, has been dubbed as a ‘Black Mirror-esque experience’ – you deal with AIs and societies of the future that need salvation; the cocktails are also all futuristic and potion-like.
It’s bright, it’s fun, it’s captivating and it has alcohol – what more do you need to have fun with your partner?
2 Robinson Road, London SE1 8BU
Trapped In A Room With A Zombie
Horror, screaming, your date clinging onto you in fear (or you clinging onto them? That’s up to you, fellas) and a timer ticking away at your nerves? Well, this escape room has it all – and its quite eloquent name should give you an idea of what you’re dealing with.
Corner of Honour Lea Avenue & Sunrise Close, East Village, London E20 1DU
The Active Date
From kayaking down the Thames river (yes, there are numerous companies and tours available for that)…
…to playing mini-golf while enjoying some fancy drinks at the Swingers cocktail bar…
8 Brown’s Buildings, London EC3A 8AL
15 John Prince’s St, Marylebone, London W1G 0AB
…to indoor skiing at Chel-ski at any time of the year…
4 Sotheron Place, Fulham, London SW6 2EJ
…to going on a daytime (!!!) rave with your partner at the Printworks venue if you both are more on the wild side but still prefer to be in bed by midnight, London offers some of the most enticing activities for dates that don’t revolve around the usual lounging around and chatting relaxedly.
Surrey Quays Rd, Rotherhithe, London SE16 7PJ
You can even go horseriding in Hyde Park, the largest and most beloved of London parks! How much more Disney-esque can it get?
8 Bathurst Mews, Hyde Park Estate, London W2 2SB
Silent Sounds: On The Thames
Do you know what silent disco is? I hope you do – it’s one of the most fun things to be part of, and one of the most hilariously ridiculous things to witness from the side. It’s basically when a bunch of people dance to the music they hear in their headphones, but nobody besides them can hear it, so it looks like they’re dancing crazily in silence.
Now get this: you can do the same in London… but on a boat. That must be my favourite London date-night idea, personally.
The Dutch Master, Tower Millennium Pier, Next to Tower of London, EC3N 4AB
