London is a beautiful city, and actually a fantastic place to be a couple!
I have been lucky enough to have lots of time to try out London’s best date spots, and I wanted to take the time to run you through them below.
Whether it’s an exciting first ever date, or your 50th date and you’re looking for something different to do.
There really is something for everyone.
Best of all, there’s something to suit everyone, from those visiting London on a budget, to those happy to spend a little more.
I have included reference to how expensive each one is below.
Let’s get straight into it …
P.s. this list is in no particular order
Budget: £
How to book: Book your slot online
Location: Canary Wharf
If you are looking for a fun-filled evening and to crack out your competitive side, look no further than Fair Game!
It only opened in 2022 and is now a hugely popular place for couples and friends to compete against each other at fun fairground games.
Some of the games include Whack a Mole, basketball, skeeball and roll derby.
While many of the games are traditional, the themed bar is in no way old-fashioned and as all the games have an electrical element, you scan your wristband to play and scores are recorded on an online leaderboard.
One of the best things about Fair Game is that it is really affordable! Alex and I love a fairground and arcade games and usually end up spending a fortune but at Fair Game, you pay £15 per person and get to play every game in the bar twice each!
You can easily spend a whole evening here as after your game slot you are free to have a drink at the bar and try some of the fantastic street food vendors they have on-site including burgers, pizzas and tacos!
Budget: ££
How to book: You can book a slot here
Location: Kentish Town
While it might seem an unusual activity, we are always looking for fun activities to do together and came across Social Pottery.
During the day it is open to all ages but they do run late-night painting sessions where you can bring your own booze and enjoy an adults-only evening. I think this is the perfect date evening as you can spend time together and let your creativity run wild. It is also surprisingly very therapeutic!
At Social Pottery, you pay a small fee for the studio time and can take your pick from an assortment of pottery which includes mugs, plates, bowls, plant pots, teapots, figurines and pretty much anything else you can think of. You pay for whatever you paint so you can choose how many items you would like to paint during your time slot.
If you are only in the city for a short amount of time, this might not be the date idea for you as the pottery needs to go into the kiln after you have painted it meaning it can take up to 10 days for your items to be ready.
Budget: £££
How to book: Online here
Location: South Kensington
London is home to some of the world's best museums and the best part is, most of them are completely free to visit! Whether you are a fan of history, art, science or Britain, there is a museum in London for you.
Three of the most popular museums, The National History Museum, The Science Museum and the V&A Museum are all located right next to each other making South Kensington one of the best areas in London to stay in if you are wanting to visit them all.
While many of the museums in London would make a great couples activity, The Natural History Museum hosts an even better date night!
Dino Snores for Grown-Up’s is an event hosted by the museum every other month and should be on everyone’s London bucket list!
Stay for a sleepover amongst the dinosaur bones and enjoy shows including science and stand-up comedy, a three-course meal, a movie marathon, access to exhibits, breakfast in the morning and a group yoga class before the museum reopens.
Budget: ££
How to book: You can book online here
How to get there: Victoria
Is there anything more quintessentially English than enjoying an afternoon tea together?
There are heaps of places in London serving afternoon tea so you will surely have the pick of the bunch but if you are just visiting London, I would highly recommend having an afternoon tea at The Rubens!
Set in the Palace Hotel directly opposite the magnificent Buckingham Palace, the four-star hotel itself oozes elegance and the tea is no different.
You will be treated like Royals by being served a mixture of sandwiches, pastries and cakes that are made on-site by their highly skilled chefs. Oh, and of course, there are some scones with clotted cream and jams to indulge in!
While this experience is aimed at tourists, it is a romantic date idea for locals alike.
Budget: ££
How to book: Book your slot online here
Location: Shoreditch
Is afternoon tea in a swanky hotel a bit too posh for you? Why not enjoy bottomless pizza and prosecco surrounded by colorful plastic balls?
Whilst admittedly this might be seen as more of a group activity, if you are looking for a fun date idea in London, Ballie Ballerson has to be on your list!
From the second your time slot begins you can enjoy 90 minutes of endless cocktails, prosecco or beer and pizza! In between ordering more food and drinks, you can go to probably the biggest ball pit I have ever seen and have a great time jumping in and dancing to the music in the disco ballroom.
I was a bit worried before I got there that mixing pizza and a ball pit meant it wasn’t going to be the cleanest of activities but don't worry, they are in separate rooms!
Their brunch package only runs on weekends but they are open Tuesday to Friday evenings for walk-ins if you just fancy a drink (and a dip?)!
Budget: ££
How to book: Check out their events schedule here
Location: Liverpool Street
We absolutely love taking cooking classes and we have taken them all over the world but none quite as fancy as the pasta-making class at Eataly.
If you want to learn the art of Italian cooking, there can be no better date idea than attending a hands-on cooking class by their resident Italian chef Matteo. They teach you everything from the basics to the advanced recipes and have a range of different classes available, from fresh long pasta, filled pasta and specialized vegan evenings.
The chef demonstrates each skill and then guides you as you put your skills to the test, teaching you the origins of ingredients and answering every question you might have along the way.
Obviously, after the class, you can enjoy your creations as well as a glass of Italian wine and you can take home your signed recipe card so you can recreate the dishes at home.
The classes are in groups of no more than 9 and it's a popular date activity so it can be a great way to meet other couples if you are new to the city.
Eataly is a great Italian food market in itself so do have a nose around before or after your class and you can even pick up some of the ingredients you used to take home with you.
Budget: £
How to book: Just turn up!
Location: Clapham
If you want a step up from your average pub drinks for a date night, The Four Thieves is the place to go!
While it appears from downstairs to just be your average, but still pretty big, London pub, the real fun starts when you head upstairs!
On the top floor of The Four Thieves is a huge arcade games room with tons of games to play including dance mats, air hockey, Skeeball, gopher racing and the star of the show, The Moonshine Raceway.
Simply register your racers at the box next to the track where you will fill out your details and take your license photo and they will print out your paper license which you can scan when it is your turn to race.
10 racers can play at a time, and you sit in a long line of drivers' seats around the edge and control your own mini-car along the track with the first to reach 20 laps wins!
This is a really fun activity for both couples and larger groups as you can follow the race along on the giant screen above and cheer on other racers while you are waiting.
The Four Thieves also have heaps of fun themed nights including pub quizzes, drag nights and karaoke so do check out their events page before you visit!
Budget: £
How to book: They do not take reservations so just turn up and wait for a table to be free.
Location: Embankment
If you are looking to impress a wine lover, there is no better place than London’s oldest wine bar, Gordon’s, established in 1890.
I almost don't want to recommend this place as it really is one of London’s best-hidden gems, tucked away in a cellar not far from Trafalgar Square.
They have an extensive and award-winning wine list as well as a selection of cheese and sharing boards making it the ideal location for a relaxing date night.
Sitting in the cellar bar amongst the wooden barrels, old photos and newspaper clippings really makes it an experience like no other; you will feel like you have stepped back in time. While I recommend enjoying the ambience of the cellar, they also have a heated outdoor area so you can have an al fresco experience all year round.
Gordon’s Wine Bar is open Monday to Saturday 11am until 11pm and Sundays 12pm until 10pm. Unfortunately, you can't book a table here so I would recommend arriving before you get hungry as you might have to wait a few minutes to nab a seat!
Budget: £ - ££
How to book: TodayTix or London Theatre Direct
Location: Locations across London
Seeing a West End theater show is by far one of the best things to do in London and it can make a great date night activity!
There are heaps of theater shows to choose from at all the different theaters across the city, each hosting an assortment of different shows.
I personally recommend seeing Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre, The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre or the increasingly popular Frozen at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
For many of the popular theater shows you will need to book far in advance to snag a seat but sometimes if you are lucky and check TodayTix, you can book some great shows at the last minute for unbelievable prices! Recently I managed to see Hamilton for only £20 by booking just the week before.
Most shows will have both daytime and evening showings making it an ideal way to spend a day in London, or a great date!
Budget: ££
How to book: Book online here
Location: Meeting point at Embankment
Seeing London lit up at night really is a spectacle in itself but what could be better than enjoying a romantic meal while floating down The River Thames as the sun goes down?
This Luxury Dinner Cruise has the option of either a three or five course meal and both options have some drinks included. You will have three full hours to enjoy your meal, the live music they play during your trip along the River Thames and London's most iconic riverside attractions like Tower Bridge, The London Eye, The Shard and Big Ben lit up along the way.
Budget: £
How to book: Online here
Location: Shoreditch
Shoreditch is an area full of activities and fun date ideas and Junkyard Golf is just one of many, but it is one of the best!
If you enjoy a game of mini golf, Junkyard Golf is a step up from that. With four nine-hole courses, all with a different theme, you will leave wanting to book in again to try another course!
Dirk, is their 90’s rave-themed course, Bozo an abandoned fun fair theme, Gary, a junkyard and my personal favorite, Pablo is described as a tropical terror! There are tons of fun photo spots along the way so keep your eyes out for them.
On weekends you can play for as little as £13 per person and stick around after to try one of their retro sweets cocktails.
Budget: ££
How to book: Book online here
Location: Southbank
The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Eye, is Europe’s tallest observation wheel and the most popular attraction in the UK!
Enjoying a ride on the London Eye is undoubtedly a great way to spend your time in London but many are put off by the endless queuing and the large crowds.
To enjoy the view from the London Eye with an extra bit of class, book a Champagne on the London Eye Experience!
Not only do you get to skip the line but you also enjoy a cold glass of champagne while going around. If you are visiting for a Valentine's Day date, they even have complimentary truffles to make it that much more romantic!
Fancy a more private experience? Book a Cupid’s Pod, a private pod for couples including a bottle of champagne, a box of chocolates and your own entrance with queue jump. This package is perfect for special occasions and anniversaries.
Budget: ££
How to book: Call in advance
Location: Shoreditch, Soho and Borough
London is home to some of the best cocktail bars in the world and enjoying some high-quality cocktails in an intimate bar can be one of the best date nights in London.
There are tons to choose from but one I frequently visit, and personally recommend, would be Swift in Soho. I originally thought I had found a bit of a hidden gem but it turns out that this year it was voted 30th in the 50 best bars in the world!
The service is impeccable and the menu really has something for everyone. The whole bar has a luxurious feel but you can't beat an evening in the downstairs whiskey bar. They have small booths and intimate lighting with candles on every table.
Swift has another bar in Shoreditch and has just opened a brand new bar in Borough which I am sure is just as good as the Soho bar.
Some of London’s other top bars include Satan’s Whiskers, A Bar with Shapes for a Name, Connaught Bar and Tayēr + Elementary.
If you are visiting on a weekday evening as a couple, a lot of these bars will have space for walk-ins but you might want to call up and book on weekends.
Budget: £
How to book: Book online here
Location: Shoreditch
If you are a cat lover, you are going to love this one!
Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium was London’s first ever Cat Cafe and is by far one of the best in the city.
Their basement floor is forest-themed and features beds inside trees and towers for the cats to climb and play in. The middle floor is their Mad Catters Tea Room, where you can enjoy an afternoon tea surrounded by some feline friends!
This cat cafe is very popular so I recommend you book in your slot online. They have a few different options but give yourself enough time to relax and enjoy one of their cat themed snacks like bao buns and cat shaped scones!
All of the cats at Lady Dinah’s have been rescued and if you are looking to expand your family, do ask what cats they have available for adoption.
Budget: ££
How to book: Ticketmaster
Location: All around the city
While I couldn't think of anything worse than watching sports on the TV, going to watch a live sports game is something we both really enjoy doing together.
My boyfriend, Alex, is a huge sports fan and since living in London we have been to football, rugby and American football games and we absolutely loved them!
The vibes at live sports games really can’t be beaten and even if you aren't a fan before you go, you will definitely be one once you are immersed in the atmosphere at one of the stadiums.
Rugby, football, tennis and cricket are all huge sports in the UK and you will likely find some type of match no matter the season!
For most of the higher-profile games, you will need to book in advance but it is possible to get some last minute tickets at a reasonable price if you don't mind some nose-bleed seats!
Budget: ££
How to book: Online here
Location: Soho and Covent Garden
Inamo takes a bottomless brunch to a new level with its futuristic style sushi restaurant. Enjoy 90 minutes of unlimited Asian tapas dishes and either bottomless bubbles, wine or beer for an extremely affordable price.
While unlimited sushi is fun in itself, what really makes this place stand out is its awesome ordering method. You can order three dishes per person at a time and you place your order by using their on table screens.
The screens are not only for ordering though, while you are waiting for your dishes to arrive you can play games against each other and scour the menu choosing your next dish!
Inamo’s menu is HUGE but we personally recommend the Red Dragon Roll, the Yuzu Pork Belly, the Flamed Edamame, oh and of course some prawn crackers!
Budget: £
Location: All across London
While it might seem surprising that in the large concrete jungle that is London, it’s home to many beautiful parks all perfect for a relaxing walk or picnic in the park.
St James’s Park is a stunning one to walk around and one of my favorite things to do in London in winter! Surrounded by three royal palaces and located in Westminster, don't forget to check out the duck and pelican pond.
One of London’s larger parks, Hyde Park has an endless amount of activities and events, especially in summer. Some of the highlights include The Princess of Wales memorial fountain and boating across the pond.
Located a bit outside of central London, Richmond Park is a beautiful park with incredible views, and ancient trees and is home to herds of free roaming deer so keep quiet and keep your eye out for them.
Budget: ££
How to book: Online here
Locations: Covent Garden, Borough, Kings Cross, London Bridge, Marylebone, Shoreditch, Soho, Spitalfields, Tottenham Court Road and Waterloo.
There are endless places to choose from if you are looking for a restaurant as a date spot in London but one that I always recommend is Flat Iron!
This is one of my favorite cheap eats in London, without skimping out on the luxury of high-quality food in a beautiful setting. Flat Iron aims to provide remarkable steak, accessible to all, and that they definitely do!
What started out as a single restaurant soared to fame and now has sites all around the city! They have a small menu with their famous dish being their £13 Flat Iron Steak. If you are a veggie, this might not be the restaurant for you, although their roasted aubergine is to die for!
Not only is their menu very affordable for a steak meal in London, the restaurant also provides complimentary popcorn for starters and their mouth watering salted caramel ice cream for dessert. That’s if you don't mind giving away your tiny cleaver souvenir in exchange for the free cone!
Budget: £
How to book: You can book online here
Locations: Bloomsbury, Islington, Shoreditch and Victoria
Flight Club appears from the outside as just another classic English pub but inside is a fun filled sociable darts themed bar. Whether it's your first time playing darts or you’re a professional, you will no doubt enjoy the experience!
The games are fast-paced, personalized and innovative with their screens showing names and scores as you battle against each other, perfect for groups of friends or competitive couples.
While it's the main draw, darts aren't the only reason to visit Flight Club. They also have an amazing cocktail menu, a bottomless brunch club and an extensive food menu offering small plates, sharing platters, pizzas and heaps of veggie and vegan options.
Budget: ££
How to book: See their events timetable here
Location: Embankment
There are a few different cabaret shows around the city, but one I can personally vouch for is Proud Cabaret in Embankment! This stylish two floor venue hosts some of the best shows in the city including world-class cabaret acts, fire shows, burlesque performances, circus acts, aerialists and drag shows.
Some of the shows they currently have available are West Side Cabaret Story, Jungle Queen Brunch, Dirty Dancer and their Cabaret All Stars Show.
The venue is also known for its amazing dinner service and cocktail menu so you could easily make a whole evening of the show, perfect for a special occasion or date night.
Budget: £
How to book: No need, just turn up!
Location: Vauxhall
By far one of my favorite free things to do in London, is to visit Vauxhall City Farm! If you are wanting to impress an animal lover, they are going to absolutely love this one.
Vauxhall City Farm is a charity and is completely free to enter, they just ask that you leave a donation in exchange for the food you can use to feed the animals that live there.
Vauxhall City Farm is home to horses, alpacas, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, and many more animals. What makes this unique is you can freely pet and feed the animals during your visit.
The farm itself isn't very big as it's located in the city so you won't need a full day to explore. Why not finish off your date with lunch in the Old Dairy Cafe next door or a picnic in the pleasure gardens opposite on a nice sunny day?
Budget: ££
How to book: No need!
Location: All across London
Whether you are sitting outside in a beer garden, soaking in the sunshine and enjoying a refreshing cold pint or sitting inside by the fire with a warm mulled wine, a trip to a London pub is one enjoyed by both tourists and locals!
Thankfully, London has a pub on pretty much every corner so you will have a pick of the bunch! Here are a few of my favorites in central London that would be perfect for a date!
A tourist favorite, but I still love it! Mr Foggs in Covent Garden is the most British themed as it gets! A traditional Victorian tavern serving great beer and great food, you really can't beat it!
A bit more of a hidden gem, The Harp is popular with locals for after-work drinks but if you get there early you will manage to find a spot! It's a cozy little pub that always has a great vibe, especially on a cold day.
While it doesn't look like much from the outside, Waxy O’Connors is a huge maze of an Irish pub, spanning over 6 levels, with a tree running through the middle. It's so big that each area of it has a completely different personality, whether you want to talk quietly tucked away in the corner or dance next to the bar, there will be a spot for you.
Budget: £££
How to book: Check out their events page
Location: Greenwich
If you are looking for an event for your date night, checking what's on at the O2 arena is always a good start.
The O2 is located in Greenwich which is really easy to get to from central London. You could even pair your show with a ride over the Thames in a gondola to get there!
The O2 has heaps of events on, everything from comedy, sports and of course, music. Top music artists from all over the world often include The O2 London on their tour list.
Obviously, tickets for the biggest stars will mean you need to book far in advance but for smaller acts, or comedy shows, you can easily get more last minute tickets for a reasonable price.
If there's nothing that takes your fancy, why not try a more adventurous date idea and climb onto the roof of the O2 Arena?
Budget: ££
How to book: Book your entry ticket here
Location: London Bridge
Can there really be a better way to impress a date than taking them up to see the highest viewpoint in Western Europe?
The entry ticket to The Shard allows you to see 360-degree views over the city from the 72nd floor viewing platform. Their floor to ceiling windows provide the perfect backdrop for a romantic setting.
If you want to add an extra wow factor to your date, visit one of the fabulous bars and restaurants inside the Shard. Aqua Shard is a highly rated bar and British restaurant located on the 31st floor which is open for lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and brunch on weekends.
For classy late night drinks, head to GŎNG, the highest cocktail bar in Europe situated on the 52nd floor. Alternatively, for an incredible Northern Chinese meal, visit the highly rated HUTONG restaurant on level 33.
Budget: £££
How to book: Book online here
Location: Chiswick
While gin didn't officially originate from England, despite what many people think, it is a very popular drink here and London is home to many producers of gin and distilleries to tour!
Sipsmith is a famous gin company which hosts popular gin tours and has been handcrafted in London since 2009. Their tour costs £25 and includes a tasting session as well as a walk around their distillery with their expert guides and a gift bag to take home with you.
To make a special date night out of a gin tour, book a Sipsmith Sippers Club experience, not only do you get to tour their distillery, and learn of the history of gin and Sipsmith with a tasting session but it also includes a three-course meal at La Trompette the highly rated Michelin star French restaurant just next door.
Budget: ££
How to book: See their events timetable here
Locations: Islington, Kings Cross, Broadgate, Baker Street, Hampstead, Chelsea and more!
A trip to the cinema is a classic date night all over the world but London is home to some incredible cinemas, with a twist!
Everyman cinemas are my personal favorites to visit on special occasions or when I want to see a more artsy movie.
They swap in the uncomfortable seats, cheap hotdogs and popcorn for a glass of wine on the sofa with waiters serving freshly made pizza.
Everyman cinemas show a variety of classics, independent, artsy and mainstream films so it is best to check their current showings to see what takes your fancy as a few of them only have one screen!
It is a great opportunity to treat it as a blind date, turn up and see whatever is showing that day! You might find a hidden gem of a movie while viewing it in style.
Budget: £
How to book: Online here
Location: Shoreditch
If you are after an intimate romantic date idea in London, this one might not be for you. Hijingo is an experience like no other, I have quite literally never done anything like it, ever!
You might think of bingo as a slightly dull activity, popular with OAPs but not Hijingo. This is described by some as the future of bingo.
Hijingo is not only a game but also a show, complete with innovative lighting and special effects, live entertainment, music, dancing and EPIC prizes! People can literally win a holiday for two and each game gives you three chances to win.
The venue itself is an awesome place to hang out, before and after your game or just for a drink, the popular Lucky Cat Bar has a tempting bar snack menu as well as a large selection of cocktails so you can continue the party even longer.
Budget: ££
How to book: Online here
Location: Wandsworth
E-karting, bowling, mini-golf, darts, e-sports, shuffleboard, arcade games and a virtual reality gaming arena, Wandsworth’s Gravity has enough activities to entertain literally everyone!
I would consider this an ideal first date spot. There can be no awkward small talk if you are battling it out racing along their electronic go karting track!
You could easily spend a whole day here, having a go at all their different games and eating until you’re full at their huge food hall which includes vendors like Sides, Coco Di Mama and 800 Degrees pizza.
They also have live music every weekend so do check out their events calendar when choosing your date to visit.
Budget: ££
How to book: Book your tour here
Location: Watford
If you are a couple that enjoys watching the Harry Potter movies as much as we do, there is nothing better than a Warner Brothers Studio Tour, The Making of Harry Potter.
Experience the famous set locations like Diagon Alley and The Great Hall, see famous props such as the sorting hat and the night bus and endless costumes used in the films!
By far my favorite part of visiting is seeing the life size animatronics used like The Basilisk, Buckbeak and Aragog, as well as the beautiful model of Hogwarts Castle which was built for the first film.
The studios are located slightly outside of London so I would recommend booking this tour which includes your tickets and transfers from Victoria coach station. This will save you the hassle of having to get there using public transport.
Budget: ££
How to book: Book online here
Locations: Haggerston and Tooting
Fan of the Great British Bake Off? Now you can have a go yourself, all thanks to The Big London Bake!
Try your hand at baking together and compete with other bakers to win the star baker! You can compete in pairs and create some truly amazing goodies whilst experts are on hand to help if required.
All ingredients and equipment are provided for you and as a couple, you get your own station, just turn up with your creativity and be ready to bake!
This looks like a really awesome date activity and I can't wait to give it a go myself.
Each month has a new theme so you will need to choose your date wisely.
There we have it, 30 fun date ideas in London!
I think all of these would make the ideal date activity or just a fun trip with friends!
Now over to you …
Are there any other ideas that I should try out?
Or have you tried any of the ones mentioned and have some thoughts to share?
Just drop a comment below and let me know, we are always looking for new activities and experiences in the city.
P.S. If you are planning a trip to London soon, check out some of my other guides as they might come in handy …
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