25 Date Ideas in London (You Actually Want to Do)

Location: Various

Starting off our list of the best London date ideas, an absolute classic.

Whether you’ve been together for years and years or you’re planning a first date, treasure hunts like these are a fail-safe activity. Why? Because they’re fun, interesting, and require nothing more than WhatsApp and a good pair of shoes.

Explore London’s most charming and hidden gems while solving clues and uncovering secrets together. The clues get sent to you directly, and depending on the trail you pick, take you all around a particular London borough’s hidden gems, scenic spots, and cosy pubs and cafes.

Practical information: Play and pause the game any time that suits you. Games typically last around 2-3 hours. Prices start at £15 per person.

Cafes are the no-man’s-land of the dating world: everyone can order something they like, they’re affordable, and they don’t pile the pressure on those concerned. Win win win, in other words.

But if I might throw my two penny’s worth in, I’d advise you to go somewhere a little different–as in, not the place you grab your latte before work.

Instead, pick somewhere with cosy corners, quirky decor, or a unique theme, and soak up the rewards of a perfect blend of caffeine and charm. Want some recommendations? Here you go.

Practical information: Most cafés are open daily, with varying hours. Prices for coffee range from around £3.00 each.

Looking for unique date ideas in London this Christmas? Heat up the cold nights with a Christmas lights treasure hunt!

This self-guided adventure takes you and your partner through London’s most enchanting Christmas light displays, solving cryptic clues and exploring hidden corners of the city along the way.

The clues are delivered via WhatsApp, and it’s sort of like an outdoor escape room with a Christmassy twist. You’ll discover the city’s magic together on a 3-5km stroll, making it a date night full of sparkle, laughter, and plenty of cute selfie opportunities.

Looking for London date ideas that are a little out-of-the-box? I’ve got you. 

If you’ve been living in London a long time, it can feel like you’ve been there, done that, dodged the t-shirts at the gift shop and winced when you’ve seen people wearing them on the underground.

But here’s your daily reminder that you almost certainly haven’t been everywhere in London. As much as I love the V&A, British Museum and Natural History Museum, they’re too busy or obvious a choice for a date (in my opinion). 

If you want weird, quirky or a little “out there” recommendations though, check these places out:

• 📍The Hunterian Museum (Lincoln’s Inn Fields): Not for the squeamish. This place is full of gory history, gruesome medical instruments and creepy preserved specimens. It’s super cool, though.
  
  
• 📍Sewing Machine Museum (Tooting): Perfect for fashionistas, this little gem is home to Queen Victoria’s Sewing Machine.
  
  
• 📍The Fan Museum (Greenwich): Ideal for Bridgerton “fans”, this place is full of incredible handheld fans from all over the world (and even contains one painted by Salvidor Dalí).
  
  
• 📍Eel Pie Island Museum (Twickenham): A great place to take a music fan. The island once had a venue that hosted The Rolling Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and many, many more, and the whole musical heritage is preserved in this museum. Shout out to the curators who are just lovely people. 
• 📍Dennis Severs’ House (Spitalfields): A really quirky gem of a house. Dennis Severs moved to London in the late ‘70s, and transformed his house back into what it would have looked like back in the 1720s. Now you can take a look around it with your partner!

Location: Various

When did date ideas in London get so serious? Throw out the rulebook and bring out your playful side with a date at one of London's top arcade bars.

You don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy these venues, though, it will help. What’s great about arcade bars on a date is that they’re super chill and have a fun and competitive vibe about them, ideal for any player one looking for their player two.

Grab a drink, challenge each other to a game of Pac-Man or Mario Kart, and see who’s crowned champion by the end of the night.

Practical information: Most arcade bars are open daily from the afternoon until late. Expect to spend around £5-£10 per person per game session.

Location: Various

There’s nothing worse than feeling like your date is turning into a really boring, slightly bizarre interview (we’ve all been there), and I just can’t imagine that happening unless you’re sitting down.

Here’s what I’d recommend you do instead:

• Play a match of ping pong at 📍Bounce
• Play Shuffleboard at 📍London Shuffle Club
• Enjoy a round of mini-golf at 📍Puttshack
• Rent 📍Santander Cycles and go for a ride around the city

Practical information: Activity venues have varying hours and prices. Santander Cycles cost £1.65 for a 30-minute ride.

Location: Central London or East London

If you want your London date ideas to include some food but don’t want to go for an old-fashioned dinner, this is for you.

Mystery picnics like these are great fun (and they support local businesses, too). They also add an element of surprise to your date, in the best possible way. How do mystery picnics work, you ask? It’s easy: you get sent a series of clues via WhatsApp that guide you to different locations where you’ll collect gourmet goodies. 

By the end of your journey, you’ll have a delicious picnic spread to enjoy in one of London’s picturesque spots—and you’ll have spent some quality time getting to know or hanging out together as well.

Practical information: Mystery picnics are available on weekends, with prices starting at £80 per couple.

Location: Various

Some London date ideas are romantic when shown in films, but horrifically creepy in person. Especially when it comes to first dates.

The best example of this I can think of is escape rooms. Great fun and by all means, if you’ve been with your partner a while, there’s a ton of them knocking around these days.

But if you want my advice, I’d mix things up a bit and bring the adventure outdoors. 

Outdoor escape rooms like these include all the things you love about indoor escape rooms (puzzles, cracking codes, and solving mysteries), but they also include some fresh air and a chance to stretch your legs while you do it. 

PSST: If you’re into post-apocalypse games or TV series, I’d especially recommend Humanity’s Last (you play as the only people not to be infected by a fictitious virus, trying to hunt down the cure before it’s too late. It’s great fun.)

Practical information: Available daily, with prices starting at £15 per person. Games typically last 2-3 hours.

Location: Portobello Road, Notting Hill

One of my favourite things about London is the many markets and bargains to be picked up around the city, and that’s especially true with my partner in tow. 

For London date ideas that are environmentally-friendly, budget-friendly and creative, I’d recommend hitting up some markets. I’ve recommended Portobello here because it’s a favourite of mine and my partner’s, but by all means, check out others that are closer to you.

Practical information: Open Monday to Saturday, with the busiest day being Saturday. Entry is free.

Location: Whitechapel & Beyond

A notorious 19th century serial killer might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of date ideas in London–but don’t scroll away yet.

What if, instead of being partners in crime, you became partners in deducing crimes?

For true crime podcasts and Glass Onion fans, there’s hardly a better way to spend time with your significant other than trawling through clues and solving a real mystery. Don your matching detective caps and revisit one of London’s most head-scratching mysteries with Return of The Ripper, a live-action detective game in the streets of Whitechapel. 

The premise is easy: you get the clues, you visit the pubs the victim and possible perpetrator visited, you see the real case files, and you figure out if the murder was committed by the Ripper or not.

Practical information: Available daily, with experiences lasting around 2 hours. Prices start at £15 per person.

Enjoy solving mysteries? Find out where to find the best whodunnits in the capital.

Location: Prince of Wales, Kennington

Never played Pétanque before? Well, neither had I until last year, and I’m so glad I discovered it.

If you’ve never heard of it before, pétanque is a French bowling game similar to bocce. I’d really recommend The Prince of Wales pub in Kennington if you’re looking to incorporate this particular idea, it’s super cosy and very chilled out. 

Wherever you choose to play, it’s a playful and unique twist on the classic pub date, perfect for those looking to mix things up a bit: pint and pétanque, you heard it here first!

Practical information: Open daily, with pétanque available all day. No additional cost for playing.

Location: The Lamb and Flag, Covent Garden

Speaking of pubs, if you’ve been on the dating scene a while there’s a high chance you’re fed up with pub dates by now, but don’t give up yet.

For London date ideas that put a creative twist on a British classic, I say mix up the venue, not the activity.

There’s nothing wrong with a gastropub or that place near the end of the road by your office, but c’mon, you’re trying to impress your partner. So why not take them somewhere you can show off a bit…like Charles Dickens’ former favourite, The Lamb and Flag? 

PSST: Explore the area by playing Secrets of The Squares and along the way settle down at the cosy pub for an exclusive 20% discount food and drink per ticket holder.

Practical information: Open daily from midday.

Location: Leadenhall Market, City of London

If you’re looking for fun London date ideas that combine two of the most popular franchises of all time, 19th-century history and a goose called Tom, this is your place.

Granted, your wishes probably aren’t that niche but on a sincere note, this is one of the coolest places to visit in London with your partner.

If you or your partner is a Harry Potter fan, then by all means nerd out over this being the real-life inspiration for Diagon Alley. If you’re more of a Nintendo couple, you can actually visit Leadenhall Market in the London-inspired city circuit in Mario Kart. 

But it’s best in real-life. Enjoy the stunning Victorian architecture, browse boutique shops, sip on a coffee, and soak up the enchanting atmosphere. It’s also a great place for a couple selfie, imo.

Practical information: Open Monday to Friday, with shops typically operating from 10 am to 6 pm. Entry is free.

Location: Various

While a “mystery walk” might sound a bit ominous, I promise you it’s far from it.

One of the best romantic date ideas in London, self-guided mystery walks give you and your partner the opportunity to stroll around one of London’s most intriguing boroughs, picking up neat trivia and interesting tidbits along the way.

Depending on the route you choose, you’ll pass iconic landmarks, charming mews, hidden corners and maybe even a ghost story or two, all by solving clues together that reveal the area’s secrets.

Practical information: Available daily. The walk typically takes around 2-3 hours. Prices start at £15 per person.

Location: Various

What’s more romantic than going old-school and enjoying an afternoon tea together? Well, nothing really.

Even though the idea itself is several hundred years old, you might be pleased to know that afternoon tea experiences aren’t all doilies and waiters holding white towels over their arms. 

Whether you fancy stepping into a fairy tale, indulging in a literary classic, or embracing a quirky, modern twist, themed afternoon teas are a great and unique way to spend time together. And it’s a very Insta-worthy date, if that’s important.

Practical information: Available daily, with prices ranging from £40 to £70 per person. Booking is recommended.

Location: Chelsea Physic Garden, Chelsea

Nothing quite says ‘romance’ like a stroll through botanical gardens and London is lucky enough to be home to one of the world’s oldest examples.

Established in 1673, Chelsea Physic Garden is an incredible treasure trove of plant history and beauty. Wander around plants that have been collected and cultivated since the late 17th century and transform your date into a fun learning experience!

Practical information: Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm. Tickets start at £13.50 per person.

Location: Regent’s Canal, King’s Cross

Looking to impress your book-loving beau? This is for you.

Word On The Water is one of my all-time favourite hidden gems, and not just because I’d rather have my nose in a book than be anywhere else. 

This charming, 100-year-old Dutch canal boat is packed with new and secondhand books and offers a cosy, quirky atmosphere perfect for lit lovers, and there’s a chance you’ll even catch some live music or poetry readings.

Practical information: Open daily from 12 pm to 7 pm. Entry is free.

Location: Soho

If there is such a thing as a romantic music genre, I’d argue it’s probably jazz.

Immerse yourselves in the smooth, sultry sounds of jazz at Ronnie Scott’s, one of London’s most iconic music venues. The atmosphere is very intimate (it’s always packed, and there’s a queue even if you have a ticket so make sure you book in advance).

But if you’re not put off by crowds, this is one of the best places in London to catch a world-class performance, and the mojitos are incredible.

Practical information: Open daily, with shows typically starting at 7 pm. Tickets range from £35 upwards.

Location: Various

If you’re looking for first date ideas in London, I probably wouldn’t recommend that you only opt for going to your nearest cinema. 

There’s nearly no opportunity to chat, and cynically-put, first dates are all about figuring out if the other person is compatible with you or not, and that’s hard to do while an epic blockbuster is blaring in the background.

But if you’re looking for something you and your partner can do of a rainy evening, I’d recommend Picturehouse cinemas. They just feel a little bit fancier than other cinemas, and there’s more often than not a bar or a restaurant on-site, so you can enjoy some chatting time before or after the film starts.

Practical information: Open daily, with ticket prices starting at around £10 each. Check for special events and screenings.

Location: Various

Starting off our list of cheap date ideas in London, a bit of a twist on the altogether more “boring” idea of going for a walk in the park.

Let’s get the obvious part out of the way: visiting places like London's green spaces offers a fantastic, budget-friendly date alternative in the city. But you don’t have to go for the obvious choices if you don’t want to.

Once you’re there, you can stroll through the gardens, admire some panoramic city views, explore hidden urban jungles or just enjoy getting some quality time together without the hefty price tag. 

That said, safety is always paramount and many people won’t be comfortable having a first date somewhere like this, so this is more for couples looking for things to do in London together.

Anyway, here are some of my favourite, less-obvious choices: 

• 📍Barbican Conservatory: A very cool, Brutalist meets tropical oasis urban jungle.
  
  
• 📍Garden at 120 or 📍Sky Garden: Amazing skyscraper gardens that are free to enter, both have amazing views of the London skyline.
  
  
• 📍Queen Mary’s Rose Garden: Tucked away in Regent’s Park and it’s also where Pongo met Perdy! How’s that for romance?
  
  
• 📍The Rookery: A quiet, lovely garden full of charm and walled gardens in Streatham.
  
  

📍Isabella Plantation: Nestled in Richmond Park and a dream for flower lovers. I adore the woodland garden.

Location: Various

Turn your date into an adventure with an outdoor exploration game without breaking the bank. 

These interactive experiences combine elements of a treasure hunt and a city tour, challenging you to solve clues and complete tasks as you discover hidden corners of London.

It’s a fun and engaging way to explore the city together, perfect for couples who love a bit of competition and discovery (and some of the trails even come with handy discounts for ticket-holders).

Practical information: Available daily, with prices starting at £15 per person. Games typically last 2-3 hours.

Location: Banstead, Surrey (just outside London)

Is there anything more romantic than strolling through endless fields of flowers? Although this venue is only open in the summer months, it’ll only cost you just £10 to enter for the pair of you. 

Inhale the delightful smell of nature’s perfume and stare lovingly into the sea of purple all around you - what could be more romantic than that?

Practical information: Open daily from June to August, 9 am to 6 pm. Entry is £5 per person.

Location: Crystal Palace Park, London

Here’s a date idea in London you won’t have thought about before: visiting the world’s first dinosaur statues.

Yes, the first statues dedicated to the giants of the far past are right here in London, and they’re actually super underrated considering how old they are.

Perfect for fans of Jurassic Park or anybody with an interest in the prehistoric, these Victorian-era sculptures are set within the lush greenery of Crystal Palace Park. 

Stroll around the lake, spot the life-sized dinosaurs, and enjoy the mix of history and nature in this charming park.

Practical information: Open daily from dawn until dusk. Entry is free.

Location: Various locations across London

During the summer months, one of the best cheap date ideas in London is to head to one of the many beer gardens.

Sure, a pint doesn’t cost as little as it used to, but these days, more and more people are choosing not to drink at all, whether for health or financial reasons. And I’ll also butt in and say that alcohol-free beers have come a long way in the past few years.

The point of the beer garden isn’t so much about the drink itself, but just having somewhere nice to go to be with your partner. There are tons of options: traditional, rustic, charming, trendy, craft beers…you get the message.

Practical information: Most beer gardens are open daily, with varying hours and prices.

Location: Borough, London

I’ve purposefully left food out of the equation for most of these London date ideas, and that’s because dinner dates are quite formal, expensive, and down to individual tastes.

But if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to a sit-down dinner, I recommend treating your taste buds to a culinary adventure at Borough Market (which happens to be one of London’s oldest).

From artisanal cheeses to freshly baked bread and international street food from every corner of the world, there’s something to satisfy every craving. Just take your pick, enjoy the atmosphere of the market and enjoy a more relaxed meal with your SO.

Practical information: Open Monday to Saturday, with varying hours. Entry is free, but bring cash for the stalls.