100 London Date Ideas

100 London Date Ideas

Last Updated: 23rd January 2020 | Main image: Helix & Iris at The Gherkin

Chances are high that you’re either in a relationship, or single.

Whichever it is, you need date ideas.

And that’s where we come in… because while yes our entire website is filled with amazing London date ideas we’ve also created this: a humble collection of 100 London date ideas which will help you to not only uncover the very best of the city, but also secure the lifelong devotion of whomever it is you’re trying to impress.

Which is known in some all circles as a “win-win”.

Looking for things to do on 14th February? Check out our Valentine’s Date Guide

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1. GO TO A CANDLELIT, TIME-TRAVELLING BALL
Secret Location | ££

Live jazz, Charleston dancing, dinner, cocktails, cabaret acts and more. VIEW MORE INFO
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2. HOLE UP IN LONDON’S TINIEST BAR
Mansion House | £££

The Brig: just you two, the bartender, and unlimited cocktails… VIEW MORE INFO
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3. GET COMPETITIVE IN ONE OF ELECTRONIC THEATRE’S IMMERSIVE ADVENTURES
Southwark | ££

Loser buys the drinks at the wine bar next door… VIEW MORE INFO
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4. GO SWING DANCING IN A HACKNEY THEATRE
Dalston | £

Take the class first, then show off your new moves (with live music) till the wee hours. VIEW MORE INFO
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5. JAM AT A CHURCH OF SOUND GIG
Clapton | £

Pray for good seats. VIEW MORE INFO
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6. SPEND A DAY EXPLORING SPITALFIELDS MARKET
Spitalfields | £

Street food, vintage markets, and al fresco tango in summer… VIEW MORE INFO
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7. KAYAK YOUR WAY TO CRATE BREWERY
Hackney | ££

Sing Venetian gondola songs along the way. VIEW MORE INFO
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8. VISIT AN AUTHENTIC RUSSIAN SPA, GET THRASHED WITH TREE BRANCHES
Hoxton | £££

Maybe more of a ‘third date’ kind of thing. VIEW MORE INFO
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9. GET YOUR PRESCRIPTION AT THE MIDNIGHT APOTHECARY
Rotherhithe | £

Namely: unlimited marshmallows for toasting, a candlelit garden with firepits, botanical cocktails, and live music. VIEW MORE INFO
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10. BRAVE A TAXIDERMY CLASS
Hackney | ££££

And give each other crabs! VIEW MORE INFO
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11. DRESS UP PROPERLY FOR A BLITZ PARTY
Secret Locations | ££

Down a couple of B-52s. VIEW MORE INFO
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12. BUILD-A-BOUQUET AT THE COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET
Bethnal Green | ££

And no, a single rose doesn’t count. VIEW MORE INFO
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13. GET LOST IN THE BARBICAN CONSERVATORY
Barbican | Free (but reserve ahead)

Barbican Conservatory - quirky things to do in London

Terrapins, carp, and 2,000+ species of plants… VIEW MORE INFO
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14. WATCH THE SUNSET FROM THE TOP OF THE GHERKIN
Liverpool Street | £££

Champagne, oysters and 360 views… VIEW MORE INFO
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15. TAKE A TOUR OF WILTON’S MUSIC HALL ON A MONDAY
Whitechapel | ££

Then stay for the performance. VIEW MORE INFO
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16. WATCH AN ORCHESTRA IN A CAR PARK
Peckham | £

Then hit the neighbourhood’s newest rooftop Italian. VIEW MORE INFO
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17. CATCH A FILM IN AN ORIGINAL 1950s BALLROOM
Brockley | £

Or put on your dancing shoes at their monthly jive nights. VIEW MORE INFO
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18. HEAD TO A BLINDFOLDED LISTENING PARTY
Across London | £

Perfect if you happen to be having a terrible hair day. VIEW MORE INFO
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19. HIT AN OUTDOOR CINEMA
Across London | £

Here be the best… VIEW MORE INFO
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20. GO TO A STAR-GAZING CLASS ON THE CULPEPER ROOFTOP
Spitalfields | £££

And moon over each other. VIEW MORE INFO
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21. STOCK A PICNIC BASKET AT ONE OF LONDON’S FOOD MARKETS
All Over London| ££

Maltby Street - food market London

And serve it in a blanket fort in your living room. VIEW MORE INFO
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22. DRINK COCKTAILS, LISTEN TO MUSIC AT NIGHTJAR
Old Street | £££

They have 100 year-old Pimm’s. VIEW MORE INFO
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23. GO TO A SURPRISE GIG IN A SECRET LOCATION
Somewhere Secret | £ | Throughout February

Sofar Sounds organise them everywhere from abandoned churches to living rooms. VIEW MORE INFO
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24. BREAK CODES FOR COCKTAILS AT THE BLETCHLEY
Chelsea | £££

And give each other codenames for the evening. VIEW MORE INFO
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25. GET A SOFA AT THE ELECTRIC CINEMA
Notting Hill | ££

Then break the decency laws when the lights go down. VIEW MORE INFO
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26. MAKE CANDLES TOGETHER AT EARL OF EAST
London Fields/King’s Cross | £££

Though obviously, nobody holds a candle to your date… VIEW MORE INFO
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27. GO TO MR FOGG’S, SIT IN THE VICTORIAN TRAIN CARRIAGE
Charing Cross | ££

Drink only cocktails from countries you’ve been to, and tell each other stories from your travels there. VIEW MORE INFO
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28. CATCH A SHOW AT THE SOHO THEATRE
Soho | £

And debrief over handmade pasta at Lina Stores. VIEW MORE INFO
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29. PLAY THE MOST ROMANTIC ROUND OF CRAZY GOLF EVER AT SWINGERS
Oxford Circus/The City | ££

Swingers - London activity bars

Remember: in golf, being sub-par is a good thing. VIEW MORE INFO
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30. GET TO KNOW THE BIRDS & THE BEES AT HACKNEY CITY FARM
Hackney | ££

Then get to know each other at The Laughing Heart… VIEW MORE INFO
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31. RENT A HOT TUG
Islington/Canary Wharf | ££££

It’s literally a hot tub. That’s also a boat. VIEW MORE INFO
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32. LISTEN TO SOME LIVE JAZZ AT RONNIE SCOTT’S
Soho | ££

They serve it with roast on Sundays. VIEW MORE INFO
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33. SIP DRINKS ON A ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING THE CITY
Across London | ££

We have some suggestions here... VIEW MORE INFO
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34. GO GLASSBLOWING
London Bridge | £££££

Then go glass-drinking at Tanner and Co. VIEW MORE INFO
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35. CLIMB UP TO THE ST. PAUL’S WHISPERING GALLERY
St. Paul’s | £

Credit: Jack Pease Photography/Flickr

And whisper racy things to each other at gradually increasing volumes. VIEW MORE INFO
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36. PLAY A FEW ROUNDS OF DARTS AT FLIGHT CLUB
Finsbury Square/Bloomsbury/Victoria | ££

Use the board to determine what you drink. VIEW MORE INFO
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37. TAKE A TRIP TO AN ART GALLERY
Across London | £

Find out everything that’s on, everywhere, here: VIEW MORE INFO
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38. COSY UP IN GORDON’S WINE BAR
Embankment | ££

…And definitely get a cheese sharing platter. VIEW MORE INFO
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39. HIT UP A RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW
Across London | £££

With a view to impressing your date. VIEW MORE INFO
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40. SHOUT SUGGESTIONS AT THE COMEDY STORE
Soho | ££

Then attempt to “volunteer” your date to go on stage. VIEW MORE INFO
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41. GET IN COSTUME, GO TO SECRET CINEMA
Secret Location | £££

If you’re looking for the Mike to your Elle, the Max to your Lucas, the Will to your Mindflayer… then you should take your date to Secret Cinema Presents Stranger Things. VIEW MORE INFO
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42. GO FOR A WHISKEY TASTING AT MILROY’S
Soho | £££

Sneak behind the bookcase to find their basement speakeasy… VIEW MORE INFO
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43. BUY CHEAP THEATRE TICKETS
Soho | £££

And spend the savings on front row seats at The Palomar for dinner. VIEW MORE INFO
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44. DO EVERYTHING AT THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM
Forest Hill | £

They’ve got a butterfly house, a farmers’ market, an outdoor musical garden, a pygmy goat enclosure, an aquarium, a functioning bandstand, a Dutch barn, 16 acres of gardens… and a giant overstuffed walrus. VIEW MORE INFO
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45. PRESS FOR CHAMPAGNE AT BOB BOB RICARD
Soho | ££££

Trust us, it’s glorious. VIEW MORE INFO
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46. NERD OUT AT FOUR QUARTERS
Peckham | ££

Show off your video game skills at Four Quarters. Loser buys a round of craft beers. VIEW MORE INFO
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47. DRESS UP ’40s STYLE AND GO TO CAHOOTS
Soho | £££

Order one of their ‘Dig for Victory’ vegetable cocktails… VIEW MORE INFO
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48. GO FOR BRUNCH AT THE WOLSELEY
Piccadilly | £££

They have fried haggis, duck eggs and whisky. VIEW MORE INFO
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49. MAKE EACH OTHER BOTTLES OF GIN AT THE GINSTITUTE
Notting Hill | ££££

The Ginstitute Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Will Pryce

Then take them home for a nightcap. VIEW MORE INFO
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50. SERENADE YOUR DATE, BACKED BY UKELELES, ON A BATTERSEA BARGE
Vauxhall | £

…after getting dinner at The Garden Café. VIEW MORE INFO
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51. OVERINDULGE IN CHOCCYWOCCYDOODAH’S SECRET CAKE ROOM
Covent Garden | ££££

Whoever looks the least like Bruce Bogtrotter at the end, wins. VIEW MORE INFO
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52. GO ON A CRYPTIC TEXT HUNT AROUND LONDON’S BACKSTREETS
Across London | ££

It’s like a scavenger hunt, with wine. VIEW MORE INFO
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53. COSY UP AT THE CAMPFIRE CLUB
Across London | ££

And watch the sparks fly. VIEW MORE INFO
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54. VISIT DENNIS SEVERS’ HOUSE AFTER DARK
Bishopsgate | £

The whole place is a candlelit ‘still life’ installation of a Georgian house… VIEW MORE INFO
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55. SHOOT VIRTUAL GAME IN A VIRTUAL GAME
Liverpool Street | £££

Then sample their vast whisky collection. VIEW MORE INFO
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56. TAKE A STROLL ON HAMPSTEAD HEATH
Hampstead | Free

Take in the Pergola, Kenwood House, and a pub. Or two. VIEW MORE INFO
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57.BOOK A TABLE AT BRASSERIE ZEDEL
Piccadilly Circus | ££

Then sip cocktails with live jazz in their cabaret bar… VIEW MORE INFO
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58. TAKE THE BOAT FROM TATE BRITAIN TO THE TATE MODERN
Bankside | £

Then talk about the signs, doors, and chairs as if they were exhibits. VIEW MORE INFO
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59. PLAY BOARDGAMES TOGETHER AT DRAUGHTS
Haggerston/Waterloo | ££

Do NOT play Monopoly if you want there to be a second date. VIEW MORE INFO
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60. ATTEND A WINE TASTING AT HUMBLE GRAPE
Around London | £££

See who can make the most convincing comment about the ‘nose’. VIEW MORE INFO
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61. VISIT ANOTHER WORLD TOGETHER
Haggerston | £££

Courtesy of the ‘Otherworld’ virtual reality bar… VIEW MORE INFO
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62. PRETEND TO START A RAP BEEF AT HIP HOP KARAOKE
Fitzrovia | ££

But actually don’t. VIEW MORE INFO
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63. GO BOWLING AT ALL STAR LANES
Holborn / Westfield / Brick Lane | ££

And see who can come up with the most puns about balls, pins, and splits. VIEW MORE INFO
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64. TAKE A COCKTAIL MAKING MASTERCLASS AT TT LIQUOR
Shoreditch | ££££

Then drink your homework. VIEW MORE INFO
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65. GO TO CIRCUS
Covent Garden | ££££

And share blowtorched sushi while trapeze artists swing above you. VIEW MORE INFO
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66. TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO GREENWICH
Greenwich | ££

Take a picnic for the park, before stargazing at the Greenwich Observatory planetarium. VIEW MORE INFO
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67. THEN CLIMB THE O2 BY TWILIGHT, DRINK CHAMPAGNE AT THE TOP
Greenwich | £££

It’s a long climb. Perfect for checking out, or improving, your date’s stamina. VIEW MORE INFO
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68. SEE WHO CAN HAGGLE THE BEST DEAL AT PORTOBELLO MARKET
Notting Hill | ££

The most quintessential of London dates. VIEW MORE INFO
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69. WATCH A PLAY UNDER THE STARS AT SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE
Bankside | £

Then warm up with a drink at Lyaness. VIEW MORE INFO
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70. STROLL THE GLASS WALKWAY ABOVE TOWER BRIDGE
Tower Bridge | ££

And finish up with dinner in a Coppa Club igloo. VIEW MORE INFO
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71. HIT THE OLYMPIC PING PONG TABLE AT BOUNCE
Holborn / Shoreditch | ££

Invent victory dances. VIEW MORE INFO
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72. TOP UP A TAB CARD AT VAGABOND WINES, DRINK DOZENS OF SAMPLES.
Various Locations | ££

Then buy each other a bottle. VIEW MORE INFO
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73. MAKE MOLECULAR COCKTAILS IN THE BREAKING BAD RV
Hackney | £££

And see if there’s good chemistry. VIEW MORE INFO
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74. GO ROLLER-SKIING IN HYDE PARK
Hyde Park | £££

And let Dickie’s Bar take care of the après ski. VIEW MORE INFO
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75. WATCH A FILM AT THE INSTITUT FRANÇAIS
South Kensington | £

Then go for a French meal after… VIEW MORE INFO
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76. PICK OUT A BOOK FOR EACH OTHER AT DAUNT
Marylebone | ££

Then read the first chapters to each other over strudel at Fischer’s. VIEW MORE INFO
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77. TEAM UP WITH ANOTHER COUPLE FOR THE OFFICIAL SHERLOCK ESCAPE ROOM
Shepherd’s Bush | £££

And don’t get Sherlocked in. VIEW MORE INFO
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78. GET DINNER AND A MOVIE
Hackney | ££

At one of London’s unique, independent cinemas… VIEW MORE INFO
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79. SMUGGLE BOOZE ONTO THE LONDON EYE
Westminster | £££

These guys totally managed it. VIEW MORE INFO
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80. HAVE A CHEESE TASTING AT LA CAVE
South Kensington | £££

Then hit Piano Kensington nearby. VIEW MORE INFO
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81. TAKE A CANDLELIT TOUR ROUND SIR JOHN SOANE’S HOUSE
Holborn | £££ (Free by day)

Feat. salvaged architecture, an imaginary monk, and moving walls… VIEW MORE INFO
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82. ORDER ONLY COCKTAILS INVENTED IN THE AMERICAN BAR AT THE SAVOY
Covent Garden | £££

They include the Hanky Panky, White Lady, Corpse Reviver #2, etc. Ask your bartender. VIEW MORE INFO
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83. GET ON YER BIKES, AND GO ON A MONUMENT CRAWL
Around London | £

Credit: Martin Hesketh/Flickr

We recommend including the Monument itself, the view is amazing. VIEW MORE INFO
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84. HAVE A SHUFFLEBOARD CONTEST
Shoreditch | ££££

Then toast your victory with cocktails. VIEW MORE INFO
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85. ORDER THE DUCK AND WAFFLE AT DUCK AND WAFFLE
Bishopsgate | £££

Best order it at 4am. Because you can. VIEW MORE INFO
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86. GO FOR A DINOSAUR SLEEPOVER AT THE NHM
South Kensington | ££££

See who can ask the most ‘Jurassic Park’ questions. VIEW MORE INFO
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87. GO FOR A MIDNIGHT SWIM IN A HEATED LIDO
Hampton | ££

They’ll supply the drinks and glow-sticks. VIEW MORE INFO
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88. GO TO DANS LE NOIR. ORDER FOR YOUR PARTNER.
Clerkenwell | £££

And don’t tell them what they’re getting. VIEW MORE INFO
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89. VISIT KEATS HOUSE, READ YOUR DATE POETRY
Hampstead | £

Challenge them to tell if it’s Keats’ or yours. VIEW MORE INFO
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90. GO FOR A SING-A-LONG AT THE PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA
Leicester Square | ££

Because if you’re the sort of person who would enjoy that, and they’re not; well, that’s the sort of thing you need to find out ASAP. VIEW MORE INFO
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91. GO TO THE ZOO. DECIDE WHY THE ANIMALS ARE IN PRISON.
Regents Park | £££