London Date Ideas | The 101
Chances are high that you’re either in a relationship, or single.
And whichever it is, well, you’re going to need date ideas.
And that’s where we come in, because while yes the whole of The Nudge is filled with amazing date ideas, hidden spots and romantic nooks for you to explore, we’ve also just updated this: our humble collection of 101 London Date Ideas which will help you to A) Secure the lifelong devotion of whomever it is you’re trying to impress, and B) Have fun discovering the very best of London while impressing them.
We’d call that a win-win.
Last Updated: 13th July 2021 | Main image: Bold Tendencies
1. KAYAK YOUR WAY TO CRATE BREWERY
Hackney | ££
And quench your thirst when you get there. VIEW MORE INFO
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2. HIT UP ONE OF LONDON’S MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS
All Over London | ££
A little candlelight, a little live music, a lot of love in the air (which here, smells a lot like dumplings). CHECK OUT THE BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS IN LONDON
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3. STOCK A PICNIC BASKET AT ONE OF LONDON’S FOOD MARKETS
All Over London | ££
Find our basket of recommendations here: LONDON’S BEST FOOD MARKETS
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4. TAKE A CANDLELIT WINE BATH TOGETHER
Strand | £££££
It’s how you’ll be living out your retirement years, so test the waters (so to speak) now. READ MORE
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5. GO TO THE REVAMPED MUSEUM OF THE HOME
Hoxton | Free
Talk like you’re in the time period of each room you walk through. READ MORE
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6. BRAVE A TAXIDERMY CLASS
Hackney | ££££
And give each other crabs! READ MORE
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7. SPARK OLD-SCHOOL ROMANCE AT A JAZZ BAR
Across London | £
It’s hard to beat. SEE THE BEST JAZZ BARS IN LONDON
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8. GET YOUR PRESCRIPTION AT THE MIDNIGHT APOTHECARY
Rotherhithe | £
Namely: unlimited marshmallows for toasting, a candlelit garden with firepits, and botanical cocktails. READ MORE
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9. EAT CHEESE TOGETHER. ON A BARGE.
Paddington | ££
The key to anyone’s heart. Except the lactose intolerant. READ MORE
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10. TIME TRAVEL INTO THE FUTURE OF BINGO
Shoreditch | ££
But get back in time for a nightcap at Black Rock. READ MORE
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11. BUILD-A-BOUQUET AT THE COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET
Bethnal Green | ££
And no, a single rose doesn’t count. READ MORE
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12. GET LOST IN THE BARBICAN CONSERVATORY
Barbican | Free (but reserve ahead)
A pop up bar, terrapins, and 1,500+ species of plants… READ MORE
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13. HURL SOME AXES AT A WALL
Hackney Wick | £££
Because trust is the bedrock of any relationship. READ MORE
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14. THEN TOAST YOUR NEW TALENT AT BARGE EAST
Hackney Wick | ££
Just a really lovely date spot, an axe’s throw away. READ MORE
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15. GO TO A CONCERT IN A CAR PARK
Peckham | ££
Then hit this rooftop Italian. VIEW MORE INFO
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16. HIRE A PEDALO AT ALLY PALLY
Alexandra Palace | £
Then stroll round the outdoor art exhibition (on until 30th Sept), or grab a drink on their panoramic terrace. READ MORE | SEE MORE PLACES TO GO BOATING IN LONDON
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17. MAKE CANDLES TOGETHER AT EARL OF EAST
London Fields/King’s Cross | £££
Though obviously, nobody holds a candle to your date… READ MORE
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18. PRESS FOR CHAMPAGNE AT BOB BOB RICARD
Soho | ££££
Trust us, it’s glorious. READ MORE
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19. WATCH A CULT FILM UNDER THE STARS
Across London | ££
Find every al fresco film screening this summer right HERE.
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20. CHECK OUT ONE OF LONDON’S NEWEST RESTAURANTS
Across London | ££
We’ve vetted the latest openings for you right HERE.
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21. BOOK IN FOR AFTERNOON TEA
Across London | ££-££££
These places somehow make egg and cress an aphrodisiac. SEE LONDON’S BEST AFTERNOON TEAS
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22. HIT UP A RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW
Across London | £££
With a view to impressing your date. READ MORE
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23. SPEND A DAY EXPLORING SPITALFIELDS MARKET
Spitalfields | £
Street food and quirky market stalls… READ MORE
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24. THEN MOSEY DOWN BRICK LANE
Brick Lane | £
Mooch round the vintage stores, go bowling, feast on Indian food and get the city’s best hot chocolate at Dark Sugars. READ MORE
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25. BREAK CODES FOR COCKTAILS AT THE BLETCHLEY
Chelsea | £££
And give each other codenames for the evening. READ MORE
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26. WATCH COMEDY IN THE COURTYARD AT BATTERSEA ARTS CENTRE
Battersea | £
Then debrief over wine at Humble Grape. READ MORE
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27. TAKE IN AN EXHIBITION
Across London | ££
Real-life culture is back! Now showing: THIS STUFF
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28. SING THE PRAISES OF AVE MARIO
Covent Garden | ££
The newest opening from the people behind OTT, bombastic restaurants Gloria and Circolo Popolare is – dare we say it – even more OTT and bombastic. READ MORE
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29. EXPLORE AN ANCIENT APOTHECARIES’ GARDEN AFTER HOURS
Chelsea | £
Supperclubs under the stars and jazz on the lawn. READ MORE
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30. GO CRAZY GOLFING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Across London | £
Or, you know, Hackney. READ MORE
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31. DRIVE DODGEMS AROUND THE COURTYARD OF SOMERSET HOUSE
Strand | £
Fancy bumping into you here… READ MORE
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32. MAKE UP FOR LOCKDOWN BY VISITING LONDON’S BEST BARS ALL AT ONCE
Bloomsbury | £
This year’s Cocktails in the City is bringing together Callooh Callay, Nightjar, Coupette and more… READ MORE
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33. GET TO KNOW THE BIRDS & THE BEES AT VAUXHALL CITY FARM
Vauxhall | Free, donations encouraged
Then get to know each other at Brunswick House… READ MORE
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34. DO A SWEEP OF THE SOUTHBANK
South Bank | £
Grab a bite at the Southbank Centre’s food market, take in an exhibition at the Hayward, watch a show at the National, then hole up in Lyaness for a nightcap.
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35. PLAY THE MOST ROMANTIC ROUND OF CRAZY GOLF EVER AT SWINGERS
Oxford Circus/The City | ££
Remember: in golf, being sub-par is a good thing. READ MORE
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36. THEN WATCH THE SUNSET FROM THE TOP OF THE GHERKIN
Liverpool Street | £££
Champagne, oysters and 360 views… READ MORE
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37. RENT A HOT TUG
Canary Wharf | ££££
It’s literally a hot tub. That’s also a boat. READ MORE
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38. SIP DRINKS ON A ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING THE CITY
Across London | ££
We have some suggestions here... READ MORE
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39. PLAY A FEW ROUNDS OF DARTS AT FLIGHT CLUB
Finsbury Square/Bloomsbury/Victoria | ££
Use the board to determine what you drink. READ MORE
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40. SEE SOMETHING AT THE THEATRE
Across London | ££
Remember this? It’s like Netflix, but 3D. SEE WHAT’S ON
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41. TRY FINE DINING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MARKET
Borough | £££
Ex-City Social chef Tomas Lidakevicius is plucking ingredients right from the market and whipping them into tasting menus on the spot. READ MORE
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42. 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. READ MORE
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43. ORDER THE DUCK AND WAFFLE AT DUCK AND WAFFLE
Bishopsgate | £££
Best order it at 4am. Just because you can. VIEW MORE INFO
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44. EXPLORE ABANDONED TUBE TUNNELS BELOW GROUND
Across London | ££££
At these intimate subterranean tours. READ MORE
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45. (ATTEMPT TO) SING KARAOKE
Across London | £
At two of these spots, you can take a bow, then take a bao… SEE THE BEST KARAOKE BARS IN LONDON
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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. READ MORE
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47. GO TO AN UNUSUAL RESTAURANT…
Across London | ££
For when you feel like wildebeest tonight, like wildebeest tonight. READ MORE
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48. …THEN GO TO AN UNUSUAL BAR
Across London | ££
A Himalayan refuge hut, a hidden detective agency and half a tree full of whisky… READ MORE
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49. MAKE EACH OTHER BOTTLES OF GIN AT THE GINSTITUTE
Notting Hill | ££££
Then take them home for a nightcap. READ MORE
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50. WATCH A FILM SOMEWHERE BEAUTIFUL
Across London | ££
Cocktails, blankets and cinema beds. SEE LONDON’S BEST INDEPENDENT CINEMAS
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51. COMMIT THE PERFECT CRIME TOGETHER
Moorgate | £££
Dodge lasers, steal a $250m painting, then go for cocktails. READ MORE
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52. HAVE FIVE DATES IN ONE AT LONDON WONDERGROUND
Earl’s Court | ££
Start with old-school fairground rides, bop your head to live music as you tuck into street food, catch a show in the two big top tents, and finish up with cocktails… on an urban beach. READ MORE
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53. WATCH ROMEO & JULIET WITH A LIVE GOSPEL CHOIR
Islington | ££
Then get thee to 12:51 for dinner. READ MORE
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54. DRINK COCKTAILS AT NIGHTJAR
Old Street | ££
They have 100 year-old Pimm’s. READ MORE
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55. COSY UP AT THE CAMPFIRE CLUB
Across London | ££
And watch the sparks fly. READ MORE
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56. LET PHIL WANG CRACK THE JOKES
Peckham | ££
While you enjoy the scenery at this rooftop comedy gig. VIEW MORE INFO
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57. TAKE THE BOAT FROM TATE BRITAIN TO THE TATE MODERN
Bankside | £
Then talk about the signs, doors, and chairs as if they were exhibits. READ MORE
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58. TAKE A STROLL ON HAMPSTEAD HEATH
Hampstead | Free
Take in the Pergola, Kenwood House, and a pub. Or two. READ MORE
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59. VISIT LONDON’S MOST BEAUTIFUL SEWAGE PLANT
Abbey Wood | £
If your date turns up, you’re on to a winner. READ MORE
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60. 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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61. WATCH FILMS ON THE ORIGINAL 16mm REELS
Hackney | ££
At the return of Ciné Real’s screening nights. READ MORE
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62. 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. READ MORE
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63. DINE WITH LIVE MUSIC AT BRASSERIE ZEDEL
Piccadilly Circus | ££
Then sip cocktails in their authentic 1930s bar… READ MORE
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64. FEAST ON DIM SUM AL FRESCO
Chinatown | ££
And finish with ice cream in fish-shaped cones from Bake. READ MORE
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65. TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO GREENWICH
Greenwich | ££
Fas Khan
And take a picnic for the park. READ MORE
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66. 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. READ MORE
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67. STROLL THE GLASS WALKWAY ABOVE TOWER BRIDGE
Tower Bridge | ££
And finish up with dinner in a Coppa Club igloo. READ MORE
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68. HIT THE OLYMPIC PING PONG TABLE AT BOUNCE
Farringdon / Shoreditch | ££
Invent victory dances. READ MORE
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69. SEE A MUSICAL AT THE REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE
Regent’s Park | £££
Pick up hot chocolates at the bar before you go in. READ MORE
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70. FEEL OUTRAGEOUSLY ROMANTIC AT NOMAD
Covent Garden | ££££
Save room for the chocolate ganache with malt ice cream. READ MORE
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71. VISIT ANOTHER WORLD TOGETHER
Haggerston | ££
Courtesy of the ‘Otherworld’ virtual reality bar… READ MORE
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72. GO FOR DINNER AT LA BODEGA NEGRA
Soho | £££
Ungry Young Man/Flickr
Where getting the wrong address could make the date even more interesting… READ MORE
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73. MAKE MOLECULAR COCKTAILS IN THE BREAKING BAD RV
Hackney | £££
And see if there’s good chemistry. READ MORE
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74. TOP UP A TAB CARD AT VAGABOND WINES, DRINK DOZENS OF SAMPLES.
Various Locations | ££
Then buy a bottle of your favourite for your next date. READ MORE
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75. WATCH UN FILM ROMANTIQUE AT THE INSTITUT FRANÇAIS
South Kensington | £
That’s French for ‘a romantic film’… VIEW MORE INFO
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76. SMUGGLE BOOZE ONTO THE LONDON EYE
Westminster | £££
These guys totally managed it. VIEW MORE INFO
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77. TAKE A CANDLELIT TOUR ROUND SIR JOHN SOANE’S HOUSE
Holborn | £££ (Free by day)
Feat. salvaged architecture, an imaginary monk, and moving walls… READ MORE
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78. WANDER ACROSS ACRES OF URBAN WETLANDS
Walthamstow | Free
Then hole up in Tottenham’s tiniest pub. READ MORE
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79. TAKE THE PLUNGE WITH AN OUTDOOR SWIM
Across London | £
Find the finest wild swimming spots and retro lidos HERE.
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80. PICK OUT A BOOK FOR EACH OTHER AT DAUNT BOOKS
Marylebone | £
Then read the first chapters to each other over strudel at Fischer’s. VIEW MORE INFO
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81. PIT YOUR WITS AGAINST AN ESCAPE ROOM
Across London | ££
If you can survive an hour of high-intensity puzzling while locked in a room together, it probably bodes well. SEE THE BEST ESCAPE ROOMS IN LONDON
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82. SEE WHO CAN HAGGLE THE BEST DEAL AT PORTOBELLO MARKET
Notting Hill | ££
Paul Hudson/Flickr
The most quintessential of London dates. READ MORE
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83. GET ON YER BIKES, AND GO ON A MONUMENT CRAWL
Around London | £
We recommend including the Monument itself once it reopens, the view up there is amazing. VIEW MORE INFO
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84. HAVE A SHUFFLEBOARD CONTEST
Shoreditch | ££
Then toast your victory with cocktails. READ MORE
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85. GO FOR A MOONLIT SWIM IN A HEATED LIDO
Hampton | ££
They’ll supply the drinks and glow-sticks. READ MORE
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86. PLAY BOARDGAMES TOGETHER AT DRAUGHTS
Dalston/Waterloo | ££
Do NOT play Monopoly if you want there to be a second date. READ MORE
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87. TRY NOT TO PROPOSE AT CLOS MAGGIORE
Covent Garden | £££
It’s craaaazy romantic there. If you book a table in the right room (this one). READ MORE
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88. 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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89. GO TO THE ZOO. DECIDE WHY THE ANIMALS ARE IN PRISON.
Regents Park | £££
Those zebras are wearing comedy burglar outfits. READ MORE
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90. HIRE YOUR OWN BOAT FOR THE DAY
Paddington | £££
And speak like pirates all day. READ MORE
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91. TAKE A TOUR OF LONDON’S SECRET GARDENS
Around London | Free
And finish up at Petersham Nurseries for dinner. READ MORE
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92. GO TO ELTHAM PLACE, PRETEND TO BE ROYALTY
Greenwich | £
Bring a picnic to have on the stunningly well-manicured lawn. VIEW MORE INFO
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93. GO FOR BRUNCH
Across London | ££
Because if the date doesn’t go well, at least you’ve had brunch. SEE LONDON’S BEST BRUNCH SPOTS
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94. RUN AWAY FOR THE DAY
Not London | ££
These lovely places are all reachable in 2 hours, but we’ve included some hotel suggestions if you wanted to stay… READ MORE
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95. TOUR THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN EVERY LONDON NEIGHBOURHOOD
Across London
Your first 44 dates? Sorted. READ MORE
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96. WANDER THROUGH A SPITALFIELDS HOUSE TRAPPED IN TIME
Spitalfields | £
The candlelit evening tours are silent – so you can save all your best jokes for dinner at Brat afterwards. READ MORE
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97. GO AUGMENTED REALITY GO KARTING
Bethnal Green | ££
If you’re wondering what that’s like, it rhymes with Shmario Shmart. READ MORE
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98. TAKE A DIVE INTO A 1920s CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD
Elephant & Castle | £££
At this immersive theatre show… READ MORE
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99. TAKE AFTERNOON TEA AT THE CORAL ROOM…
Bloomsbury | ££
And try not to scoff all the white chocolate and blood orange profiteroles. READ MORE
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100. …BEFORE HEADING DOWNSTAIRS TO SIP COCKTAILS IN A FAIRY-LIT CAVERN
Bloomsbury | ££
Grade A date territory. READ MORE
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101. BOOK A RUSSIAN LOG CABIN FOR A PRIVATE SPA DAY
Hoxton | £££££
And get thrashed by tree branches together. VIEW MORE INFO
Looking for more date ideas? Here are some fun things to get up to in London in the summer…