101 London Date Ideas

101 London Date Ideas | Quirky Things To Do On Date Night

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 London date ideas, with 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 doing so.

We’d call that a win-win.

1. CLIMB THE 50M PAGODA AT KEW GARDENS
Kew | ££

A Cool Rocket/Unsplash

And pick out the perfect spot below for a picnic after.
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2. STEP BACK INTO JAZZ AGE MANHATTAN
Earl’s Court | £££

With live music, a banquet, and prohibition-era cocktails at the residence of Ms. Belle Livingstone.
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3. HIT UP A RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW
Across London | £££

With a view to impressing your date. 
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4. BUILD-A-BOUQUET AT THE COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET
Bethnal Green | ££

And no, a single rose doesn’t count. 
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5. GET LOST IN THE BARBICAN CONSERVATORY
Barbican | Free (but book ahead)

A pop up bar, terrapins, and 1,500+ species of plants…
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6. SEE THE DINOS AT CRYSTAL PALACE PARK
Crystal Palace | Free

Then track down one of London’s greatest sandwiches at Chatsworth Bakehouse.
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7. HURL SOME AXES AT A WALL AT SKEETERS
Hackney Wick | £££

Then toast your new skills at Barge East, just an axe’s throw away.

8. TAKE ROMANCE TO NEW HEIGHTS AT LIFT 109
Battersea | ££

By ascending the chimneys of Battersea Power Station.
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9. WHISK YOUR DATE OFF ON A NUDGE ITINERARY
Across London | £

Our growing collection of neighbourhood strolls, with suggestions of where to eat, where to drink and what to see…
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10. MAKE CANDLES TOGETHER AT EARL OF EAST
London Fields/King’s Cross | £££

Though obviously, nobody holds a candle to your date… 
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11. LISTEN TO SOME LITERALLY LIFE-CHANGING MUSIC
Wapping | ££

At One Track Minds, a mash-up of TED Talks and Desert Island Discs…
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12. PRESS FOR CHAMPAGNE AT BOB BOB RICARD
Soho | ££££

Trust us, it’s glorious.
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13. CHECK OUT ONE OF LONDON’S NEWEST RESTAURANTS AND BARS
Across London | ££

Or plan ahead, with our guide to restaurants opening soon.
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14. BOOK IN FOR AFTERNOON TEA
Across London | ££-££££

These places somehow make egg and cress an aphrodisiac.
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15. SPEND A DAY EXPLORING SPITALFIELDS MARKET
Spitalfields | £

Compete to see who can find the most hilariously old-school record cover.
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16. 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.
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17. CATCH A SHOW AT WILTON’S
Wapping | ££

Then go for post-show drinks at the 300-year old Mahogany Bar.
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18. BREAK CODES FOR COCKTAILS AT THE BLETCHLEY
Chelsea | £££

And give each other codenames for the evening.
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19. WATCH FILMS ON THE ORIGINAL 16mm REELS
Hackney | ££

At Ciné Real’s incredibly special screening nights. 
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20. DINE WITH LIVE MUSIC AT BRASSERIE ZEDEL
Piccadilly Circus | ££

Then sip cocktails in their authentic 1930s bar… 
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21. STOCK A PICNIC BASKET AT ONE OF LONDON’S BEST FOOD MARKETS
All Over London | ££

Then take it to one of the many lovely parks in London.
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22. 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. 
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23. GET YOUR PRESCRIPTION AT THE MIDNIGHT APOTHECARY
Rotherhithe | £

Namely: a candlelit garden with firepits, unlimited marshmallows for toasting, and botanical cocktails.
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24. TOUR LONDON’S UNUSUAL MUSEUMS
Across London | £

First to find UCL’s famous Jar of Moles wins.
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25. BRAVE A TAXIDERMY CLASS
Hackney | ££££

And give each other crabs! 
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26. SPARK OLD-SCHOOL ROMANCE AT A JAZZ BAR
Across London | £

It’s hard to beat.
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27. TAKE IN AN EXHIBITION
Across London | ££

All the Flowers Are for Me – Anila Quayyum Agha © RBG Kew

Milk! K-Pop! An interrogation of the lasting legacy of one of the Renaissance’s most influential sculptors!
^

28. SEE A MUSICAL AT THE REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE
Regent’s Park | £££

Book a spot on the grass and bring your own picnic.
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29. ENTRUST THE BARTENDER WITH AN OMAKASE COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE
Knightsbridge | ££££

And leave with a bottle of your favourite to take… somewhere else.
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30. GO CRAZY GOLFING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Across London | £

Or, you know, Barnet.
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31. GET ON YER BIKES, AND GO ON A MONUMENT CRAWL
Around London | £

Mike Peel

A proper London date. We recommend including the Monument itself, the view up there is amazing.
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32. MAKE YOUR OWN BESPOKE PERFUMES
Covent Garden | £££££

Now you’re making scents.
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33. TAKE THE PLUNGE WITH A REFRESHING OUTDOOR SWIM
Across London | £

Just spend five months or so learning not to scream when you get in, first.
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34. TAKE A STROLL ALONG THE SOUTH BANK
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. 
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36. RENT A HOT TUG
Canary Wharf | ££££

It’s literally a hot tub. That’s also a boat. 
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37. SIP DRINKS ON A ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING THE CITY
Across London | ££

We have some suggestions here... 
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38. PLAY A FEW ROUNDS OF DARTS AT FLIGHT CLUB
Finsbury Square/Bloomsbury/Victoria/Islington | ££

Use the board to determine what you drink.
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39. SEE SOMETHING AMAZING AT THE THEATRE
Across London | ££

Remember this? It’s like Netflix, but 3D. 
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40. TRY FRESH VEG-TURNED-FINE DINING AT TURNIPS
Borough | £££

Ex-City Social chef Tomas Lidakevicius is plucking ingredients right from Borough Market and whipping them into tasting menus on the spot.
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41. 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.
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42. LEARN TO SWING DANCE AT THE RIVOLI BALLROOM
Brockley | £

With live music and totally authentic 1950s surroundings.
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43. TACKLE THE BERMONDSEY BEER MILE
Bermondsey | ££

For some pint-sized fun.
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44. THEN STROLL THROUGH MALTBY STREET MARKET BY NIGHT
Bermondsey | £

Create your own banquet with a course from each stall…
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45. EXPLORE ABANDONED TUBE TUNNELS BELOW GROUND
Across London | ££££

At these intimate subterranean tours.
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46. LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC IN A CHURCH CRYPT
Charing Cross | ££

It’s surprisingly lively down there…
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47. NERD OUT AT FOUR QUARTERS
Peckham | ££

Show off your video game skills at Four Quarters. Loser buys a round of craft beers. 
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48. GO TO AN UNUSUAL RESTAURANT
Across London | ££

For when you feel like wildebeest tonight, like wildebeest tonight.
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49. TAKE A COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS
Across London | £££

When you feel like shaking things up.
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50. COSY UP AT THE CAMPFIRE CLUB
Across London | ££

And watch the sparks fly. 
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51. WATCH A FILM SOMEWHERE BEAUTIFUL
Across London | ££

Cocktails, blankets and cinema beds. 
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52. TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO GREENWICH
Greenwich | ££

Fas Khan

And drink like sailors at one of Greenwich’s best pubs.
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53. 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. 
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54. INVITE YOUR DATE TO PLAY SQUID GAME AT IMMERSIVE GAMEBOX
Southwark | £

It’s probably not exactly like the show. Probably.
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55. GO TO THE THURSDAY LATE AT NOVELTY AUTOMATION
Holborn | £

Play a friendly game of Divorce, then make up over a glass of wine.
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56. WATCH COMEDY IN A HISTORIC CHURCH
Highbury | ££

They’ll have you rolling in the aisles.
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57. DRINK COCKTAILS AT NIGHTJAR
Old Street | ££

They have 100 year-old Pimm’s. 
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58. BLOW YOUR MINDS AT AN OPTICAL ILLUSIONS MUSEUM
Oxford Circus | £££

Dan Weill Photography

It should put a spin on your typical date in London…
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59. TAKE YOUR DATE TO THE FAIRGROUND
Canary Wharf | ££

The kind with adrenaline-fuelled mini-games, street food, and boozy candy floss.
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60. GIVE CUPID A RUN FOR HIS MONEY
The City & Canary Wharf | ££

Practise your aim with virtual clay pigeon shooting at Clays.
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61. TAKE THE BOAT FROM TATE BRITAIN TO THE TATE MODERN
Bankside | £

Then talk about the signs, doors, and chairs as if they were exhibits. 
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62. TAKE A STROLL ON HAMPSTEAD HEATH
Hampstead | Free

Take in the Pergola, Kenwood House, and a pub. Or two. 
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63. SCALE THE WALLS OF A STOKE NEWINGTON CASTLE
Stoke Newington | £

Because it actually houses a rock climbing centre.
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64. DRESS UP ’40s STYLE AND GO TO CAHOOTS
Soho | £££

Order one of their ‘Dig for Victory’ vegetable cocktails.
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65. SPEND AN ENTIRE DAY IN VICTORIA PARK
Hackney | £

Start with a Sri Lankan breakfast at Pavilion, take a boat across the lake, peruse the Sunday market and finish with a little light roller blading.
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66. KAYAK YOUR WAY TO CRATE BREWERY
Hackney | ££

And quench your thirst when you get there. 
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67. 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. 
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68. HIT UP ONE OF LONDON’S MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS
All Over London | ££

Carol Sachs

Some beautiful London date spots, with a little candlelight, a little live music, a little love in the air (which here, smells a lot like steak).
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69. EAT CHEESE TOGETHER. ON A BARGE.
Paddington | ££

The key to anyone’s heart. Except the lactose intolerant.
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70. STROLL THE GLASS WALKWAY ABOVE TOWER BRIDGE
Tower Bridge | ££

Then look back on it over dinner at Tavolino.
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71. GO TO A CONCERT IN A CAR PARK
Peckham | ££

Luca Migliore

Then hit this rooftop Italian. 
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72. HIT THE OLYMPIC PING PONG TABLE AT BOUNCE
Farringdon / Shoreditch | ££

Invent victory dances. 
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73. SIP ABSINTHE AT THE LAST TUESDAY SOCIETY
Hackney | £

Then descend into Viktor Wynd’s cabinet of curiosities below…
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74. ATTEND A CONCERT IN A SUBTERRANEAN, VICTORIAN CAVERN
Rotherhithe | ££

They say Brunel was building a tunnel… but really, he was creating a Grade A date spot.
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75. GET YOUR SKATES ON AT FLIPPER’S ROLLER BOOGIE PALACE
Shepherd’s Bush | ££

It’s the revival of an iconic LA roller disco. Backed by Usher.
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76. MAKE MOLECULAR COCKTAILS IN THE BREAKING BAD RV
Hackney | £££

And see if there’s good chemistry. 
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77. ORDER THE DUCK AND WAFFLE AT DUCK AND WAFFLE
Bishopsgate | £££

Best order it at 4am. Just because you can. 
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78. BROWSE THE STALLS AT LONDON’S FLEA MARKETS

Buy each other an obnoxious piece of bric-a-brac, and insist they display it in pride of place at home.
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79. 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.
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80. WATCH UN FILM ROMANTIQUE AT THE INSTITUT FRANÇAIS
South Kensington | £

That’s French for ‘a romantic film’… 
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81. SMUGGLE BOOZE ONTO THE LONDON EYE
Westminster | £££

These guys totally managed it. 
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82. PLAY BOARDGAMES TOGETHER AT DRAUGHTS
Dalston/Waterloo | ££

Do NOT play Monopoly if you want there to be a second date. 
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83. 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). 
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84. TAKE A CANDLELIT TOUR ROUND SIR JOHN SOANE’S HOUSE
Holborn | £££ (Free by day)

Feat. salvaged architecture, an imaginary monk, and moving walls… 
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85. WANDER ACROSS ACRES OF URBAN WETLANDS
Walthamstow | Free

Then hole up in Tottenham’s tiniest pub.
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86. SEE WHO CAN HAGGLE THE BEST DEAL AT PORTOBELLO MARKET
Notting Hill | ££

Paul Hudson/Flickr

The most quintessential of London dates. 
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87. HIRE A PEDALO AT ALLY PALLY
Alexandra Palace | £

Then grab a drink on their panoramic beer terrace.
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88. HAVE A SHUFFLEBOARD CONTEST
Shoreditch | ££

Then toast your victory with cocktails at Seed Library.
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89. GO FOR A MOONLIT SWIM IN A HEATED LIDO
Hampton | ££

They’ll supply the drinks and glow-sticks.
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90. GO TO LONDON ZOO. DECIDE WHY THE ANIMALS ARE IN PRISON.
Regents Park | £££

Those zebras are wearing comedy burglar outfits. 
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91. HIRE YOUR OWN BOAT FOR THE DAY
Paddington | £££

And speak like pirates all day. 
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92. GO TO ELTHAM PALACE, PRETEND TO BE ROYALTY
Greenwich | £

Bring a picnic to have on the stunningly well-manicured lawn.
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93. GO FOR BRUNCH
Across London | ££

Because if the date doesn’t go well, at least you’ve had brunch.
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94. DRESS UP IN RIDICULOUSLY FANCY OUTFITS
Covent Garden | £

And book £9 tickets to see the Royal Ballet.
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95. 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. 
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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.
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97. GO (WILD) LIFE DRAWING
Across London

Invent pet names for each other. And the models.
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98. 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…
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99. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO A VINEYARD NEAR LONDON

Resist the urge to sing I Heard It On The Grapevine over and over.
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100. OR STAY PUT, AND VISIT LONDON CRU
Fulham | ££

You can literally squeeze grapes with your squeeze.
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101. BREW YOUR OWN SAKE
Peckham | £££££

And toast the future.

Looking for more London date ideas? Take a look at what’s on in London this month