If the pressure of planning a perfect date brings you out in a sweat…
…you’re going to have an especially hard time in summer.
Luckily, we’ve gathered a fair few summer date ideas over the years involving the most romantic, blue-skied, ice-cream liquefying destinations for the days when London temporarily benefits from some actual sun. And so, read on for our guide to London’s best summer date ideas…
Get to know the Birds and the Bees
… aaand the lions, the tigers, and the naked mole rats at an after-hours Zoo Night.
Details: Fridays until 14th July | London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY | £17.50
Head Off On A Rum Cruise
and see what’s better; sea legs, or land legs after a few daiquiris.
Details: Daily | Ladies & Gentlemen Kings Cross Boat, Goods Way, N1C | £18
Go on a Rooftop Crawl Hike
We have some suggestions riiight here…
Toast Marshmallows at the Campfire Club
Play ‘fluffy bunnies’ between songs.
Details: Various dates | Secret London Locations | From £10
Rent a Hot Tub Boat
WHAT? YES.
Details: From 11th July | Old Street | £220 per trip
Sip on Personalised Cocktails at The Bletchley
If you like each others’ too, that has to be a good sign.
Details: Wed-Sun | Secret Chelsea Location | £29.99
Spend all day at the London Riviera…
And flit from film screening, to reggae gig, to riverside salsa (literally) without breaking a sweat…
Details: Open daily 10-10pm | Queen’s Walk, SE1 2DP | Free Entry
…Before Catching a Show at The Globe
Bring a blanket and get £5 yard tickets to huddle up under the stars.
Details: Throughout Summer | Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT | From £5
Hire Electric Boats at Paddington’s Floating Garden
And ruthlessly speed past everyone else, including small children. READ MORE
Details: Daily | Paddington Pocket Park, Paddington Basin, W2 1JX
Stroll Through the Gardens at Dulwich Picture Gallery’s Lates
Pretend you’re part of the interpretative dance tours they’re running.
Details: Every Friday Night | Gallery Road, SE21 7AD | Free
Test the Oysters-As-Aphrodisiacs Theory with London Shell Co.
If calcified saltwater bivalves be the food of love…
Details: Various Dates | The Prince Regent, Sheldon Square, W2 6DS | From £45
Go on an Ice Cream Crawl
Brain freeze at your own risk. READ MORE
Play Croquet on a Rooftop
Because the stakes are automatically higher.
Details: Daily | Penning Street Car Park, Wapping Lane, E1W 2SF | From £15/hour
Go for Brunch in a Romantic AF, Wisteria-Laden Cabana
And then maybe lunch. And dinner.
Details: Coppa Club, 3 Three Quays Walk, Lower Thames Street, EC3R 6AH
Make Your own Gin in Camden Market
…then swig it on the lock like fancy pirates.
Details: Classes Mon-Fri | 53 Camden Lock Place, NW1 | £50pp
Go to the RA’s Summer Late
Because watching holographic Egyptian fairy tales in a yurt can’t not be amazing.
Details: 19th August | Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, W1J 0BD | £45
Make a Picnic Hamper at Brockley Market
Or just cheat and get some street food hot out the kitchen.
Details: Saturdays, 10am-2pm | Lewisham College Car Park, Lewisham Way, SE4 1UT | Cash Only
Steal Summer Date Ideas From La La Land
Listen to live jazz in Greenwich park then run around the observatory at the top of the hill.
Details: Various afternoon dates | Greenwich Park, SE10 8XJ | Free
Buy Each Other The Ugliest Thing Possible at Flat Iron Square’s Flea Market
Or fine, something nice, if you’re into that.
Details: Every Sunday, 10-5pm | Flat Iron Square, SE1 1TD
Challenge Each Other To a Quadrathlon on Roof East
There’s a roller disco, cage batting, petanque and crazy golf. All on a roof. Obviously.
Details: Daily | Floors 7 & 8, Stratford Multi-Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, E15 1XE
…Then Watch some Outdoor Cinema
Either thanks to RFC, also on Roof East, or any of these fine establishments.
Grab a Picnic, Then Learn How to Dance Al Fresco in Regents Park
All that’s left is …both your feet.
Details: Every summer, dates TBA | Regent’s Park, NW1 4NR | £10
Eat Fresco In Boulestin’s Hidden Courtyard
In fact, eat al fresco for EVERY MEAL. READ MORE.
Stretch Brunch out Until Evening
Start your date at 11, and finish it at 11. READ MORE.
Make Bets With Each Other on Dragon Boats & Rubber Duck Races
The 20th of July will be an interesting day in Merchant square.
Details: 20th July | Merchant Square, Harbet Road, W2 1BF | Donations encouraged
Go from Tate to Tate by Boat
It runs between the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern. Sneak wine onboard.
Details: Every 40 minutes, daily | Tate Britain – Tate Modern | £8.10 (Oyster accepted)
Get out of London
You can get to the mind-bogglingly quaint little town of Amersham BY TUBE.
Details: Whenever you feel like it.
Play Dinosaur Mini Golf
What are you doing still reading? It’s DINOSAUR MINI GOLF.
Details: World of Golf London, Beverley Way, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4PH | From £9
Cool Down in an Ice Climbing Wall
If your date tells you to ‘chill out’, dump them.
Details: Tuesday – Sunday | Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports, Tower House, 10-12 Southampton Street, WC2E 7HA | £25pp
Hire a Rowboat at Epping Forest
Credit: Abi Skipp
Try to recreate the Titanic pose while you’re at it.
Details: 10-8pm daily | Whipps Cross Road, E11 1NP | From £10
Go Stargazing at the Culpeper
Perfect for mooning over each other.
Details: Various dates | The Culpeper, 40 Commercial Street, E1 6LP | £35
Go Geocaching Together
Credit: Andy Rogers
THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE A SNAIL.
Details: Whenever, wherever.
Listen to Mozart… in a Car Park
Then head upstairs for negronis at Frank’s.
Details: Various Dates | Bold Tendencies, Floors 7-10, 95a Rye Lane, SE15 4TG | £5
Take a Board Game to The Faltering Fullback’s Roof Garden
Then crush the competition at quiz night.
Details: Daily, quiz night on Monday | 19 Perth Road, N4 3HB
Listen to Live Jazz as the Sun Sets Over London
Or make something tuneful yourselves from the giant garden xylophones.
Details: Various Dates | The Horniman Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ | Free
Pick a Picnic at Garson’s PYO Farm
It’s totally ok to just get five punnets of strawberries.
Details: Daily from 9am | Winterdown Road, Esher, KT10 8LS | Priced on weight
Get Boozy Hot Chocolates at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
And perform your own dance number in the park afterwards.
Details: Throughout summer | Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, NW1 4NU | From £25
Hit the Lido at Tooting Bec
Credit: Fresh on the Net
Do you need reasons?
Details: Daily until end of September | Tooting Bec Lido, Tooting Bec Road, SW16 1RU | £6
Go Dinosaur Spotting at Crystal Palace
Decide why this one is soooo lazy.
Details: Open daily | Crystal Palace Park, 13 Orchard Grove, SE20 8DN | Free
Take a Stroll Round The Kyoto Garden
Write a haiku about your date’s face.
Details: Open daily | Holland Park, Ilchester Place, W8
Brave the Waters at Hampstead Ponds
They’re open all year round, but seriously, pick a hot day.
Details: Open daily from 7am | Hampstead Heath, NW5 1QR | £2
Go Kayaking Down the Thames
Double kayak gets double points. YOU GUYS.
Details: Saturdays | 3-4 Shadwell Pierhead, Glamis Road, E1W 3TD | £30
Bask in the Azaleas at the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park
Well hellooo, super romantic picnic nook.
Details: Richmond Park, KT2 7NA | Free
Get Crazy Romantic in the Gardens of Southside House
They have a shell grotto and everything.
Details: Weekends and Wednesdays until end of September | Southside House, 3-4 Woodhayes Road, SW19 4RJ | £9
Hang Out in Crate Microbrewery’s Back Yard
Share a pizza and design your imaginary houseboat together.
Details: Open daily from noon | 7, The White Building, Queen’s Yard, E9 5EN
Head to the Midnight Apothecary
Because: botanical cocktails, subterranean live music, and bottomless, toastable marshmallows.
Details: Friday & Saturday nights until end of September | Brunel Museum Rooftop Garden, Railway Avenue, London, SE16 4LF | From £5
Take a Food Tour of Italy at Mercato Metropolitano
…or DIY with their cookery classes.
Details: Open Tues-Sun, 11-11pm | 42 Newington Causeway, SE1 6DR | Free Entry
Volunteer Together at Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
And learn how to plant seedlings…of love.
Details: Saturdays 2-5pm | 13 Dalston Lane, E8 3DF | Free Entry
Take in Some Jazz at Cable Cafe-Bar
You should probably wear matching polo necks, or something.
Details: Open daily | 8 Brixton Road, SW9 6BU
Need even more inspiration? Luckily there’s 100 year-round London date ideas right here…