If the pressure of planning a perfect date brings you out in a sweat…
…well you’re going to be having a particularly hard time right now.
Fortunately, however, we’ve just updated our wonderful little collection of summer date ideas, from rooftop bar crawls, marshmallow toasting, floating hot tubs and films on the beach, to alfresco jazz, open air theatre, wild swimming and rooftop croquet…
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Enjoy Some Canalside Jazz
As smooth as the bar’s homemade Hackney Spiced Rum. VIEW DETAILS
Details: Various dates throughout summer | Grow, Main Yard, Hackney Wick, E9 5LN | £5/6 – book here
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Go on a Rooftop Crawl Hike
We have some suggestions riiight here…
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Toast Marshmallows at the Campfire Club
Play ‘fluffy bunnies’ between songs. READ MORE
Details: Various dates | Secret London Locations | £13
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Take a Lunchbreak Trip To Watch A Rubber Duck Race
And if you’ve got time to spare, take lunch on the roof of The Cheese Barge, too.
Details: Thursday 29th July, 12.30-1.30pm | Merchant Square, Paddington, W2 | Free, or sponsor a duck for £3 in aid of COSMIC charity
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Rent a Hot Tub Boat
It’s a boat. That’s also a hot tub. READ MORE
Details: Available daily | Off Hertsmere Road, West India Quay, E14 4AL | £225-250 per trip
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Spend all day at Summer By The River…
And flit from film screening, to reggae gig, to riverside salsa (literally) without breaking a sweat…
Details: See what’s on here | The Scoop at More, London SE1 2AA | Free Entry
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…Before Catching a Show at The Globe
Bring a blanket and get £5 yard tickets to cuddle up under the stars. READ MORE
Details: Throughout Summer | Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT | From £5
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See The Northern Lights (in Greenwich)
Plus fragrant installations, dancers on a conveyor belt and immersive theatre in the middle of nowhere. VIEW DETAILS
Details: 27th August – 11th September | Across Greenwich | Some free events, others ticketed
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Watch Films With Your Toes In The Sand
Since holidays are still looking a bit wobbly this year, Backyard Cinema have kindly brought 56 tonnes of sand… to you. READ MORE
Details: Screenings daily | Capital Studios, 13 Wandsworth Plain, Wandsworth, SW18 1ET | From £15.99
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See Big Name Acts at All Points East
London’s day festival is back, and it’s bringing London Grammar, Loyle Carner and Bombay Bicycle Club with it… READ MORE
Details: 27th-30th August | Victoria Park, E3 5TG | £78.95+
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Chill Out on the Beach… At Earl’s Court
Then get giddy on fairground rides, catch comedy, cabaret and circus shows, and load up on street food. READ MORE
Details: Until September 26th | Empress Place, Earls Court, SW6 1TT | Free entry, book shows here
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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: 22nd & 23rd July | London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY | £19.95
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Eat Outrageous Pizza On A Central London Rooftop
Gizzi Erskine, Professor Green and Night Tales come to John Lewis… READ MORE
Details: Opens 22nd July | John Lewis Rooftop, 300 Oxford Street, W1C 1DX | Book here
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Complete the City’s Tiniest Bar Crawl
Cocktails in the City conveniently brings dozens of London’s best bars together in one beautiful, leafy square. Oh, and Nudge Members get a couple of drinks on the house, too. READ MORE
Details: 23rd & 24th July | Bedford Square, WC1B 3HH | £20
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Listen to Live Jazz on the Lawns at Fulham Palace
And bring your own picnic – or fish & chips from Fishers. VIEW DETAILS
Details: 13th & 15th August | Fulham Palace, Bishop’s Avenue, London SW6 6EA | £75 for two, with Champagne
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Hire Your Own Electric Boat and Sail Through Little Venice
And ruthlessly speed past everyone else, including small children. READ MORE
Details: Available daily | Paddington, Kingston & Canary Wharf | £89+
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Test the Oysters-As-Aphrodisiacs Theory with London Shell Co.
Of course it could be the candlelight, sparkling wine, and London sailing past your window… READ MORE
Details: Cruises Wed-Sat | The Prince Regent, Sheldon Square, W2 6PY | £65
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Go on an Ice Cream Crawl Through Central London
Brain freeze at your own risk. TAKE OUR TOUR
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Play Croquet on a Rooftop
Because the stakes are automatically higher. READ MORE
Details: Open Thurs-Sun | Penning Street Car Park, Wapping Lane, E1W 2SF | From £15 for 45 mins
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Make a Picnic Hamper at One of London’s Markets
Or just cheat and get some street food hot out the kitchen. READ MORE
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Take In The Views From Greenwich Park
And listen to live jazz from the bandstand.
Details: Various weekend dates from 3pm | Greenwich Park, SE10 8XJ | Free
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If you like Piña Coladas… Go Here
A little pocket of Trinidad on the Southbank… READ MORE
Details: Open daily | Gabriel’s Wharf, 56 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PP | Book here
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Watch Films on a Farm by Firelight
Hot toddies, adventure films and a herd of llamas… VIEW MORE DETAILS
Details: 27th August | Mudchute Farm, Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, London E14 3HP | £20
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Compete To Buy Each Other The Most Unusual Object at Spitalfields Market
Victorian print of the anatomy of the lungs? No really, you shouldn’t have. READ MORE
Details: Every Thursday, 8am-5pm | Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, London E1 6EW | Free entry
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Take A BBQ Boat Trip
Show off your cooking skills AND your sailing skills. READ MORE
Details: Available daily | Off Hertsmere Road, West India Quay, E14 4AL | £150-250
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Learn To Play Tejo, Colombia’s Explosive Throwing Game
Before watching drag acts, belting your lungs out at Massaoke, bopping to brass bands and playing crazy golf at Between The Bridges. READ MORE
Details: Open daily | Queen’s Walk South Bank SE1 | See what’s on here
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Watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream in an Actual Forest
Just you, your date, and one talented Bottom. VIEW DETAILS
Details: Tues-Sun, 28th July – 29th August | Kew Gardens, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE | £30
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Challenge Each Other To a Triathlon on Roof East
There’s batting cages, lawn bowls and crazy golf. All on a roof. Obviously. READ MORE
Details: Open Tues-Sun, and bank holidays | Floors 7 & 8, Stratford Multi-Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, E15 1XE | Free entry – games from £10
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…Then Watch some Outdoor Cinema
Conveniently also on Roof East… or at any of these fine establishments.
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Cruise Along The Thames
While sampling some of the city’s finest craft brews. READ MORE
Details: 14th, 28th August & 11th September | The River Princess, Lambeth Pier, Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SG | £44+
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Eat Al Fresco In Circolo Popolare’s Hidden Courtyard
In fact, eat al fresco for EVERY MEAL. READ MORE
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Get out of London
This beach is 90 minutes away. SEE 20 GREAT DAY TRIPS FROM LONDON
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Play Dinosaur Mini Golf
What are you doing still reading? It’s DINOSAUR MINI GOLF. See more places to play crazy golf in London
Details: Dinosaur Safari Adventure Golf, A1 Golf Driving Range, Rowley Lane, Barnet, EN5 3HW | £20 for 2
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Hire a Rowboat
Or a pedalo, if you want a calf workout while you’re at it. See the best places to go boating in London
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Go Geocaching Together
They’re literally all over the city… meaning you can tie it in with a visit to the best restaurant in whichever neighbourhood you end up in.
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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 | £5-10
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Cool Down with Shaved Ice Cocktails and Karaoke
Bao’s new basement booths put the noodles in canoodles. READ MORE
Details: Open daily | 1 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, E2 7DJ
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Crack Codes for Personalised Cocktails at The Bletchley
If you like each others’ too, that has to be a good sign. READ MORE
Details: Wed-Sun | 459 King’s Road, SW10 0LR | £36
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Browse the Stalls at Hackney Night Market
And stop off for drinks at Night Tales. VIEW DETAILS
Details: Friday nights, 6-10pm | Bohemia Place, Hackney Central, E8 1DU | Free entry
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Take a Board Game to The Faltering Fullback’s Roof Garden
Then crush the competition at quiz night.
Details: Quiz night on Monday | 19 Perth Road, N4 3HB
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Pick a Picnic at Garson’s PYO Farm
It’s totally ok to just get five punnets of strawberries.
Details: Daily from 9am-4pm (10am Sun) | Winterdown Road, Esher, KT10 8LS | £4pp, book ahead
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Go For Dinner At This Romantic Churchyard Restaurant
Just get to the church on time. READ MORE
Details: Open Wed-Sun | 1 Marylebone Road, NW1 4AQ | Book here
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Listen to Live Funk and Soul as the Sun Sets Over London
Max A Rush
After meeting the goats in the Horniman Museum’s gardens.
Details: Thursday evenings in August | The Horniman Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ | Tickets on sale soon
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Watch Stand-Up or a Musical at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
You can even ask them to set up a picnic for you (with champers). READ MORE
Details: Throughout summer | Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, NW1 4NU | Tickets from £25, picnic £55 for two
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Attend a Seasonal Supperclub in an Ancient Apothecaries’ Garden
Then explore the fragrant gardens by twilight…
Details: Various dates until September | Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS | £50-75
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See How Far You Can Get Along the Bermondsey Beer Mile
Remember, in these summer months it’s important to stay hydrated. READ MORE
Details: Saturdays 11am-5pm | See the route here
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Ride Musical Dodgems at Somerset House
Then tuck into street food and cocktails as DJs serenade the sunset. READ MORE
Details: Until 22nd August | Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA | £5-10
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Follow A Cryptic Text Trail Around Hidden Parts of the City
And stop in at tiny, off-the-beaten-track pubs en route. READ MORE
Details: Daily | Across London | £19pp
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Play a Little Al Fresco Shuffleboard
Then go for post-match Thai at Smoking Goat. READ MORE
Details: Open daily | London Shuffle Club, 4 Ebor Street, E1 6AW | £25-52/lane
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Hit the Lido
Do you need reasons? See the best places for outdoor swimming in London
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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
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Take a Stroll Round The Kyoto Garden
Then go for a drink at the equally floral Churchill Arms.
Details: Open daily | Holland Park, Ilchester Place, W8 | Free
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Brave the Waters at Hampstead Ponds
They’re open all year round, but seriously, pick a hot day. Then get ice creams at Kenwood House. Plan a day on Hampstead Heath
Details: Open daily from 7am | Hampstead Heath, NW5 1QR | Book ahead
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Go Kayaking Down the Thames By Twilight
Double kayak gets double points. YOU GUYS.
Details: Various dates | The Beach Next to St Mary’s Church Battersea, SW11 3LX | £67
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Bask in the Azaleas at the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park
Well hellooo, super romantic picnic nook.
Details: Open daily | Richmond Park, KT2 7NA | Free
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Get Crazy Romantic in the Gardens of Southside House
Then listen to live musicians in the stunning rooms inside.
Details: 28th August, 25th September | Southside House, 3-4 Woodhayes Road, SW19 4RJ | £25-30
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Hang Out in Crate Microbrewery’s Back Yard
Share a pizza and design your imaginary houseboat together. READ MORE
Details: Open daily from noon | 7, The White Building, Queen’s Yard, E9 5EN
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Skate, Dine and Bowl at Skate, Dine and Bowl
Keep cool while everyone else is sweltering above ground. READ MORE
Details: Open daily | 17 Queensway, Bayswater, West London, W2 4QP | £11.95-13
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Head to the Midnight Apothecary
Because: botanical cocktails, subterranean live music, and bottomless, toastable marshmallows. READ MORE
Details: Thursday-Sunday | Brunel Museum Rooftop Garden, Railway Avenue, London, SE16 4LF | From £6, book ahead
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Take a Food Tour of the World at Mercato Metropolitano
…and bop your head to live music. READ MORE
Details: Open daily from 11am – late | 42 Newington Causeway, SE1 6DR | Free entry, music ticketed separately
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Play Beach Badminton… In Paddington
Loser buys the Champagne slushies at Pergola Paddington.
Details: Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays 10am-6pm until 6th September | Merchant Square, Paddington W2 | Free, book ahead here
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Get Steamy in a Rooftop Sauna
Then cool down under the waterfall and kick back with a cocktail by firelight. VIEW DETAILS
Details: Open daily | Netil 360, 1 Westgate Street, Hackney, London E8 3RL | From £22.50
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Take A Stroll Through Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
And learn how to plant seedlings…of love. READ MORE
Details: Open daily from 2pm | 13 Dalston Lane, E8 3DF | Free entry
Main image: London Shell Co
Need even more inspiration? Luckily there’s 101 year-round London date ideas right here…