100 London Date Ideas

100 London Date Ideas

Last Updated: 7th January 2019

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”.

 

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

Put on your Gatsby gladrags, and go dancing. VIEW MORE INFO
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2. GO HORSE RIDING IN HYDE PARK
Hyde Park | ££££

It’s something you can do!  VIEW MORE INFO
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3. 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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4. GO TO A SURPRISE GIG IN A SECRET LOCATION
Somewhere Secret | ££

Sofar Sounds organise them in everything from abandoned churches to living rooms. VIEW MORE INFO
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5. GO TO A DINNER PARTY WITH THE GREEK GODS
Waterloo | £££

A five-course feast, cabaret, and Bacchanalian raving… VIEW MORE INFO
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6. 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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7. KAYAK YOUR WAY TO CRATE BREWERY
Hackney | ££

Sing Venetian gondola songs along the way. VIEW MORE INFO
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8. PLAY A FEW ROUNDS OF DARTS AT FLIGHT CLUB
Finsbury Square | ££

Use the board to determine what you drink. VIEW MORE INFO
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9. CATCH A SHOW AT THE SOHO THEATRE
Soho | £

Then debrief over handmade pasta at Lina Stores. VIEW MORE INFO
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10. GO TO MR FOGGS, AND SIT IN THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Covent Garden | ££

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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11. TAKE A TRIP TO AN ART GALLERY
Across London | £

Find out everything that’s on, everywhere, here: VIEW MORE INFO
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12. BRING A BOTTLE TO BYOC
Camden | £££

And invent cocktails for each other. VIEW MORE INFO
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13. CLIMB UP TO THE ST. PAUL’S WHISPERING GALLERY
St. Paul’s | £

And whisper racy things to each other at gradually increasing volumes. VIEW MORE INFO
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14. STOCK A WICKER PICNIC BASKET AT BOROUGH MARKET
Southwark | ££

And, um, have a picnic. VIEW MORE INFO
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15. THEN LEARN TO BAKE DOUGHNUTS WITH BREAD AHEAD
Borough | ££££

Food fights optional. VIEW MORE INFO
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16. DRESS UP PROPERLY FOR A BLITZ PARTY
Secret Locations | ££

Down a couple of B-52s. VIEW MORE INFO
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17. GO TO A TAXIDERMY WORKSHOP
Crouch End | ££

Create a backstory for your animals. VIEW MORE INFO
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18. DRINK COCKTAILS INSIDE A BAR HIDDEN BEHIND AN OLD APOTHECARY STORE
Chiswick | ££

Pick prescriptions for each other… VIEW MORE INFO
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19. GO TO AQUA SHARD
London Bridge | ££££

Share the T-bone while the sun sets over London. VIEW MORE INFO
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20. 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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21. TRY THE WYLD AFTERNOON TEA AT DANDELYAN
Southbank | £££

It involves 70s party food, and botanical cocktails. VIEW MORE INFO
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22. GO TO GORDON’S WINE BAR
Embankment | ££

…And definitely get a cheese sharing platter. VIEW MORE INFO
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23. 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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24. OVERINDULGE AT CHOCCYWOCCYDOODAH
Covent Garden | ££

Whoever looks the least like Bruce Bogtrotter at the end, wins. VIEW MORE INFO
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25. PLAY TABLE FOOTBALL AT BAR KICK
Shoreditch | £ 

Decide which countries you’re going to be in your ‘world cup’, and only drink booze from there. VIEW MORE INFO
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26. FIND THE HIDDEN CINEMA INSIDE MERCATO METROPOLITANO
Elephant & Castle | ££

 Then eat an unbecoming amount of burrata… VIEW MORE INFO
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27. RENT A HOT TUG
London’s Canals | ££££

It’s literally a hot tub. That’s also a boat. VIEW MORE INFO
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28. HAVE DRINKS ON A ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING THE CITY
Various Locations | ££

We have some suggestions here... VIEW MORE INFO
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29. TAKE A TOUR OF WILTON’S MUSIC HALL ON A MONDAY
Whitechapel | ££

Then stay for the performance. VIEW MORE INFO
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30. GET REALLY GOOD AT SOMETHING WEIRD TOGETHER
Across London | ££

Morris dancing, screen printing or just plain old fire writing – find our recommendations here: VIEW MORE INFO
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31. 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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32. HIT THE FRIDAY LATES AT THE V&A
South Kensington | £

Get music, red wine, and culture. And a second date. VIEW MORE INFO
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33. LISTEN TO SOME LIVE JAZZ AT RONNIE SCOTT’S
Soho | ££

They serve it with roast on Sundays. VIEW MORE INFO
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34. PRESS FOR CHAMPAGNE AT BOB BOB RICARD
Soho | ££££

Trust us, it’s glorious. VIEW MORE INFO
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35. PLAY THE MOST ROMANTIC ROUND OF CRAZY GOLF EVER AT SWINGERS
Oxford Circus | ££

Remember: in golf, being sub-par is a good thing. VIEW MORE INFO
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36. 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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37. DRESS UP ’40s STYLE AND GO TO CAHOOTS
Soho | £££

Speak to each other like you’re in a black & white film. VIEW MORE INFO
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38. BREAK CODES FOR COCKTAILS AT THE BLETCHLEY
Chelsea | £££

And give each other codenames for the evening. VIEW MORE INFO
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39. SLEEP TOGETHER
Stepney Green | £££

That is, make a serious effort to win the ‘Best Pyjamas’ prize at Bedtime Story Nights. VIEW MORE INFO
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40. 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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41. GO ON THE MURDÉR EXPRESS
Bethnal Green | £££

It’s a (pretend) train journey. With a three course feast. And murder… VIEW MORE INFO
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42. GET A SOFA AT THE ELECTRIC CINEMA
Notting Hill / Shoreditch | ££

Then break the decency laws when the lights go down. VIEW MORE INFO
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43. LEARN TO MAKE MAGIC COCKTAILS TOGETHER
Dalston | ££

And see if the sparks fly. VIEW MORE INFO
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44. GO ON A CRYPTIC HUNT AROUND LONDON’S BACKSTREETS
Across London | ££

They’ve even built in a couple of drinking spots. VIEW MORE INFO
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45. SINK A FEW DRINKS AT THE VERY TOP OF THE GHERKIN
Liverpool Street | £££

It’s only recently opened to the public, and you can look right up at the sky. VIEW MORE INFO
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46. PRETEND TO START A RAP BEEF AT HIP HOP KARAOKE
Fitzrovia | ££

But actually don’t. VIEW MORE INFO
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47. GO TO CIRCUS
Covent Garden | ££££

And share blowtorched sushi while trapeze artists swing above you. VIEW MORE INFO
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48. FEED EACH OTHER OYSTERS AT J SHEEKEY
Covent Garden | £££

They’re true heroes in a half shell. VIEW MORE INFO
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49. 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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50. 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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51. GO TO CHINATOWN. PLAY RESTAURANT ROULETTE.
Chinatown | ££

And after you’ve chosen somewhere to eat, play dim sum roulette too.
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52. GET DINNER AND A MOVIE LIKE IT’S THE ’20s
Hackney | ££

At the recently restored Castle Cinema…  VIEW MORE INFO
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53. SHOUT SUGGESTIONS AT THE COMEDY STORE.
Soho | ££

Then attempt to ‘volunteer’ your date to go on stage. VIEW MORE INFO
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54. GO GLASSBLOWING
London Bridge | £££££

Then go glass-drinking at Tanner and Co.  VIEW MORE INFO
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55. TOUR LONDON’S STREET FOOD MARKETS
All Over London| ££

Get starters, mains and dessert at different ones. VIEW MORE INFO
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56. GO FOR A WHISKEY TASTING AT MILROY’S
Soho | £££

Then sneak behind the bookcase to find their basement speakeasy. VIEW MORE INFO
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57. BOOK A TABLE AT PROUD EMBANKMENT
Embankment | £££

And watch award-winning cabaret as you dine. VIEW MORE INFO
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58. TAKE A CANDLELIT TOUR ROUND SIR JOHN SOANE’S HOUSE
Holborn | £££

Feat. salvaged architecture, an imaginary monk, and moving walls… VIEW MORE INFO
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59. 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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60. GO FOR BRUNCH AT THE WOLSELEY
Piccadilly | ££££

They have fried haggis, duck eggs and whisky. VIEW MORE INFO
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61. RIDE THE SLIDE AT THE OLYMPIC PARK
Stratford | ££

Then go for cocktails on this fairylit barge. VIEW MORE INFO
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62. TAKE A COCKTAIL MAKING MASTERCLASS AT TT LIQUOR
Shoreditch | ££££

Then drink your homework. VIEW MORE INFO
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63. GO STAR-GAZING ON THE CULPEPER ROOFTOP
Spitalfields | £££

And moon over each other. VIEW MORE INFO
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64. SNEAK BOOZE INTO THE LONDON EYE
Westminster | £££

These guys totally managed it. VIEW MORE INFO
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65. DELIBERATELY GET LOST IN THE HAMPTON COURT PALACE MAZE
Richmond | £

Then try to find each other. If you do, it’s fate! VIEW MORE INFO
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66. ORDER FOR EACH OTHER AT THE DALSTON JAZZ CLUB
Dalston | £

They’ll have the white shark. VIEW MORE INFO
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67. GO TO THE ZOO. DECIDE WHY THE ANIMALS ARE IN PRISON.
Regents Park | £££

That zebra’s wearing a comedy burglar outfit. VIEW MORE INFO
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68. TRY ON ROLEXES FROM THE YEAR YOU WERE BORN AT BURLINGTON ARCADE
Mayfair | £ (£££££££££££)

Actually buying them however is more of a ‘third date’ kind of thing.
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69. PLAY PETANQUE AT BARANIS
Holborn | £

See how long you can speak only in French for. VIEW MORE INFO
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70. WATCH A PLAY UNDER THE STARS AT SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE
Bankside | £

Titus Andronicus is a cheery, romantic one. VIEW MORE INFO
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71. TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO GREENWICH
Greenwich | ££

Take a picnic and a bottle of wine for the park, before heading up to the Greenwich Observatory. VIEW MORE INFO
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72. SEE IF YOU CAN WIN A LIVE GAME OF ‘HUNTED’
Across London | £££

Solve clues, outwit the hunters, and feel smug about what a good team you make. VIEW MORE INFO
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73. WATCH FRENCH FILMS TOGETHER AT THE INSTITUT FRANÇAIS
South Kensington | £££

Then go for a French meal after. VIEW MORE INFO
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74. 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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75. 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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76. GET IN COSTUME, GO TO SECRET CINEMA
Various Locations | £££

And fool people into thinking you’re part of it. VIEW MORE INFO
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77. 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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78. DRINK BOTANICAL COCKTAILS BY A FIREPIT, IN A ROOF GARDEN
Rotherhithe | ££

They have all-you-can-toast marshmallows… VIEW MORE INFO
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79. 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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80. SEE WHO CAN HAGGLE THE BEST DEAL AT PORTOBELLO MARKET
Notting Hill | ££

While buying each other gifts, of course. VIEW MORE INFO
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81. HIT THE OLYMPIC PING PONG TABLE AT BOUNCE
Holborn / Shoreditch | ££

Then invent victory dances. VIEW MORE INFO
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82. SHOOT VIRTUAL GAME IN A VIRTUAL GAME
Liverpool Street | £££

Then sample the prodigious whisky collection. VIEW MORE INFO
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83. 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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84. 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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85. MAKE MOLECULAR COCKTAILS IN THE BREAKING BAD RV
Hackney | £££

Then head upstairs and play video games for shots. VIEW MORE INFO
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86. GET STARTERS, MAINS, AND DESSERTS FROM THREE DIFFERENT SOHO RESTAURANTS
Soho | ££

We’ve picked out the best on every street… VIEW MORE INFO
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87. GO TO PORKY’S FOR BEER PONG
Bankside | ££

Beer. Pong. VIEW MORE INFO
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88. GO TO KEATS HOUSE, RECITE POETRY TO EACH OTHER
Hampstead | £

Challenge your date to tell if it’s Keats’ or yours. VIEW MORE INFO
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89. ORDER THE DUCK AND WAFFLE AT DUCK AND WAFFLE
Bishopsgate | £££

Best do it at 4am. Because you can. VIEW MORE INFO
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90. MAKE EACH OTHER BOTTLES OF GIN AT THE GINSTITUTE
Notting Hill | ££££

Then take them home for a nightcap. VIEW MORE INFO
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91. GET ON BORIS BIKES, AND GO ON A MONUMENT CRAWL
Around London | £

We recommend including the Monument itself, the view is amazing. VIEW MORE INFO
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92. 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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93. 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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94. 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). VIEW MORE INFO
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95. WATCH MEXICAN WRESTLING, CREATE YOUR OWN CHARACTERS
Bethnal Green | ££

(And maybe wrestle a little later yourselves). VIEW MORE INFO
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96. HAVE A CHEESE TASTING AT LA CAVE
South Kensington | £££

Then hit Piano Kensington nearby. VIEW MORE INFO
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97. TAKE A TOUR OF LONDON’S SECRET GARDENS
Around London | Free

Eat a different course of your picnic in each one. VIEW MORE INFO
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98. 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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99. RUN AWAY FOR THE DAY
Not London | ££

These lovely places are all reachable in 2 hours… VIEW MORE INFO
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100. GO FOR THE PERFECT ROAST
All Over London | ££

Maybe try all of them, just to be sure. VIEW MORE INFO

 

Main image: Coppa Club

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