The Best Date Ideas in the City of London
According to a recent study we never actually got round to making, working hours in the City leave its workers with an average of just 2.74 minutes to themselves a week.
Which is why – unbeknownst to the rest of London – they’ve been hiding away a load of the most instantly romantic, no-planning-required, last-minute-but-you’d-never-know-it date spots in town.
But don’t worry. We’re onto them. And so here are the very best date ideas in the City of London…
Play pétanque at Baranis
Conduct a scientific investigation into whether you’re better before, or after, absinthe.
Details: 115 Chancery Lane, WC2A 1PP | Book here
Take a taxidermy class at St. Bart’s
Then take a tour round all the creepy pathology exhibits after.
Details: 3rd Floor Robin Brook Centre, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithfield, EC1A 7BE | £50, book HERE
Go travelling together at Oriole
Pick cocktails for each other based on your favourite locations.
Details: Smithfield Market, East Poultry Avenue, EC1A 9LH
Browse the London Silver Vaults
Try to find the most extravagant pepper shaker in this subterranean labyrinth of vintage and antique silver dealers.
Details: The London Silver Vaults, Chancery Lane, WC2A 1QS
Find a Plethora of Date Ideas in the City of London Distillery
Tour the place, or distil bespoke gins for each other.
Details: 22-24 Bride Lane, EC4Y 8DT | £125, book HERE
Play ping pong at Bounce
…And get each other’s pulses racing.
Details: 121 Holborn, EC1N 2TD
Visit London’s highest Champagne bar
Because, duh.
Details: Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, EC2N 1HQ
Find the old smugglers’ tunnels at The Olde Wine Shades
Or, failing that, drink lots of very nice wine.
Details: 6 Martin Lane, Cannon Street, EC4R 0DP
Play a round at Flight Club
And hope that Cupid has better aim than you.
Details: 2a Worship Street, EC2A 2AH
…Then take an experimental cocktail class at Worship Street Whistling Shop
Try not to set each other’s eyebrows on fire.
Details: 63 Worship Street, EC2A 2DU | Book HERE
Browse Leadenhall Market together
Choose yourselves a bottle of something real nice to take along to…
Details: Gracechurch Street, EC3V 1LT
BYOC to BYOC
And check if any of the books open a secret passage.
Details: 19 Bevis Marks, EC3A 7JA
Go for a picnic in St. Dunstan-in-the-East
And sneak Champagne-into-the-park. (Image credit: Peter Trimming)
Details: St. Dunstan-in-the-East, St. Dunstan’s Hill, EC3R 5DD
Have a midnight feast at Duck & Waffle
…Although their sunset game’s pretty good, too.
Details: Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY
Have a snoop around Two Temple Place
And do your best impressions of Loyd Grossman in Through The Keyhole. (Image credit: Gary Ullah)
Details: 2 Temple Place, WC2R 3BD
Take a stroll through the Barbican Conservatory
Then get all cultural at the Barbican Centre. (Image credit: Leon Brocard)
Details: Sundays, 12-5pm | Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Shoot virtual game in a virtual game
And once you’ve finished the round, get another round of Scottish cocktails in the bar.
Details: 9a Devonshire Square, EC2M 4YN | £60
Bring the chicken kiev counter down to zero at Coin Laundry
But not until after you’ve played Twister.
Details: 70 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QP
Climb the Monument
And play the world’s highest game of “bogeys”. (Image credit: Tom Page)
Details: Fish Street Hill, EC3R 8AH | £4.50
Whisper sweet nothings at The Whispering Gallery
…or play the world’s quietest game of “bogeys”.
Details: St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Churchyard, EC4M 8AD | £18
Go around the Victorian shops in the Museum of London
Then head for a drink at the equally antiquarian bar, The Trading House.
Details: 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN | Free Entry
Main image: Eric Hossinger
You’ll be hungry after TOTALLY CRUSHING all the date ideas in the City of London. Luckily, there’s a list of the area’s best restaurants right here…