Best Date Ideas in the City

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…