Valentine’s Day 2024 | A Selection Box of 31 Date Ideas
Remember the heady times of Valentine’s Day just a few years ago, when the most romantic gesture you could make for your SO was to do the washing up and take them on a slightly different route round the park…
…well, London’s back to its vibrant, dazzling self again, and so the pressure’s on to put together something a leetle more impressive this Valentine’s. You know, the kind of evening that simultaneously says ‘pshh, we’re so above this cynical annual marketing exercise,’ while also saying, ‘you are my entire universe and I will prove this by planning a legendary evening of romance, the likes of which you’ve never seen before.’
And so we’ve sorted through the many clichéd and predictable Valentine’s date nights on offer, and are now ready to present you with a hand-picked bouquet of excellent date ideas, including – but not limited to – a paired tasting of absinthe and aphrodisiacs in one of London’s most unusual settings; a glasshouse full of flowers; and s’mores toasting on a rooftop around your own private campfire.
Just watch the sparks fly…
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GO SWING DANCING WITH A LIVE BAND
You’ll be mastering the Valentino Dip in no time.
Details: 13th February | The MildMay Club, 33-34 Newington Green, London, N16 9PR | £15-20
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WOO YOUR DATE WITH A BESPOKE POEM…
…written by typewriter poet Luke Davis, while you sip special Valentine’s cocktails at The Coral Room.
Details: 14th February, 12.30-8.30pm | The Coral Room, 16-22 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3NN | Book a table for drinks here
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SIP HOT COCKTAILS ON A PRIVATE ROOF TERRACE
The (heated) rooftop at Soho’s Ham Yard Hotel is open only to hotel guests – and the occasional pop-up, which in this case happens to be a hot cocktail bar with a martini trolley…
Details: Until 24th February | Ham Yard Hotel, 1 Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT | £18+
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ENJOY A CANDLELIT DINNER TO THE MUSIC OF BARRY WHITE
Because nobody did romance like the Walrus of Love.
Details: 13th February | Boisdale of Canary Wharf, 15 Cabot Square, London, E14 4QT | £29-89
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HAVE THE FANCIEST VALENTINE’S DAY MEAL HAD BY ANYONE, EVER
Sure, it’s a bit early. But your date will be all the more surprised… if getting a three course dinner from Anthony ‘Michelin Star’ Demetre in an 18th century painted hall wasn’t already surprising enough.
Details: 3rd February | The Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, London SE10 9NN | £150
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GIVE EACH OTHER MOBSTER NAMES AND DANCE AT THE CANDLELIGHT CLUB
Aside from live swing bands, cabaret and Champagne, they also have a fortune teller who can categorically state if you’ve found The One. Probably.
Details: 10th February | A Secret Location | £30+
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TAKE YOUR DATE TO THE MOON AND BACK
At this dazzling new 360º exhibition… narrated by none other than Tom Hanks.
Details: Until 21st April | Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, N1C 4DY | £25+
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THEN GO CURLING IN COAL DROPS YARD
Loser gets the wine in at The Drop.
Details: Until 25th February | Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DQ | £8
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GO ON AN ADVENTURE TOGETHER IN LONDON
Explore a new neighbourhood with one of our perfectly planned date ideas…
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ATTEND AN ‘EROTIC DINNER’ AT THE CENTURY CLUB’S ROOFTOP
They’re promising a three-course feast, live music, aphrodisiac oils and ‘erotic cabaret’…
Details: 14th February | The Century Club, 61 – 63 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6LQ | £70
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BOOK INTO ONE OF LONDON’S MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS
Candlelight, cosy booths and tucked-away tables… oh, and we’ve sorted your nightcap spot, too.
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SPEND AN EVENING MAKING SAUSAGES
Take a half hour masterclass, then see how the professionals do it with a three course dinner and cocktails at Origin City…
Details: 14th February, 6/6.30pm | 12 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9JR | £150
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DRINK GOLD LEAF COCKTAILS FROM ESTONIA
The team from Tallinn’s Whisper Sister are coming to KOYN for three nights only… and they’re bringing some highly loveable concoctions with them.
Details: 14th-16th February | 38 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 4AQ | £25 (inc. two cocktails)
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ORDER HONEY FOR YOUR HONEY AT BOCCA DI LUPO
The classic Italian restaurant is celebrating St. Valentine’s lesser-known patronage of beekeepers with a honey-infused menu.
Details: 10th-16th February | Bocca di Lupo, 12 Archer St, London W1D 7BB
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GO AXE-THROWING AT WHISTLE PUNKS
The ultimate anti-schmaltz V day.
Details: 52-53 Eastcastle Street, Oxford Circus, W1W 8ED | £25+
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SPEND ALL NIGHT BOUNCING AROUND WITH YOUR DATE
At Big Penny Social, where they’re filling their enormous taproom with bouncy castles, inflatable obstacle courses and live music.
Details: 14th February, 7-10pm | Big Penny Social, 1 Priestley Way, London E17 6AL | Free
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ATTEND A CONCERT IN A FAIRY-LIT ATTIC
Meet for a glass at Passione Vino first, then head to Manteca for dinner after.
Details: 16th February | Shoreditch Treehouse, 34 Charlotte Rd, London, EC2A 3PB | £20-35
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TAKE YOUR DATE ICE SKATING IN CANARY WHARF
Don’t be alarmed if they get cold feet.
Details: Until 24th February | Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14 5AB | £13.50
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GO FOR AN EVENING WANDER ROUND BATTERSEA POWER STATION
Take in this year’s winter light trail, then hole up at Wright Brothers Battersea for oysters and Champagne overlooking the river.
Details: Until 25th February | Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, SW8 5BN | Free
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WATCH ROMEO + JULIET WITH A LIVE GOSPEL CHOIR
Watch Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 classic, bookended by live performances, and bask in one of the world’s greatest love stories (until about 20 minutes before the end).
Details: 10-18th February | Union Chapel, 19b Compton Terrace, N1 2UN | £35
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SOAR UP A CHIMNEY TO AN AMAZING PANORAMIC VIEW
Lift 109
Resist the urge to sing ‘Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher’ on the way up.
Details: Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW8 5BN | £15.90
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WANDER THROUGH A GLASSHOUSE FULL OF ORCHIDS AFTER HOURS
James Gifford-Mead © RBG Kew
Sip cocktails, snack on Madagascan food, and watch live performances after hours at Kew Orchids Festival.
Details: 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd & 24th February | Kew Gardens, London, TW9 3AE | £17-20
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HIT THE RINK AT ROLLERSCAPE
Don’t worry if you’ve never been roller skating before: you can essentially treat this as one giant trust exercise.
Details: 14th February | Troubadour Theatre, 3 Fulton Rd, Wembley Park, HA9 0TF | £20
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HEAD TO ONE OF LONDON’S BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS
The Seafood Bar, Soho
Time to put the whole ‘oysters are aphrodisiacs’ theory to the test.
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DISTIL YOUR OWN LOVERS’ GIN
At Half Hitch, you can each bring an ingredient and make your own bespoke spirit.
Details: Throughout February | Unit 53 Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AF | £70
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HOLD YOUR OWN BAR GAME OLYMPICS
Plot a crawl around London’s top activity bars, and duke it out over crazy golf, pétanque, and virtual clay pigeon shooting.
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SEE SOMETHING WONDERFUL AT THE THEATRE
Claaassic date territory – and we’ve got recommendations for dinner and drinks nearby, too. See What’s On In London’s Theatres Now – and how to get cheap theatre tickets, so you can spend more on dinner.
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BOOK TICKETS TO THE PLUSHEST CINEMA IN TOWN
The Electric Cinema has velvet back-row sofas where you can flout the PG rating when the lights go down – or take a look at these other great independent cinemas in London.
Details: Electric Cinema Portobello & White City | £50 for two
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SKETCH TO LIVE MUSIC IN A VICTORIAN ARTIST’S STUDIO
Then enjoy some liquid art at Twice Shy afterwards.
Details: 14th February | Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Rd, London W14 8LZ | £15
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LEARN HOW THEY DO IT ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL
At the Natural History Museum’s Valentine’s late, with experts talking about animal courtship, cocktails, a live harpist, and after-hours access to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. Alternatively, give your date the silent treatment at the silent disco (held underneath the giant blue whale skeleton) on the 15th.
Details: 14th & 15th February | The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD | £35-45
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TOAST SMORES AROUND A CAMPFIRE IN A ROOFTOP GARDEN
Valentine’s Day at The Midnight Apothecary involves deluxe hot toddies, botanical cocktails, toast-your-own s’more kits and a guided tour round Brunel’s Tunnel Shaft (oo-er?).
Details: 14th February | The Midnight Apothecary, Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, London, SE16 4LF | £8
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HAVE A COUPLES’ SPA DAY AT BANYA NO 1
A typically romantic session involving ice cold water and getting whacked with branches. But if for some reason that doesn’t interest you, you could always hit up one of these other great saunas in London instead.
Details: Hoxton: 17 Micawber Street, N1 7TB | Chiswick: 404-406 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 5TF | From £80pp
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WATCH ROMEO + JULIET IN A 1950s BALLROOM
The Rivoli Ballroom literally hasn’t changed in almost 70 years.
Details: 14th & 15th February | 350 Brockley Road, London, SE4 2BY | £10-12
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ENJOY AN ABSINTHE & APHRODISIAC TASTING IN A WUNDERKABINETT
Taste some of The Last Tuesday Society‘s own absinthe, then explore one of London’s most unusual museums (featuring Victorian sex toys, two-headed taxidermy and shrunken heads).
Details: 12th February | The Last Tuesday Society, 11 Mare Street, E8 4RP | £37.16
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…AND CAP IT ALL OFF WITH AN OVERNIGHT STAY
The most romantic boutique hotels in London await…
Looking for more inspiration? Here’s 101 London Date Ideas that are winners all year round…