You heard it here first: “cuffing” season is back in full swing. When it’s cold outside and candles are lit at night, it’s even more of an urge to cuddle up with someone to stay warm. Autumn is the season that sharpens the senses, warms the heart, and brings all kinds of adventures.
The Best Ideas for Romantic Dates in London
With its crisp leaves, bronze colours, and beautiful sunsets, it’s no wonder that London in the fall is a great place for a first date or a date night. Before winter comes, the season is all about being outside, so do something different to impress your date!
1. Go to Everyman and watch a romantic movie
As the nights get more relaxed, a log fire and hot Irish coffee can be the perfect way to spend a few hours getting to know your date. For a cosy place to stay in Dalston, check out the Merchants Tavern or Prince George.
2. Taking a tour of Alexandra Park
The best dates are when you do something together, so skip the bar and go for a Segway ride around Alexandra Park. It’s a great way to see the fall colours without walking, and you’ll look just as silly as you do now. Stop for a drink because you’ve earned it.
3. Getting lost in the Hampton Court Maze
The maze at Hampton Court Palace doesn’t seem too hard to navigate from the outside, but it’s easy to spend an hour or two going in circles if you and your date get along.
4. Go star-gazing
Your data will be even more fun if you look at the stars. Go to Greenwich, where you can take in the scenery. Is it too cold? Instead, go to the planetarium inside the Royal Observatory. It will be like a scene from a movie, and who wouldn’t want that?
5. Take pictures of wildlife
London is known for its foggy mornings, wet winters, and huge grey skies, but it is also home to some amazing animals. Wander around Hyde Park in the morning or afternoon and take pictures of squirrels, swans, ducks, and birds. If you get a great photo, you can even upload it to social media and show it to your friends.
6. Pick Apples
Go apple picking with your date for dessert. Some of the best farms that welcome visitors are in Greater London. Even better, at Hewitts farm in Orpington, you can work hard and then have a barbecue with your date on the farm.
7. Horse riding in Hyde Park
The Hyde Park Stables offer private lessons for two people, so you might be galloping off into the sunset before the afternoon is over (and not falling off and ending up in A&E).
8. Conker hunting
Even though you’re an adult, there’s nothing like the thrill of finding a perfectly round, shiny conker. Find them in any London park, then challenge your date to a fight.
9. Getting to see fireworks
No matter where you are in London, there will be a bonfire night party near you. If the warm glow of the bonfire and a hot toddy doesn’t make sparks fly, nothing will.
10. Deer spotting in Richmond Park
Is the date going well? Get on a bus and go to the Isabella Plantation, a beautiful 40-acre garden with woods – a beautiful setting for a romantic date.
11. Having a picnic at Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill is a London park that needs more attention. This cute and quiet place is on the northern side of Regent’s Park. It is a great place to have a picnic with your loved one. Pack some sandwiches and lay a blanket out on the hill.
As you eat and talk, you can look up at the sky. You can put some on the blanket if you know how to arrange roses. A classic romantic gift that works well is a picnic blanket with roses. Primrose Hill is accessible because it is near the Chalk Farm tube station. If you want to bring flowers back from a trip, ensure you know how to keep them fresh.
12. A tour of London on a duck
Seeing the city from an amphibian’s point of view is the funniest thing ever, and there’s no better way to see the capital than on the Ducks! Those who like to laugh will have a lot of fun on The London Duck Tour. While sitting on the Duck’s top deck, an experienced driver will show you all of London’s most famous sights.
13. Learn about the food culture in London
There are a lot of great markets in London that are great for shopping for food on a budget. Go to Borough Market in the morning to stock up on locally made goods made by artists. Sit down with your loved one in the market after you’ve bought your food and share some freshly made sandwiches. London has excellent places to eat, like Wolf and Coya Angel Court.
14. Eat on a beautiful fall terrace
Dalloway Terrace loves to change things for the seasons, and in the fall, they always make their terrace look beautiful with a rusty colour. Here, you can get afternoon tea, brunch, dinner, or drinks, many of which have an autumn theme. We’ll go along with that.
15. Rent a boat on a canal
Rent a boat and take your date around London for a fun afternoon. You can rent canal boats from a few companies, but GoBoat is the best. Start at Merchants Square and follow the Regent’s Canal to Camden Lock.
On your way through, you’ll see Little Venice, the Maida Vale Tunnel, and London Zoo, so you’ll have a lot to discuss with your date. And when you’re done, there’s a lot to do in the Regent’s Canal area. For the best date, end with a drink at a nearby bar.
16. Discover Columbia Road Flower Market
For a laid-back date on the weekend, go to Columbia Road Flower Market and look at the beautiful flowers. Take a stroll and look at the rows of tulips and roses. Your date would love it if you bought them a bouquet. This East London gem is a great place to go on a date. When you’re done at the market, you have the option to go to one of the nearby cafes or bars.
17. Marvel at the Sky Garden
Sky Garden is one of the best places to go on a date in London. Many people need to learn that the Sky Garden is free to enter. You can show your date the beautiful views from London’s highest public garden without spending a dime.
18. Play Crazy Golf
You can’t go wrong with a round or two of crazy golf at Junkyard Golf. This is especially great if you’re still getting to know your date. It’s a great way to avoid the awkward silences that can happen in the beginning, and it’s also a lot of fun.
This is one of the best ideas for the first date in London, but leave your pride at the door… because you don’t want to be a sore loser if you’re not that great! Your date will laugh with you for sure.
19. Take it easy at a wine bar
There are so many bars to choose from in the capital that it’s not hard to plan a great wine bar date. What better way to calm nerves on a first date than with a bit of alcohol?
London is a great place to go on a date with a bit more style. The Cellar King’s Cross is a new, stylish wine bar in the centre of London that serves some of the best wines in the city. Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of wine before your date, so you can impress them.
20. Ride in a cable car
Even though a cable car ride in London isn’t long enough to be a whole date, it’s a great way to start things off.
Book a ticket for the Emirates Air Line, and a cable car will take you across the Thames. It only costs £4 each way, so this is very cheap to do, especially if you pair it with one of the other cheap date ideas.
21. Quaff Drinks on a Rooftop Bar
One of London’s most elegant date ideas is to drink champagne and look at the city’s skyline from a high place.
We’ve put together a list of our favourite rooftop bars in London, from cool spots with craft beer and table tennis to swanky bars with prices to match.
The Nest at the top of the Treehouse Hotel and The Castle in Islington, both of which serve great Aperol Spritz, are two of the best places to go.
22. Indulge in Bottomless Brunch
Is there anything better than drinking with someone you like during the day? No, I would say.
You can do just that at these great bottomless brunches in London. There’s something for every budget and taste, from high-end prosecco and avocado toast to fried chicken pancakes.
23. Get Lost in God’s Junkyard
This fantastic place is in Walthamstow. It is full of catchphrases and pictures, which makes it so much fun to look around. There is also a Rolling Stones cafe where you can get a drink. The warehouse is only open on the weekends so it can get a little busy, but if you get here early, you should have a great date.
24. Go to the beach
So, this one depends on the weather, but if you’re looking for a last-minute date spot on a hot day, there’s no better place to relax with someone than on the beach. It’s free to get in, so bring a picnic and have a very cheap (but different) date.
25. Make a reservation at a restaurant with a nice view.
This is another inexpensive date idea in London. Book a table at one of these restaurants with a view, and you’ll be able to eat great food in a great place. This is a perfect date because you can people-watch at Lockside Camden and see the whole city from a table at Aqua Shard.
26. Play Ping Pong at Bounce
Bounce is a funky bar in London where you can play ping pong. It has a few locations around the city. Get ready to bring out your competitive side and play table tennis with your date while sipping cocktails. After you’ve worked up an appetite, you can order a delicious pizza from the bar.
27. Go to the Movies
There are many theatres in London, most of them in the famous West End area. Going to the theatre is a great way to spend a date night, especially if you go for drinks after.
Even though going to the theatre can be expensive and needs to be planned ahead of time, it is one of the most fun things to do on a date in London.
You can’t go wrong with Les Mis at the Sondheim or The Savoy’s ultimate guilty pleasure, Pretty Woman. Or, I saw Six at The Lyric Theatre a few weeks ago, and it was a night full of laughs and girl power.
28. Visit London Zoo
A date at the London Zoo is both cute and fun. Spend an afternoon looking at some of the cutest, funniest, and rarest animals as you wander around. Keep an eye on the website for special events as well. This autumn, the zoo will be holding champagne-filled twilight sessions.
29. Go for a romantic walk
Many lovely walks in London are perfect for a casual date. What’s not to like about something easy, free, and can be made whenever you want? There is a walk for everyone, whether you want to get away from the crowds in Sydenham Hill Wood or want to see more of the city via Southbank.
30. Go to a fancy movie theatre
Everyman Hampstead is an excellent choice because the seats are comfortable and the cinema looks like a fancy theatre. Oh, and while you watch, you can have drinks and food? It’s a good idea.
If the weather is nice, you could always go to an outdoor cinema in the capital. Rooftop Film Club and Secret Cinema are two of my favourites. Even though these theatres don’t always show new movies, they usually have fun events that can make for a better movie date.
31. Scoff Your Face on The Cheese Barge
The Cheese Barge in Paddington is one of the best date ideas in London if you like the idea of a barge date but want to avoid driving one yourself. Not only does the menu focus on cheese dishes like fancy toasties and rich Spaetzle, but you eat on a 96-foot-long double-decker barge that is docked at Regent’s Canal.
For a particular date, choose the roof terrace with views of Paddington Basin and order three cheese boards for £10 to share. They are divine.
Conclusion:
Even though Paris and Venice are known for romance, London has charm. London is full of fun and romantic things, like going to a wine bar for a date or spending the morning in a museum. You can also rent your canal float or take a cable car ride across the city’s skyline.
Even if you don’t fall in love with your date, you’ll fall in love with this beautiful city.
FAQs
What does a perfect date look like?
Talking is most important.
Couples can talk, laugh at silly things, and enjoy the moment. This would be the ideal date! The conversation should flow, and bring out both your intelligent, and funny sides. Have a nice dinner somewhere atmospheric. It’s also nice just taking a leisurely walk in a scenic area and talking about simple things.
How should a woman spend the perfect date?
If you don’t know what to do with your date, drinks and a movie are always safe to bet. My idea of a suitable first date is drinks, a movie, and then a walk. Because drinking makes you loosen up a bit if you’re nervous, and a movie breaks up the conversation and adds a bit of a lighthearted mood (so you don’t have to sit through an awkward dinner with a stranger).
What should a guy do on a date?
A good first date should involve the man asking questions and learning more about his date. First dates can be at coffee shops, amusement parks, bowling alleys, or lunch or dinner.
What are the five ways a relationship can grow?
A relationship has five stages: the merge, doubt and denial, disappointment, decision-making, and wholehearted love. Every relationship goes through these five stages, but sometimes in different orders.