Tried and tested, here are the best date ideas to try with your lover in London

Whether you’re a long-time Londoner or a recent newcomer, the list of things to do in the city can seem endless. London’s packed with some of the world’s best Michelin-starred restaurants, museums that take entire days to explore, and a West End with happenings every night of the week. These all make for scrumptious date night opportunities, but sometimes you need something a little off the beaten rose-petaled path, right? An alternative experience may be the answer; something you’ve never tried before that you’re unlikely to ever forget. From neon naked life painting to immersive bars, we’ve rounded up some of the most fun things to sign up for with your partner.

The best date ideas in London

1. Get creatively merry with Art Play

Sip cocktails and unleash your inner artist with a date night at Art Play. This Spitalfields Market studio offers free-flow, unguided sessions—acrylic paints and upcycled canvases included—for couples to let their creative juices flow. There are also guided workshops and courses for those who want to take things more seriously. A party with a paintbrush, especially on Friday/Saturday DJ nights, plus you get to take your creations home.

Find out more about Art Play

2. Enter a new dimension with Sandbox VR

Fancy yourselves a couple of gamers? You’ll be in your element at Sandbox VR, the most advanced virtual reality experience in London (and possibly the planet). Wire up and place your entire body in complete immersion to tackle games including the Netflix Squid Game arena. Participants can play as a duo or in a group of up to six, and there’s also a robot-staffed bar, so you can kick back and watch your efforts on the big screen with a cocktail. Note: wear light clothing, it can get very physical.

Find out more about Sandbox VR

3. Make candles at K-Craft

Candles ooze romance, especially when they’re handmade. K-Craft offers a variety of Korean-style workshops in their Stratford, London studio. The instructor-led, hobby-focused classes include Korean candle-making, floral arrangement, soap and bubble bar crafting, and Moru Doll making. Candles are simple enough to be made by anyone, and after a session here, you’ll head home with the most beautiful wax works, possibly even too beautiful to burn (right away!). A great alternative date night and a chance to explore a new part of town.

Find out more about K-Craft

4. Hit baby one more time at Bunga 90

For ’90s couples, there’s no better place to relive the greatest decade ever than Bunga 90. The Covent Garden venue is a multi-sensory playground, disguised ground level as a video rental store with shelves lined by VHS tapes, a PlayStation 1 and cardboard cutouts of the era. When called, you’re transported through fridge, down a tunnel through time, to a world of Steps, Spice Girls and The Simpsons. Of course, you’ll have to have your cocktail in a Britney Spears-shaped cocktail jar, and try their humongous 20-inch pizzas before the potential Take That karaoke session. Never Forget.

Find out more about Bunga 90

5. Try Virtual Clay Shooting at Clays Bar

Challenge your other half to a game of clay target shooting at one of London’s coolest new immersive gaming venues. Clays Soho recently opened within a stunning 1930s Art Deco building, and it’s a hot spot not just for the interactive gaming but for the food and drink. The menu was created by Roger Olsson, who focuses on sustainably sourced British produce, and the cocktail list marries exceptionally well with every bite. You’ll (electronically) shoot off in up to six unique games designed to challenge your speed, accuracy, and skill. Photos and game results are sent to you afterwards to keepsake. Clays has further outposts in Canary Wharf and The City.

Find out more about Clays Bar

6. Let street art do the talking at MOCO Museum

Switch things up from the Tate or the V&A and take your art lover to MOCO. The new independent museum in Marble Arch curates modern, contemporary, and street art from the world’s most sought-after names, reflecting society today. Come see the works of Yayoi Kusama, Andy Warhol, Banksy, Damien Hirst, and many more. There are three floors of works as well as a brilliant museum shop for exit souvenirs.

Find out more about Moco Museum

7. Learn to make Asian food with School of Wok

Get authentic sushi, dumpling, kimchi, and curry fixes right at home: School of Wok arms you with the tools to DIY. The Covent Garden cookery school specialises in Asian cuisine, with teachers who are masters of their craft.  Classes range from three hours to full-day, with ingredients and equipment ready so all you need to do is turn up.

Find out more about School of Wok

8. Battle a martian invasion with The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience

Ever wondered what being in an epic film is like? Wonder no more. You’ll (literally) jump right into a martian invasion at this immersive experience set to Jeff Wayne album, “The Musical Version of The War of The Worlds’. There are 24 insane scenes and 300-foot martian fighting machines brought to life, plus live actors, 3D sound, holographic projections, and VR. In a nutshell, you’ll completely forget this is the City of London. Officially the UK’s longest-running immersive experience.

Find out more about The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience

9. Discover another world with Avora

Fans of films like Avatar, your dreams will come to life at this hot spot. Avora is an immersive new-world cocktail adventure in London, from the creators of ‘Alcotraz’ and ‘Moonshine Saloon’, so you know it’s going to be good. Guests get three potion-style cocktails included in their ticket, with stellar non-alcoholic options available too, and interact with a cast of actors playing botanists and local Avorians against a beautifully theatrical backdrop. The production is such a fantasy that it’s a shock to the senses to exit back onto the streets of East London.

Find out more about Avora

10. Take a walk through ancient history in The Last Days of Pompeii: The Immersive Exhibition

For a couple of history buffs, how about a date night in ancient Pompeii? This new exhibit at Excel London journeys through the culture, stories and lives of those who lived 2,000 years ago, before and after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Set across 3,000 square metres and 10 different galleries and installations, you’ll find an 8-metre-high immersive video mapping hall, a seated 360-degree Virtual Reality experience, a free-roaming Digital Metaverse room, and plenty of replicas and artefacts. A brilliant alternative way to discover beyond a regular museum outing.

Find out more about The Last Days of Pompeii: The Immersive Exhibition

11. Relax in Bali with 7 Bali Spa

Newlyweds flock to the idyllic Indonesian island for romance, but for the rest of us, 7 Bail Spa right by Oxford Street will do. This tranquil retreat has its own school of massage in Bali, sending its finest over with an authentic Balinese skillset. Couples drift away, without jetlag, on treatments spanning full-body Balinese massage to a chocolate dream for two. It’s less about hotel-style amenities, and more about the top quality of a Southeast Asian massage, so don’t expect pool time. All packages include relaxation time with complimentary light bites, tea and wine or prosecco. 

Find out more about 7 Bali Spa

12. Catch an unlikely gig at Sofar Sounds

There are regular gigs, and there are Sofar Sounds gigs. Trust us, the latter is way more likely to impress a date. Sofar shows are held in unconventional spaces, with previous venues spanning caves, churches, a toy shop and even a wax museum. It all started in 2009 in a London flat (hence the name), which gathered music lovers in living rooms to enjoy unsigned and upcoming talent. So good was – and is – the team’s ear, that the likes of Billie Eilish and Lola Young were among the newbies who came to play. Grab tickets to a secret event (details are released just before the show), and who knows, you could be watching the next Ed Sheeran together. An unforgettable off-beat experience, and in many cases, you can BYOB! How about some Château La Coste rosé for the gang, and because we’re extra grateful this holiday season, some NOOH by La Coste non-alcoholic for the designated driver. Both equally divine!

Find out more about Sofar Sounds 

13. Draw Nudes in the Dark with Neon Naked

Neon Naked offers a life drawing class with a twist. Under psychedelic neon lights, you and your date can sketch beautifully painted models using highlighters. It’s a unique and creative way to spend an evening together.

Find out more about Neon Naked

14. Master your swing at Puttshack

What’s better than a (semi) competitive couples game at mini golf? A high-tech version! Puttshack uses modern intelligence to elevate your game, so there’s no need to fuss around with pencils and scorecards. Pair that with wacky courses featuring quizzes and penalties, stiff but affordable cocktails, and amazing flatbread pizzas, and this becomes a date night staple. There are four locations in the UK to hit the ball with your beau, including Bank and White City in London.

Find out more about Puttshack

15. Duet together at BAM Karaoke

Europe’s largest karaoke venue is so big it must always be spelt in caps. BAM is a mahoosive 10,000 square foot space in Victoria comprising 22 private karaoke rooms, a BAM BAM Bar, a live music stage and an outdoor terrace. You and your duet partner get a choice of outrageous rooms designed with ‘wild abandonment’ plus 45,000 songs for your equally wild performance. That’s everything from Oasis to Blackpink. Open till late, BAM’s one of the best karaoke spots in London town. 

Find out more about BAM Karaoke Box

16. Let Loose at Fairgame

Both of you will have a blast at Fairgame, Canary Wharf’s indoor funfair for adults. Play classic games from basketball hoops to whack-a-mole in a rain-free environment. Afterwards, enjoy street food and drinks at one of the venue’s three bars.

Find out more about Fairgame

17. Make Fresh Pasta with Pasta Evangelists

Transform your date night with a pasta-making masterclass at Pasta Evangelists. Held in Farringdon or Shoreditch, these two-hour workshops immerse you in Italy’s culinary traditions, guiding you through the process of making pasta from scratch. Enjoy complimentary antipasti and unlimited prosecco as you create delicious dishes together. Linen aprons and beechwood pasta tools are provided, ensuring a hands-on, fun experience.

Find out more about Pasta Evangelists

18. Explore the London Underground with Hidden Tours

Discover the secrets of the London Underground with Hidden Tours. This year, the Access All Areas tour of Charing Cross reveals disused parts of the station seen in movies like Skyfall, paired with afternoon tea at The Clermont for a memorable date. We also love the Aldwych tour, taking guests down the 1907-opened Aldwych train station (also known as ‘Strand’), a tunnel used in numerous films, TV shows and music videos. 

Find out more about Hidden London

19. Sail the city with GoBoat

Glide through the Docklands and see your office from another angle; GoBoat lets you take the captain’s hat. You don’t need any experience or even a license to drive their easy electric rentals, and an instructor will arm you with everything you need. Speeds reach three knots (or 3.5 mph) so captain and passenger(s) can focus on conversation, enjoying the sights, and having a drink on board. As well as Canary Wharf, the service operates in Paddington, Kingston, and Thames Ditton.

Find out more about GoBoat

20. See a Show at Shakespeare’s Globe

Couples on a budget can experience the magic of Shakespeare’s Globe with affordable £5 standing tickets. They’re available throughout the year, whether you’re seeing Much Ado About Nothing or seasonal greats such as this winter’s Pinocchio. A cultural treat that won’t break the bank and afterwards the Southbank makes for a romantic stroll.

Find out more about Shakespeare’s Globe

But wait, there’s more…

• Looking for things to do with friends? We have an even longer list of ideas for groups in London. Have fun!
• For the ultimate dinner date, follow our guide to the most romantic restaurants in London 
• Spoil your boo with an overnight in one of London’s most swoonsome hotels