Original date ideas for Valentine's Day: London 2019
Original Valentine's Day date ideas: London 2019
It’s nearly that heart-shaped time of year again when we celebrate the one we love most. If you’re hoping to impress the apple of your eye with a truly original date, read on for inspiration on where to spend Valentine's Day in London.
For Valentine's Day wining and dining: Campania & Jones
Where are we going? To a restaurant so chic and romantic its whole aesthetic looks like a Hollywood interpretation of dining out in London. Campania & Jones is a rustic Italian joint tucked away on a cobbled street off Columbia road, neighboured by quaint, independent shops. Between the mood lighting, cosy brick interiors, fresh produce (don’t forget to take a peek at it all being made in the back kitchen), and top-notch Italian cuisine, this restaurant is an in-the-know spot fit to impress a foodie date.
Meet at: Campania & Jones, 23 Ezra St, Bethnal Green, London E2 7RH
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, book in advance to secure a table
Click here to book
For ditching the everyday bouquet: London Flower School
Where are we going? To a make-you-own bouquet course. Why? Because a shop-bought bunch of flowers screams cliché on Valentine’s Day; leave this gesture to the unimaginative souls and last-minute present buyers. Instead, look to a hand-tied bouquet course at the London Flower School. From an introduction on conditioning flowers to learning how to bring out the most striking elements in an arrangement, this one-day course will help your creativity blossom. And, you’ll walk away with your own professional-looking bouquet.
Meet at: London Flower School, The Generator, 16-20 Wharfdale Rd, London N1 9RY
It’s a date: Friday 15 February, 10AM - 4PM
Click here to book
For art that moves: Tracey Emin's A Fortnight of Tears exhibition
Where are we going? To the new Tracey Emin exhibition, A Fortnight of Tears, at White Cube. If you and your partner are art fiends, what better way to celebrate the most romantic day of the year than by visiting a solo show by the artist who penned the Brexit-inspired love note, I Want My Time With You, currently adorning the St Pancras station clock? This latest exhibition brings together Emin’s neon sculptures, paintings, film and a new photographic series entitled Insomnia.
Meet at: White Cube, 144-152, Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 10 AM - 6PM
Read more
For quirky cocktails: The Shrub and Shutter
Where are we going? To The Shrub and Shutter in Brixton. If you’re bored of Bloody Marys, done with Daiquiris and so over Old Fashioneds, you’ll be pleased to hear this is a cocktail bar where you won’t find any of the usual names. The front room looks like a mixologists’ laboratory; jars of ‘shrubs’ (aka. pickled and fermented ingredients) line the shelves while anglepoise lamps glare down onto a wooden workspace, overlooking ingredients being chopped, squeezed, shaken and poured into cocktail form. One concoction, called ‘A Bug’s Life’, has real dried ants climbing up the straw. Others come shrouded in smoke, tailed by a lit fuse or with an edible morsel pocketed on the side. While the theatrics here are some of the most impressive you’ll find in London, artistic flare never comes at the expense of the ingredients, which are sumptuous, unusual and blended together with near scientific knowledge of which flavours compliment others.
Meet at: The Shrub and Shutter, 336 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London SW9 8QH
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February
Book now
For steamy moves: Tango Fire at the Peacock
Where are we going? To a sizzling ‘tango spectacular’, courtesy of award-winning superstars German Cornejo and Gisella Galeassi. Returning to the Peacock for the 14th year running, Tango Fire is a melting pot of fancy footwork, gravity-defying lifts and intimate twirls. Stylised tango blends with Hollywood-inspired numbers, while a live quartet brings Argentine flavour to the mix. While not entirely authentic to the dance (therefore unlikely to impress if you're dating a dance purist), the show makes for an intoxicating night out, ideal for a date dripping with passion.
Meet at: Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HT
It’s a date: 14 February, 7:30AM
Read more and book
For a cinema date with a difference: Luna Cinema at the Natural History Museum
Where are we going? To watch a classic romcom in an unexpected setting. Known for hosting al fresco film screenings under the stars in the summer months, Luna Cinema has now teamed up with the Natural History Museum to run a series of film screenings in the museum’s majestic Hintze Hall for Valentine’s Day. Snuggle up to your loved one under the museum’s giant Blue Whale skeleton and enjoy a complimentary box of popcorn as you watch either: Pretty Woman (14 Feb), The Notebook (14 Feb), A Star Is Born (16 Feb) or Love Actually (16 Feb). Guests are also given access to the museum’s popular Life in the Dark exhibition; take each other by the hand and stay close as you explore the worlds of creatures of the night.
Meet at: The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington, London SW7 5BD
It’s a date: 14 or 16 February, times vary for screenings
Read more and book
For an immersive experience: Floating World
Where are we going? To the latest immersive experience to grace London, billed as a journey into ‘sensual Japanese culture’. Floating World, a production created by the event company Takayo, is hosting guests for cocktails and a three-course meal, followed by a calligraphy lesson and a demonstration of ‘the beauty, humour and passion of Shunga – the celebrated erotic art of Japan’. Put aside prudishness and sink into your seat for what promises to be a highly unusual Valentine’s night out.
Meet at: The Lacy Nook, 8 Cazenove Road, London N16 6BD
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 7PM
Click here to book
For toasting your partnership: the Library Bar at The Ned
Where are we going? To one of the more intimate spaces at The Ned for a glass of bubbly. Yes, we know there’s nothing original about celebrating with champagne, but it’s where you choose to raise your glass that elevates the situation. You’ll find the Library Bar tucked behind a tumbling jacquard curtain at this sprawling hotel and members’ club from Soho House group. The menu boasts no fewer than 30 champagnes plus a martini trolley, from which guests can sample a house blend or create their own. Allow yourselves to be enveloped in the bar’s plush, velvet seats, clink your glasses and say 'cheers!' to your companionship.
Meet at: The Ned, 27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 2pm till late
Click here to book
For underground culture: Vault Festival
Where are we going? Underground to watch to watch sparky Fringe theatre, cabaret and comedy. To impress a theatre lover this Valentine’s Day, leave the starry highs of the West End for the night and head to graffiti-adorned Leake Street in Waterloo, where the Arches play host to the capital’s own mini Edinburgh Fringe at this time of year. While shows that manage to generate a bit of buzz are likely to sell out in advance, it’s just as fun to take a punt on something you've never heard of. Following the performance, take a seat on the mismatched furniture in the fairy-lit bar to debrief on what you saw.
Meet at: The Vaults, Leake Street, Lambeth, London SE1 7AD
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, shows on at various times
Click here to read our highlights and book
For prettifying the nest: M.Y.O (Make Your Own)
Where are we going? To a colourful workshop space for a chance to get creative and make something beautiful. M.Y.O is hosting a BYOB pottery painting class at its Peckham Levels hub on Valentine’s Day (there will also be free teas and coffee for teetotalers). From mugs and bowls to tiles and ornaments, you can choose what you paint and whether you want to use a pattern provided, or go freestyle with your design. While you won’t be able to take your piece home on the night (it’ll need glazing and kiln firing first, which can take up to 12 days), you’ll soon have a handmade and personalised ceramic for your home.
Meet at: Peckham Levels, Peckham Town Centre Carpark, 95A Rye Lane, London, SE15 4ST
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 7PM
Book now
For Flora and fauna: Isabella Plantation
Where are we going? To the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park, a 40 acre garden set within a Victorian woodland plantation, originally planted in the 1830s. It’s open all year round and while perhaps most exquisite in summer, the garden sees rare exotic buds flower throughout the year. Around Valentine’s Day, you can expect to find ‘Midwinter’ Rhododendron on Bluebell Walk and clear pink Camellias beginning to flower around the gardens. If you and your partner are the down-to-earth outdoorsy type, explore the winter flora and fauna then snuggle down by the fire in one of Richmond’s many cosy pubs.
Meet at: Isabella Plantation, 173 Clarence Street, Kingston-upon-Thames TW10 5HP
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 7.30AM - 8.15 PM
Read more
For pillow talk: Mandrake hotel
Where are we going? To one of the most picturesque hotels in London. Despite the name, this boutique spot in Fitzrovia has more to offer inside its magical walls than a good night’s sleep. For starters, certain rooms have freestanding bathtubs perched elegantly next to elongated windows. The interiors of the rooms are exotic and mysterious – as if carrying their own secrets – while the hotel boasts three bars and fine dining, should you and your partner fancy eating in. So go on, extend your Valentine's Day beyond the witching hour and bask in a night of luxury.
Meet at: Mandrake hotel, 20-21 Newman St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1PG
It’s a date: Thursday 14 - Friday 15 February
Book now
For Valentine's Day wining and dining: Campania & Jones
Where are we going? To a restaurant so chic and romantic its whole aesthetic looks like a Hollywood interpretation of dining out in London. Campania & Jones is a rustic Italian joint tucked away on a cobbled street off Columbia road, neighboured by quaint, independent shops. Between the mood lighting, cosy brick interiors, fresh produce (don’t forget to take a peek at it all being made in the back kitchen), and top-notch Italian cuisine, this restaurant is an in-the-know spot fit to impress a foodie date.
Meet at: Campania & Jones, 23 Ezra St, Bethnal Green, London E2 7RH
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, book in advance to secure a table
Click here to book
For ditching the everyday bouquet: London Flower School
Where are we going? To a make-you-own bouquet course. Why? Because a shop-bought bunch of flowers screams cliché on Valentine’s Day; leave this gesture to the unimaginative souls and last-minute present buyers. Instead, look to a hand-tied bouquet course at the London Flower School. From an introduction on conditioning flowers to learning how to bring out the most striking elements in an arrangement, this one-day course will help your creativity blossom. And, you’ll walk away with your own professional-looking bouquet.
Meet at: London Flower School, The Generator, 16-20 Wharfdale Rd, London N1 9RY
It’s a date: Friday 15 February, 10AM - 4PM
Click here to book
For art that moves: Tracey Emin's A Fortnight of Tears exhibition
Where are we going? To the new Tracey Emin exhibition, A Fortnight of Tears, at White Cube. If you and your partner are art fiends, what better way to celebrate the most romantic day of the year than by visiting a solo show by the artist who penned the Brexit-inspired love note, I Want My Time With You, currently adorning the St Pancras station clock? This latest exhibition brings together Emin’s neon sculptures, paintings, film and a new photographic series entitled Insomnia.
Meet at: White Cube, 144-152, Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 10 AM - 6PM
Read more
For quirky cocktails: The Shrub and Shutter
Where are we going? To The Shrub and Shutter in Brixton. If you’re bored of Bloody Marys, done with Daiquiris and so over Old Fashioneds, you’ll be pleased to hear this is a cocktail bar where you won’t find any of the usual names. The front room looks like a mixologists’ laboratory; jars of ‘shrubs’ (aka. pickled and fermented ingredients) line the shelves while anglepoise lamps glare down onto a wooden workspace, overlooking ingredients being chopped, squeezed, shaken and poured into cocktail form. One concoction, called ‘A Bug’s Life’, has real dried ants climbing up the straw. Others come shrouded in smoke, tailed by a lit fuse or with an edible morsel pocketed on the side. While the theatrics here are some of the most impressive you’ll find in London, artistic flare never comes at the expense of the ingredients, which are sumptuous, unusual and blended together with near scientific knowledge of which flavours compliment others.
Meet at: The Shrub and Shutter, 336 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London SW9 8QH
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February
Book now
For steamy moves: Tango Fire at the Peacock
Where are we going? To a sizzling ‘tango spectacular’, courtesy of award-winning superstars German Cornejo and Gisella Galeassi. Returning to the Peacock for the 14th year running, Tango Fire is a melting pot of fancy footwork, gravity-defying lifts and intimate twirls. Stylised tango blends with Hollywood-inspired numbers, while a live quartet brings Argentine flavour to the mix. While not entirely authentic to the dance (therefore unlikely to impress if you're dating a dance purist), the show makes for an intoxicating night out, ideal for a date dripping with passion.
Meet at: Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HT
It’s a date: 14 February, 7:30AM
Read more and book
For a cinema date with a difference: Luna Cinema at the Natural History Museum
Where are we going? To watch a classic romcom in an unexpected setting. Known for hosting al fresco film screenings under the stars in the summer months, Luna Cinema has now teamed up with the Natural History Museum to run a series of film screenings in the museum’s majestic Hintze Hall for Valentine’s Day. Snuggle up to your loved one under the museum’s giant Blue Whale skeleton and enjoy a complimentary box of popcorn as you watch either: Pretty Woman (14 Feb), The Notebook (14 Feb), A Star Is Born (16 Feb) or Love Actually (16 Feb). Guests are also given access to the museum’s popular Life in the Dark exhibition; take each other by the hand and stay close as you explore the worlds of creatures of the night.
Meet at: The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington, London SW7 5BD
It’s a date: 14 or 16 February, times vary for screenings
Read more and book
For an immersive experience: Floating World
Where are we going? To the latest immersive experience to grace London, billed as a journey into ‘sensual Japanese culture’. Floating World, a production created by the event company Takayo, is hosting guests for cocktails and a three-course meal, followed by a calligraphy lesson and a demonstration of ‘the beauty, humour and passion of Shunga – the celebrated erotic art of Japan’. Put aside prudishness and sink into your seat for what promises to be a highly unusual Valentine’s night out.
Meet at: The Lacy Nook, 8 Cazenove Road, London N16 6BD
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 7PM
Click here to book
For toasting your partnership: the Library Bar at The Ned
Where are we going? To one of the more intimate spaces at The Ned for a glass of bubbly. Yes, we know there’s nothing original about celebrating with champagne, but it’s where you choose to raise your glass that elevates the situation. You’ll find the Library Bar tucked behind a tumbling jacquard curtain at this sprawling hotel and members’ club from Soho House group. The menu boasts no fewer than 30 champagnes plus a martini trolley, from which guests can sample a house blend or create their own. Allow yourselves to be enveloped in the bar’s plush, velvet seats, clink your glasses and say 'cheers!' to your companionship.
Meet at: The Ned, 27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 2pm till late
Click here to book
For underground culture: Vault Festival
Where are we going? Underground to watch to watch sparky Fringe theatre, cabaret and comedy. To impress a theatre lover this Valentine’s Day, leave the starry highs of the West End for the night and head to graffiti-adorned Leake Street in Waterloo, where the Arches play host to the capital’s own mini Edinburgh Fringe at this time of year. While shows that manage to generate a bit of buzz are likely to sell out in advance, it’s just as fun to take a punt on something you've never heard of. Following the performance, take a seat on the mismatched furniture in the fairy-lit bar to debrief on what you saw.
Meet at: The Vaults, Leake Street, Lambeth, London SE1 7AD
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, shows on at various times
Click here to read our highlights and book
For prettifying the nest: M.Y.O (Make Your Own)
Where are we going? To a colourful workshop space for a chance to get creative and make something beautiful. M.Y.O is hosting a BYOB pottery painting class at its Peckham Levels hub on Valentine’s Day (there will also be free teas and coffee for teetotalers). From mugs and bowls to tiles and ornaments, you can choose what you paint and whether you want to use a pattern provided, or go freestyle with your design. While you won’t be able to take your piece home on the night (it’ll need glazing and kiln firing first, which can take up to 12 days), you’ll soon have a handmade and personalised ceramic for your home.
Meet at: Peckham Levels, Peckham Town Centre Carpark, 95A Rye Lane, London, SE15 4ST
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 7PM
Book now
For Flora and fauna: Isabella Plantation
Where are we going? To the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park, a 40 acre garden set within a Victorian woodland plantation, originally planted in the 1830s. It’s open all year round and while perhaps most exquisite in summer, the garden sees rare exotic buds flower throughout the year. Around Valentine’s Day, you can expect to find ‘Midwinter’ Rhododendron on Bluebell Walk and clear pink Camellias beginning to flower around the gardens. If you and your partner are the down-to-earth outdoorsy type, explore the winter flora and fauna then snuggle down by the fire in one of Richmond’s many cosy pubs.
Meet at: Isabella Plantation, 173 Clarence Street, Kingston-upon-Thames TW10 5HP
It’s a date: Thursday 14 February, 7.30AM - 8.15 PM
Read more
For pillow talk: Mandrake hotel
Where are we going? To one of the most picturesque hotels in London. Despite the name, this boutique spot in Fitzrovia has more to offer inside its magical walls than a good night’s sleep. For starters, certain rooms have freestanding bathtubs perched elegantly next to elongated windows. The interiors of the rooms are exotic and mysterious – as if carrying their own secrets – while the hotel boasts three bars and fine dining, should you and your partner fancy eating in. So go on, extend your Valentine's Day beyond the witching hour and bask in a night of luxury.
Meet at: Mandrake hotel, 20-21 Newman St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1PG
It’s a date: Thursday 14 - Friday 15 February
Book now
