Support Us Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • Shopping
  • CW SHOPS
  • Support Us
  • Get Started
  • Tickets
  • CW SHOPS
Get the Best of London Life, Culture and Style
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
Things to do

Original date ideas for Valentine's Day: London 2020

By Holly O'Mahony on 10/1/2020

Quirky date ideas for a London Valentine's Day with a difference

Original date ideas for Valentine's Day: London 2020
Original date ideas for Valentine's Day: London 2020
It’s 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


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, flanked 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 Street, Bethnal Green, London E2 7RH
It’s a date: Friday 14 February, book in advance to secure a table


Click here to book


For ditching the everyday bouquet: Valentine’s floristry workshop at Daylesford



Where are we going? To a make-your-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, make your own hand-tied bouquet with seasonal blooms under the guidance of local florist and designer Kat Argent. The class covers structure, tints, tones and shades, and you’ll walk away with a professional-looking gift for your special someone.


Meet at: Daylesford Pimlico, 44b Pimlico Road, Belgravia, London SW1W 8LP
It’s a date: Tuesday 12 February, 6pm-8pm


Click here to book


For innovative cocktails: Tayēr & Elementary



Where are we going? To Tayēr & Elementary, a relatively new bar by celebrated mixologist Alex Kratena and Monica Berg of Oslo bar Himkok. If you’re dating a true cocktail enthusiast, chances are a typical menu laced with mojitos, cosmopolitans and Moscow mules won’t cut it. At Tayēr & Elementary, you won’t find any of the usual suspects. This two-part venue approaches mixology with levels of attention and innovation most of us haven’t applied to mixing liquids since GCSE chemistry.


At the front you have Elementary, the interiors of which are described by its owners as a blend of ‘Scandi functionality, Japanese minimalism and a little bit of punk’. Here, unusual but perfected takes on classic cocktails are served. The back bar, Tayēr, is a space that only true cocktail connoisseurs can appreciate: not so much a bar but a futuristic workstation, in the middle of which a collection of potion bottle liquors lie in wait to be poured into the bar’s menu of unnamed cocktails. Take your place around the counter and watch as your chosen ingredients are muddled together by an expert hand. Oh, and don’t get so carried away gazing into one another’s eyes that you forget to line the stomach with one of TaTa Eatery’s famed Katsu sandos – available onsite.


Meet at: Tayēr & Elementary, 152 Old Street, London EC1V 9BW
It’s a date: Friday 14 February


Click here to book



For immersing yourselves in a colourful light spectacle: Lightopia



Where are we going? To a magical light show at Chiswick House and Gardens. If, at some point over the Christmas period, you both stopped what you were doing to take a moment to admire the twinkling fairy lights strung across the street above you, then we have just the date idea for you. Lightopia is a colourful light show set to dazzle visitors to Chiswick House and Gardens. The spectacle, which features a lantern trail and water show, has already impressed in Edinburgh, where it premiered as a free event in October, before moving on to Manchester for the Christmas period. It’s a big affair, involving 47 different lantern groups, 2,000 lanterns and a million lightbulbs in total.


Walk hand in hand among a glowing array of animal-shaped lanterns, then ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ as 3D projections and a spectacular water show play tricks with the mind. Acrobatic performances take the illumination theme to dizzying new heights, while live music and street food conjure up a festival atmosphere. You’ll leave rosy-cheeked, wide-eyed and with a little bit of post-Christmas magic in your hearts.


Meet at: Chiswick House & Gardens
It’s a date: Friday 14 February, 5pm


Click here to book



For a movie date with a difference: Secret Cinema presents Stranger Things



Where are we going? Into the scary, funny, and nostalgic world of Netflix series Stranger Things. Fans of sci-fi, 80s style and immersive experiences? You can indulge in all three at Secret Cinema’s Stranger Things experience. Unlike other Secret Cinema experiences, there’s no screening as such. Instead, guests are invited on a colourful romp through the show's Starcourt Mall, interacting with familiar characters and institutions (including ice cream parlour Scoops Ahoy! and the Palace Arcade), and unlocking series-related plotlines along the way. What lies beyond this leg of the experience is even more spectacular, but to say more would be ruining the surprise.


Clasp each other by the hand and let reality melt into fantasy as you’re swept up into the world of Hawkins, Indiana.


Meet at: a secret London location, revealed on purchase of tickets
It’s a date:
Friday 14 February, 6pm-9:30pm


Click here to book



For one-upping a box of chocolates: Rococo’s salted caramel-making experience



Where are we going? To Rococo’s Belgravia store, to master the art of making your own salted caramel truffles. Why? Because, while there’s nothing interesting about gifting a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day, turning your cocoa cravings into a delicious activity you can both enjoy is sure to win the approval of your other half.


Rococo founder Chantal Coady has an OBE for services to chocolate, so expect a class that’s a cut above. Led by a trained chocolatier, the session begins with making the salted caramel, followed by a chance to sample the various types of chocolate on offer, exploring flavour and texture with each bite. Once you’ve mastered the art of tasting, it’s time to pipe your caramel into each chocolate shell and roll them in a cocoa dusting to finish. Take your truffles home to enjoy together – if they make it that far.


Meet at: Rococo Chocolates Belgravia, 5 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JU
It’s a date: Saturday February 15, 11:30am-1:30pm


Click here to book



For getting crafty: Studio Pottery London



Where are we going? To Studio Pottery London in Eccleston Yard. Those who work clay together, stay together – or so our new saying goes. Whether you and your partner are already budding ceramicists or first-timers looking for a new hobby, few studios offer as elegant and chic place to get behind the wheel as Studio Pottery. Founded by Lucy Attwood and Gregory Tingay, this relatively new studio offers taster sessions for beginners as well as foundation courses for intermediate and advanced potters. Whatever you make, you’ll have a new ceramic piece to take home and remind you of your date.


Meet at: Studio Pottery, 29 Eccleston Place, Belgravia, London SW1W 9NF
It’s a date: Friday 14 February (or an alternative date of your choice)

Click here to book



For toasting your partnership: the Library Bar at The Ned


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: Friday 14 February, 2pm till late


Click here to book


For underground culture: Vault Festival


Vault Festival, Waterloo


Where are we going? Underground 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: Friday 14 February, shows on at various times


Click here to read our highlights and book



For flora and fauna: Isabella Plantation


Isabella Plantation, Richmond Park


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’ rhododendrons 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: Friday 14 February, 7.30am-8:15pm


Read more


For pillow talk: Mandrake hotel


Mandrake Hotel in Fitzrovia


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: Friday 14 - Saturday 15 February


Book now

Share:

Valentine's Day

things to do

dating



You may also like:
  • London's best chocolate shops

    London's best chocolate shops

  • Dating events in London_2019 edition

    Singles nights and dating events: London 2020 edition

  • Diogenes the Dog: disrupting wine bars.  Photo credit Daniel Ogulewicz

    The best wine bars London has to offer

  • Luxurious, chic and eco-friendly: London's new hotels

    Exciting hotels opening in London: 2020

  • Visiting? Where to stay in London on your holiday

    A visitor's guide to London's boroughs

  • Things to do in London this weekend: 24th - 26th June

    Things to do in London this weekend: 24th - 26th June



  • The Culture Whisper team
  • Support Us
  • Tickets
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we send newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
×