14 date night ideas in London

How to choose a good date in London

The best date night ideas in London pair one memorable thing to do with a good place to eat nearby, such as jazz at Ronnie Scott's, a Thames dinner cruise, a museum late or a drink behind a hidden door. Here are 14 ideas that work for a first date, a long-running relationship or a night you simply want to feel different from the usual dinner and home.

A couple of rules make almost any of these better. Choose an area you can walk around, so that nobody spends half the evening on the Tube. Book ahead at weekends, because London's most charming rooms are often its smallest. And always check times, prices and availability with the venue itself, because all of them can change from season to season.

Views and the river

1. Sky Garden. Three storeys of greenery at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street in the City, with a view across the Thames. It has generally been free to visit with a timed ticket booked in advance, which makes it one of the capital's great low-cost dates. Tickets go quickly, so book as early as you can, or reserve a table at one of its bars or restaurants instead.

2. The London Eye after dark. It is a tourist favourite for a reason, because London looks far more romantic lit up than it does at noon. Private capsules are also sold for anyone planning something special, though you should expect to pay a good deal more for one. Walk along the South Bank afterwards for a drink by the water.

3. A Thames dinner cruise. City Cruises and Bateaux London both run dinner sailings past Tower Bridge, the Shard and the Houses of Parliament, and some sailings have live music. Bateaux's Glass Room is walled in glass, which helps in winter. Go on a clear night if you can, and check the departure pier carefully, because it may not be the one nearest to you.

Music and laughter

4. Ronnie Scott's. The Frith Street jazz club is a Soho institution, with close-together tables, low light and a very good chance of hearing something special. Book a table for the main show, and read the listing, since the programme ranges from visiting greats to late sets and gospel. It is a good choice for a second or third date, when you are happy to stop talking for an hour.

5. The Comedy Store. Just off Piccadilly Circus on Oxendon Street, this is London's best known comedy club. Laughing together is a very good test of a date, and shows are short enough to leave time for a late dinner in Soho. Sit away from the front row if you would rather not become part of the act.

6. A West End show. A big musical is a proper occasion, and the area around Covent Garden is packed with restaurants built for pre-theatre dining. Our guide to London shows will help you choose. J Sheekey and Rules are both classic places to eat nearby, and booking dinner for after the curtain can feel more relaxed than racing to make it.

Culture after hours

7. The Electric Cinema. This old picture house on Portobello Road in Notting Hill is famous for its sofas and for the double beds in the front row, which are worth booking early. Even a film you are only half keen on feels like a treat here, and Notting Hill has plenty of places for a drink afterwards.

8. A museum late. The V&A's Friday Lates, Tate's late openings and the Science Museum's adults-only Lates turn familiar buildings into something more like a party, usually with music, talks and a bar. Each programme runs to its own calendar, so look up the next date and whether you need to book. It gives you plenty to talk about, which is useful on a first date.

9. The Ceremony of the Keys. Each night at the Tower of London, the Yeoman Warders lock up the fortress in a ritual that has run for around 700 years. It takes place after the Tower has closed to day visitors, and it is an unusual thing to share. Tickets are sold only through Historic Royal Palaces, carry a small fee, are released in batches and go quickly, so plan months ahead.

Hidden bars and unusual dinners

10. A speakeasy night. Book a table at Evans & Peel Detective Agency in Earls Court, where you explain your case at a desk before a bookcase lets you in, or head to The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town in Spitalfields, reached through a fridge door. Both feel like a shared secret. Our speakeasy guide has more options across the city.

11. Dinner in the dark. Dans le Noir in Clerkenwell serves its meals in total darkness, with visually impaired staff guiding you through the evening. It takes a little nerve, and you will not know exactly what you are eating, but it removes any first-date awkwardness about where to look. Tell them about allergies when you book.

12. A long, lovely lunch. Not every date has to happen at night. A slow Saturday lunch at Sessions Arts Club in a former Clerkenwell courthouse, or at Andrew Edmunds in Soho, can run happily on into the evening. Lunch also makes a good first meeting, as it is lighter and easier to leave. Both rooms are popular, so plan ahead.

Something seasonal or playful

13. Winter skating and lights. From November to January, Skate at Somerset House puts an ice rink in one of the finest courtyards in London, and Christmas at Kew turns the gardens into a long, glowing walk. Skating badly together is great fun, and there is usually hot chocolate close by. Check the current season's dates and book in advance, particularly for December weekends.

14. A little friendly competition. Swingers West End offers crazy golf with cocktails and street food near Oxford Circus, while Flight Club does social darts at several London sites including Shoreditch and Bloomsbury. Neither is at all formal, which is exactly why they work for people who find a white tablecloth a bit too much pressure. You can stop for a drink between rounds.

Putting the evening together

Most of these ideas are better with a simple plan: a drink, the main event, then food or a nightcap somewhere close by. Soho and Covent Garden work best for evenings with several stops, while Notting Hill and the South Bank suit a slower pace. Have a backup in mind if you are relying on a view or an outdoor table, as the weather does not always cooperate.

If you would enjoy these plans with a date, dinner dates are listed on many of our ladies' profiles, and you can call us with her name and a time so we can check she is free and arrange the rest.

Your budget can stretch further than you might expect. A walk along the river, a timed ticket at Sky Garden or a free museum late costs little, and you can put the savings towards a really good dinner. Save the most expensive ideas here for a real occasion, and remember that a date tends to be remembered for the conversation and the atmosphere rather than the size of the bill.