Do you always hop on the Tube or in a cab to get from A to B? Ever thought about getting to know a date by walking and talking? Well, now is the perfect time as May 3 marks the start of Get Walking Week in the UK, a week designed to actively encourage people to don the comfy shoes, get the blood pumping and explore their hometown on foot.
London presents a host of wonderfully romantic routes to meander hand-in-hand with a date – along the Thames at South Bank, around one of the many museums and parks or at one of the many Sunday markets. But what is the weather is bad we hear you cry? Nay, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing so pack some Gore-Tex.
We’ve provided some seriously romantic and date-friendly places, you provide the serious romance. Is it raining? We hadn’t noticed…
Chelsea Embankment
More original than a stroll along the South Bank (and a whole lot quieter), walk along Chelsea Embankment in the evening as the sun sets. Start at Vauxhall Bridge or Chelsea Bridge and continue up to Albert Bridge and back through Battersea Park. There is plenty to see, including Carlyle House, the Physic Gardens and plenty of stunning architecture. Battersea Park is has glorious views and with fewer crowds than central London, this is a great place for whispering sweet nothings to your partner. Also the King’s Road only a stone’s throw away so if you are after dinner and drinks, then you are perfectly placed. Don’t say: ‘You know, I don’t know what all the fuss is about with sunsets…”
Now, you may not think that stepping out with the dead is such a good idea but Highgate Cemetery has a really special atmosphere steeped in historic, cultural and wildlife attractions. Housed amongst 20 hectares, it boasts Victorian buildings, chapels, catacombs and stunning trees and wildlife. The most famous resident is Karl Marx, whose monument attracts visitors from all over the world and other notable graves include that of Douglas Adams, George Eliot and Christina Rosetti. Admission to the West Cemetery is by guided tour only, while you can roam freely around the East Cemetery and walking tours run daily. Don’t say: “Cemetery dates are great if you have ‘no body’ to go with..”
Little Venice
This walk spells romance with a capital R. Head away from the crowds and find this glorious stretch of the Grand Canal in northwest London. Picturesque and peaceful – and just a few steps from the busy Edgware Road, there are waterside cafes, eateries and bars, for refreshments and loads to see along the waterways. Check out the colourful houseboats that are moored en-route, including two theatres – the Puppet Theatre barge and Canal Café Theatre. Follow the route downstream towards Maida Vale or head upstream for more peace and quiet. Many people start their walk at Camden Lock (which is about two miles away), passing underneath London Zoo at Regent’s Park and then on towards Little Venice. Do say: “Wow, glad we didn’t miss the boat with this romantic amble…”
Another secret gem in London’s many fabulous parks is Primrose Hill. Walk to the top (it is only a short one) and you and your partner will be rewarded with one of the best views of London from the top whatever the time of day. At 78 foot tall, on a clear day you’ll be able to see the London Eye, the BT Tower, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Gherkin. Even better, pack your own picnic and blanket and head up there for sunset and crack open the drinks and food and watch the sun go down. Don’t say: “I wish I’d gone to the loo before we came..”
Richmond Park and The Isabella Plantation
If you and your date yearn for a long walk in the country, then Richmond Park is definitely the place to go. The largest of the capital’s eight Royal Parks, it is a national nature reserve and a special area on conservation. The most romantic spot here is the 40-acre Isabella Plantation. This woodland plantation, which dates back to the 1930s, has lawns, gardens streams and ponds and is colourful throughout the year. Do say: ‘These daffodils and bluebells are at their most vibrant now, don’t you think?”
Do you know of any other romantic walks in the capital? Tell us @lovestruck
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