They may call Paris the ‘City of love’ but if you ask us, London is bursting at the seams with romantic places to get to know that special someone. Even for the weariest of daters among us the beautiful views, incredible food or just having fun at a great venue can make you feel in the mood. While you may be bombarded with great date ideas at Valentine’s Day or Christmas, there are many places to enjoy year-round in the capital.
Feel the love with our top five:
Stroll along the Southbank
This date is always a winner, especially when the sun is out and everyone is smiling around you. Take in the sights and smells, thumb the books for sale, watch the skateboarders and if you have time, visit one of the fantastic cultural landmarks, such as the Southbank Centre, The Globe or the Tate Modern. There are lots of places to stop for food or drinks en-route; one of our favourites is the Benugo Bar & Kitchen at the BFI.
Pedalo ride in Hyde Park
Hyde Park is a fab date choice and home to a host of well-known landmarks including Speakers’ Corner, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain and the Serpentine Lake. Also, there are loads of date-friendly things to do here including horse-riding, tennis, boating – and the good ol’ pedalo. Forget awkward oars, going round in circles or a Bridget Jones’-style disaster and harnass that pedal power with your date. You can hire them for an hour or thirty minutes from April through to October.
Go up The Shard
Head up the tallest building in Western Europe in one of the ear-popping lifts and enjoy the 360-degree panoramic views of the city, from The View from the Shard. The scenes are incredible, even on overcast days and on clears days you can see up to 40 miles away. Make sure you pre-book tickets, as it can get very popular and they are fairly expensive but worth it. If you feel thirsty or peckish afterwards, head to the Aqua Shard restaurant and bar, on Level 31 of The Shard and order one of the cocktails on the extensive list.
Watch a film at The Electric Cinema
For a unique film-watching experience, head here. All seats are super-comfy leather, complete with footstools for tired toes and side tables to rest your snacks. There are also two-seater sofas towards the back and six double beds towards the front – perfect for fledging romances! You can also order wine, beer or champagne, along with brownies for pud. What’s not to love?
Dine at Clos Maggiore
Voted the most romantic restaurant in London, Clos Maggiore is tucked away but very central in the hart of Covent Garden. Think twinkling lights, lots of mirrors and an enchanting conservatory. The food is great too; be sure to try the Hand Picked Devon Crab to start, while leaving space for the Milk Chocolate Mille Feuille at the end. Heaven!
With all this inspiration, why not take that step and join Lovestruck today!
What other venues give you that loving feeling?
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