Whether you’re a reluctant participant, a hopeless romantic, or just looking for an excuse to have a couple of cocktails, we’ve found some pretty cracking things to do in London this Valentine’s Day (and on the weekends around it).
From good, old-fashioned dinner dates in romantic restaurants to lively, competitive games, there’s plenty for a first date, 100th date, and a great time with pals. Get inspired, and fall in love with the capital again…
1. Spend the evening bathed in candlelight as you watch a Candlelight concert
Is there anything more romantic than spending an evening in one of the city’s beautiful rooms, glowing in candlelight as you watch and listen to classical tributes of legendary artists and movie soundtracks? We think not. Candlelight concerts feel extra special because they are, musical renditions from artists old and new held in breathtaking spaces across the city such as Southwark Cathedral, Central Hall Westminster, and St Martin-in-the-Fields are unique experiences that make for a memorable night. Head here for all the Candlelight concerts which would be perfect for Valentine’s Day.
2. Get a little heated with some healthy competition
There’s nothing like a bit of friendly competition to get the conversation flowing and laughter going on a first date – or reignite your competitive streak with your long-established partner. London is full of gaming bars, from darts to computer games, board games to footie. A newly opened spot this Valentine’s Day is Fairgame; the world’s first immersive adult playground where you and your partner can battle it out at some classic fairground games.
3. Check into a hotel or spa to mark the occasion
A soothing spa or a stay away from the daily rigmarole in one of London’s most romantic hotels is just the ticket for a relaxing Valentine’s Day in London. Soak your cares away in one of London’s spas, enjoy a slap up meal, or just relish in the luxury of a room where you don’t have to make the bed!
4. Explore a new world of happiness at Dopamine Land
London’s happiness-inducing museum, Dopamine Land, is a museum-meets-immersive-experience entirely dedicated to giving guests a hefty dose of happiness, so what better place is there to spend Valentine’s Day? Ball pits, a pillow fight room, a digital forest and much more are in store in the rooms at Dopamine Land and because happiness means something different for everyone, you and your partner will be sure to find that will trigger some joy. It’ll leave you with a smile on your face and plenty of happy hormones.
5. Look to Fever for unmissable Valentine’s Day events
Our friends at Fever, the platform sharing all things experiential, have a collection of themed experiences and theatrical plans for London’s lovebirds to choose from this February. From a sultry singles event in Mayfair and culinary escapades to immersive exhibitions and colourful installations, there’s something for everyone. Discover these starry-eyed suggestions and more here.
6. Catch a flick for a Valentine’s movie date at one of the city’s many cinemas
A night at the pictures is a pretty good failsafe for a date, whether it’s with your long-term partner, a first date or even a solo date – you can always count on the movie theatre. The city has got plenty of cinemas for you to choose from independent gems that have curated rosters of flicks, to the big chains we all know and love (and are usually quite cheap and cheerful), have your pick of the bunch here. If you want to go for something a little more snazzy to mark the occasion, there are also some boujee cinemas in the city for more luxury with your viewing pleasure.
7. Taste the Valentine’s specials of some of the capital’s eateries
Our dear capital is full to the brim with restaurants – you’re sure to be able to find something to suit your budget, tastes and location with ease. Many will be doing Valentine’s specials too, so get wining and dining.
🍽️ Winter Martini Garden pop-up at Ham Yard Hotel
On the roof terrace of Ham Yard Hotel, guests can indulge in expertly crafted Valentine-themed cocktails and a roasted seafood platter to share as they look over the glittering London skyline. Special Valentine’s Day tickets include a warming ‘Paloma-tini’ and a food platter cooked in front of guests from the outdoor kitchen – think scallops, oysters, prawns, and smokey mussel flatbreads. Head here for more info.
🍽️ Paper Moon at the OWO Building
Have a night of amore with Paper Moon’s Italian Valentine’s Day menu that will have you swooning all night long. From 5:30pm onwards, couples, friends and families can dine on a lavish four-course menu with all the best that Italian cuisine has to offer. Expect dishes such as scallop tartare, gnocchi and rich duck breast, and finish the meal off with a traditional Robiola cheesecake made to share – feel free to gaze lovingly at each other’s eyes as you feed each other spoonfuls of this moreish dessert, it is Valentine’s Day after all. The set menu is £95pp, find out more here.
🍽️ Enjoy sky-high views at Bōkan
Love is in the air at Bōkan this Valentine’s Day, specifically 37 floors up in the air. To celebrate the holiday of love this year, Bōkan is offering an intimate five-course dinner menu including a glass of champagne for £150pp. Lovebirds can also head upstairs to the bar to a special candle-lit window table with front-row seats to the city’s most romantic skyline, to enjoy the four-course menu instead, priced at £170pp. Find out more here.
🍽️ Dalloway Terrace’s Winemaker Dinner
Draped in winter foliage, twinkling lights, and faux fur blankets, Dalloway Terrace is a dreamy winterscape that ticks all the boxes for a romantic dinner out. For a pre-Valentine’s evening out on February 7, couples and friends can enjoy a memorable evening savouring a four-course menu paired with expertly chosen wine from the Rathfinny Estate, for £90pp. Find out more here.
🍽️ Try heart-shaped sushi and desserts at Bamboo Mat
If your Valentine’s way to their heart is sushi then look no further than Bamboo Mat who are dishing out all things heart-shaped this year at their Stratford and Leyton locations to celebrate Valentine’s Day. On February 14, Bamboo Mat will be offering their one-day-only Sushi and Steak platter which features grilled Picanha steak topped with Chimichurri sauce sat alongside cute heart-shaped Californian Maki rolls and salmon nigiri, with heart-shaped white & dark chocolate mini mousse cake to finish. Find out more here.
🍽️ Take your love to new heights at Sky Garden
For Valentine’s Day, Sky Garden’s sky-high venues are pulling out all the stops to create an evening filled with romance. Fenchurch restaurant’s six-course tasting menu combines British ingredients with Caribbean flavours for an indulgent meal to pair with stunning skyline views of the city. Priced at £165pp, find out more here. For a night of champagne, tasty sharing boards and great music courtesy of the resident DJ, head to Sky Garden’s City Pod or City Garden. Find out more here.
🍽️ Savour a romantic Italian meal as a violinist sets the scene at Bocconcino
Intimate, cosy and decadent – these are words you’ll be using after you’ve spent Valentine’s evening at Bocconcino. To celebrate La Festa di San Valentino, diners can take a culinary adventure with Bocconcino’s three-course menu featuring truffle burrata, braised Osso Buco, baked celeriac, and a limited-edition Bocconcino Heart with sweet lychee crème and strawberry or a gold leaf wrapped eclair to finish. All of this whilst a live DJ and violinist set the scene. Prices start from £85pp, available only on February 14. Find out more here.
🍽️ Indulge in Spanish flavours at Arado
Nestled within the Meliá White House hotel by Regent’s Park and serving up Mediterranean fare is Aarado. This Valentine’s they are offering a bespoke menu between February 7-14 which includes a welcome drink, starter, main course, and dessert all for just £45pp – that’s fantastic value if you ask us. Think of an amuse bouche of ham or mushroom croquettes, followed by scallops and red prawn or beetroot carpaccio. Mains include Angus beef tenderloin or wild mushroom risotto and for dessert, a decadent chocolate truffle mousse. Limited edition cocktails are also available, and if you really want to make an occasion of it, you could complete your visit with an overnight stay perfect for anyone whose love language is quality time. Find out more here.
🍽️ Quaglino’s
Quaglino’s screams ‘somewhere special’, from the elegant decor to the live band taking center stage of the dining room, it’s a London institution that makes for the perfect setting for a romantic Valentine’s dinner with someone special. The Valentine’s Day menu is £150pp and begins with an amuse bouche, then there’s a choice of focaccia osyters, beetroot carpaccio or foie gras parfait before heading onto the mains. Choose from native grilled lobster, the Hereforeshord fillet of beef with bone marrow or the wild mushroom and winter truffle troife before a finale fitting for an evening of romance, dessert-wise diners can dive into the rum and raisin crème brûlée, or a made-to-share “Key to My Heart” dessert, combining pink gin and tart rhubarb. Find out more here.
8. Float through a museum dedicated to bubbles
Are you firmly in the ‘couple bubble’ stage right now? Well, the two of you should make a beeline this Valentine’s Day for Bubble Planet in Wembley, London. Unleash your inner child with nostalgic laughs aplenty, as the two of you move from room to room (there are 11 rooms in total), filled with different kinds of bubbles. In one room, you’ll come face to face with a massive ball pit; in another, you’ll don a headset and become a bubble yourself! Of course, there’s a room dedicated to traditional blowing bubbles too. At the end of the experience, share a sweet treat – a bubble waffle, free mochi samples, or even candyfloss – with your lover.
Enjoy a 10% discount on Bubble Planet tickets by opting for the special ‘couple bundle’ – book your visit for February 12–18 to benefit.
9. Enjoy tipples at some of the city’s most swoon-worthy bars
🍷 Plume
Found in the heart of Covent Garden is a gem that oozes date night, Plume is a two-storey wine bar and speakeasy in Charles Dickens’ former publishing house where plenty of wine and bubbles are to be had. Allow expert sommeliers to guide you through a curated selection of wine featuring unusual vintages from small experimental winemakers as you dine on small plates made to share.
🍷 Finch
Another wine bar to have on your radar is the newly opened Finch, Brixton’s intimate neighbourhood spot for wine and delightful small plates. It’s cosy, casual and definitely romantic. With an expertly curated wine list, seasonal Brixton-inspired cocktails, dishes including burrata, the infamous Golden Boy Grilled Cheese and house-made giardiniera pickles, and even the option of bringing food from other Brixton Village venues, you can’t go wrong.
🍸 Barts
Speakeasies exude a romantic charm that any old regular bar just doesn’t have. There’s something about the dim lighting, jazz music (often live), antique furniture, and the fun of its secrecy that’ll leave couples giggling in corners of the bar or gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes as their faces glow in the candlelight – because there is usually almost always candles. That’s what you’ll find at Bart’s this Valentine’s as you sip on their three exclusive cocktails featuring ingredients with aphrodisiac qualities such as pomegranate and honey. There’s also a secret ingredient in one of the cocktails that if you guess correctly will earn you a complimentary tipple. Find out more here.
🍸 Cahoots
Keeping things fun is key to keeping romance alive and what better fun than drinking tipples in a hidden underground 1940s tube-themed bar? Cahoots will be sure to inject some liveliness and spirit into your Valentine’s Day festivities, with its spiffing swing music, scallywags and rabble-rousers, vintage-themed everything, and a drinks menu that pays homage to the iconic ‘Sweethearts’ candies of the era. Using Hendrick’s Original and Flora Adora, the three-drink menu will run from February 1-29. Find out more here.
🍸 Scales
Hidden in the heart of Mayfair is the ever-seductive Scales bar, serving up tipples with fresh and seasonal ingredients and using modern approaches to cocktail craft. For Valentine’s Day, Scales have brought out a menu which includes a glass of bubbly on arrival, a choice of two cocktails out of Shiso, Mango, Celemntine and Raspberry, and a platter of sushi to share to keep you fed as you enjoy your tipples, all for £95 per couple. Find out more here.
10. Treat your lover to something sweet
A sweet treat or some chocolates always goes down, well, a treat, and there’s no shortage of Valentine’s Day themed cakes and desserts in London. Hummingbird Bakery is offering a wonderful selection of cakes specifically designed for the occasion. You can snap up the Pink Vanilla Heart Cake (heart-shaped pink vanilla sponge coated in pink sprinkles), the Red Velvet Heart Cake (heart-shaped sponge with cream cheese frosting which you can personalise with a romantic message), the Red Velvet Cheesecake and plenty more heart-shaped cakes and cupcakes to keep your Valentine’s sweet.
11. Immerse yourself and your partner in art with Delight’s multi-sensory art exhibition
Delight’s floor-to-ceiling projections, augmented reality and 360-degree installations of art will transport you to Seoul through different multi-media immersive artworks produced by Korean artist Gyoungtae Hong. Wander through 12 different zones, experience an hour of escapism for a date that you or your partner won’t forget and get some culture in this Valentine’s Day.
Buy your ticket between now and February 14 to enjoy a 30% discount off Delight tickets for any available date. Just use the code VALENTINES30.
12. Take a romantic stroll
Why not head to the great outdoors for a romantic stroll? It’s one of the few free things to do in London for Valentine’s Day, after all! With a plethora of pretty parks and city walks, not only is it great for mental health purposes, but it’s also a good way to catch up or form a bond, away from your phones, laptops and the TV. And who knows, there might be a kiss at the end of it if you’re lucky! Alternatively, head out of town to one of these magical woodland getaways.
13. Cuddle up under Van Gogh’s masterpieces
What could be more romantic than stepping into a painting? Stroll with your loved one through Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, and pause for a kiss beneath the Starry Night at Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. This exhibition, located near Spitalfields, London, includes wondrous 360-degree, floor-to-ceiling projections of the iconic artworks, a VR experience, and other immersive elements; you’ll truly feel you’re part of Van Gogh’s painted world this Valentine’s Day.
Enjoy a 10% discount on Van Gogh tickets by opting for the special ‘couple bundle’ – book your visit for February 12–18 to benefit.
14. Watch a romantic show on the West End
The West End has theatre shows aplenty, so why not catch some of the most romantic musicals of the bunch for your Valentine’s plans this year? Spend the evening watching Mamma Mia, Phantom of the Opera, Dirty Dancing, or The Time Traveller’s Wife for a night of theatre, romance and plenty of songs that’ll be stuck in your head.
15. Let your love take you to a new world
Forget just a simple date over drinks: the Avora cocktail experience elevates your evening. Head to Hoxton for an other-worldly adventure, where you’ll enjoy three unique cocktails, as you follow a theatrical storyline that’ll keep you thinking long after you’ve gone home. The whole experience is about more than just flavour; drawing on all the senses – taste, smell, sight, sound and touch. The bioluminescence provides the perfect setting for that Instagram official pic too… Talk about an out-of-this-world love!
16. Throw caution to the wind and channel your inner bad boy/gal
Another immersive cocktail experience, this time in Aldgate. Entry into Moonshine Saloon will see you step off the modern-day pavement, and into the Wild West. You can choose to embody a specific character, or simply mingle with the other cowboys and cowgirls, as you follow a storyline and the Sheriff tries to foil the illicit moonshine operation – will he succeed?
The London experience requires you to get a little naughty this Valentine’s Day – minds out the gutter, I mean smuggle in your own illicit moonshine/BYOB – the skilled bartenders will transform your booze into four personalised Old West cocktails for you to enjoy with your date.
17. Go on a Valentine’s retreat to Cambridge and delve into a romantic novel chosen by the hotel’s ‘Book Butler’
You heard that correctly, within Cambridge’s historic luxury hotel, the University Arms, is an in-house Book Butler entirely dedicated to picking out the best reads for hotel guests and for Valentine’s Day has chosen her top five romantic reads for guests to delve into.
Aside from the Book Butler, guests can book into one of the hotel’s treatment rooms by Aromatherapy Associates, indulge in the special Valentine’s Day five-course menu at Parker’s Tavern, the hotel’s restaurant, and enjoy the bottle of champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries waiting in their room on arrival before they explore Cambridge. University Arm’s Valentine’s room package starts from £276 per night on a B&B basis from February 1-29. Find out more here.
18. Get a romantic poem written for you and your Valentine at The Coral Room
For an uber-romantic and truly unique experience this Valentine’s Day, The Coral Room is hosting a poet who creates entirely personalised poems on their typewriter on the spot for any lovebirds and guests visiting the venue on February 14 from 12:30-8:30pm.
Against the vibrant backdrop of The Coral Room in the heart of London’s literary quarter, Luke Davies, one of the gifted poets part of Word Trade who creates poems for passersby on the Southbank, will craft bespoke poems tailored to your thoughts and emotions. Pore over Luke’s words as you sip on The Coral Room’s Valentine’s Day-inspired tipples; The Land of the Heart’s Desire which will take you on a sensory journey of coastal umami flavours, and the Strawberry Blonde, a delightful blend of ripe strawberries infused with aromatics for something on the sweeter side. To book head here.
19. Sign your names to a padlock at Mint Leaf and unlock it next year to reveal a special offer
For one of the most unique ways to mark Cupid’s favourite holiday, at fine-dining Indian restaurant Mint Leaf, couples will be given the opportunity to write their names on a padlock and attach this love lock to a gate. The padlock will be kept safe until Valentine’s Day next year when it can be unlocked to reveal a special offer.
To unlock the key to your beloved’s heart, lovers can enjoy a five-course set menu with highlights including gol gappa for an amuse bouche, flavourful chicken chettinad, and truffle mushroom naan to mop up any delicious sauce left on your plate. What’s more, there’ll also be limited-edition cocktails adorned with a love lock and key for oodles of romance with your tipples. Find out more here.
20. Dance the night away at a Valentine’s ball
For something a little more daring and dare we say racier this Valentine’s Day, a Valentine’s ball dedicated to the seven deadly sins may be just the thing to celebrate love this year. On February 10 in Mayfair’s lavish Grade II listed Dartmouth House, revellers will journey through seven rooms of the house each transformed to embody one of the seven deadly sins.
Guests will become immersed in the thrilling performances, the live DJ playing tunes into the night, and lively entertainment. Tickets are priced at £35 for members and £40 for non-members, which includes entry, a welcome drink, and decadent treats. Find out more here.
21. Share a pink hopper with your beloved at Hopper’s
For a dining option that’s a little more affordable and relaxed, standout Sri Lankan restaurant Hopper’s has gone pink with their egg hoppers to celebrate Valentine’s this year. Their Taste of Hoppers menu for £42.50 per person is great value and offers a spread of some Hoppers’ standout dishes including the hot butter squid, lamb kothu roti and prawn kari.
Any guest who orders a Hopper as part of their feast will receive a special pink Hopper to give their meal some festive Valentine’s flair. What’s more, there’s also a special ‘Blushing Rose’ cocktail, for £9.50, made with lychee vodka, elderflower and bubbles because no Valentine’s dinner is complete without some bubbles. Find out more here.
22. Have a golf about at Puttshack’s Love Shack
Putt you and your partner (or friends) into love this Valentine’s at Puttshack’s Love Shack. Some healthy competition is always a great way to inject some fun into any relationship and a game of mini-golf will do just the trick. From February 10-18, guests will also be able to play a special Valentine’s pop quiz at the True or False themed hole, have the chance to win some tee-riffic prices at Puttshack’s prize wheel and be able to snap a complimentary polaroid at the Love Shack photobooth for an adorable keepsake of the night.
Lovers can refuel after all that golfing with the Love Shack’s delicious sharing dishes like Thai chicken bites, skewer-sharing towers and Japanese vegetable gyozas. Fun cocktails, bubbles, wine or more will also be on hand to keep you refreshed. The celebrations are available in all Puttshack venues, find out more here.
23. Savour a Lover’s Brunch at The Table
For one day only, on February 14, The Table will be serving up a Lover’s Brunch menu where it’ll be love at first bite. The menu will include a selection of canapes including grilled prawns, Baron Bigod brie with bacon and truffle honey, and sweet and sour aubergine to whet your appetite. Following, guests can choose from a bounty of brunch dishes – think chicken and waffles, breakfast bruschetta, and very berry pancakes – and if that wasn’t enough, you can end the meal on a sweet note with dessert from tiramisu or ice cream. And all that for just £25 per person! The Valentine’s brunch offer is available at The Table’s Southwark and Battersea locations. Find out more here.
24. Indulge in flavour and fragrances at Geode
In celebration of love and romance, Geode invites lovers in through their stunning floral arch, installed just for the occasion, to dine on a bespoke drool-worthy three-course menu. As the stars twinkle in the night through the Georgian townhouse’s glass ceiling, guests can feast on signature dishes such as sea bass yuzu and truffle, lamb on robata, and tonnarelli carbonara which are all seasoned with love. For a sweet finish, guests can choose from a moreish strawberry tart or a decadent love heart chocolate mouse.
Tipple-wise, ‘For Him’ and ‘For Her’ cocktails embodying the spirit of the Royal Opera House and inspired by Thameen’s Bravi fragrance collection will be on hand to keep you refreshed, and for an extra treat, each guest will receive a complimentary Thameen fragrance for a truly unforgettable evening (and be saving grace for any of you who forgot to get your special someone a Valentine’s Day gift). Live music and wandering vocalists will be serenading couples throughout the night to set the scene for romance. Available only on February 14, the Valentine’s menu is £125pp and the cocktail pair is £30. Find out more here.
25. Indulge in cheesy romance with a heart-shaped pizza
Is there truly any better way to say I love you than with pizza, a heart-shaped pizza at that? This Valentine’s Day Yard Sale Pizza are feeling the love and want you to feel it too with their limited edition not to mention totally adorable heart-shaped pizza pies. From any of their 11 pizza shops in London, folks can get margherita or pepperoni heart-shaped pizzas delivered to their loved ones door on February 14 and 15 for a deliciously romantic surprise that will be sure to wow them.
It’s perfect for any lovers who want to spend the occasion at home, cosy and snuggly with a slice of heart-shaped pizza in hand. The pizzas are available for delivery, collection and dine-in, find out more here.
26. Grab some blinged-out underwear or an engagement ring at this hotel’s luxury vending machine
For something a little more different this Valentine’s Day, this hotel’s vending machine is stocked up with some last minutes bits that you may have forgotten to bring on your romantic staycation, oh you know, just some sequin art-inspired underwear and engagement rings of course. Art-focused Bankside Hotel on London’s Southbank have got couples covered should they want to spice things up or pop the question with their luxury vending machine.
They’ve also got a ‘SweetArts’ package for a nights stay including a welcome cocktail a three-course meal at their Art Yard restaurant, a bottle of bubbly and breakfast. Pop by their vending machine should you fancy any of their romantic offerings. Find out more here.
27. Take your love to new heights at Battersea Power Station’s Lift 109
Looking to sweep your loved one of their feet? Well, Lift 109 can literally take you and your partner to new neights as you ascend in their circular glass lift to the top of one of Battersea Power Station’s chimnies. You’ll be taken 109 metres above the ground with a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the London skyline, a perfect backdrop for a romantic evening. To make the occasion even more memorable, you can also purchase a glass of champagne to enjoy as you ascent to a glorious view of the city as it twinkles in the night. Find out more here.
28. Keep your sweet one sweet with Donuteliers Valentine’s themed donuts
Handmade luxury donnuts? Why, yes that is the key to one’s heart. Donutelier have been serving up a storm with their delicious morsels of fried doughy creamy goodness since they opened last year and have been an absolute hit. This year, they’re getting stuck in with the season of love with their Valentine’s Day collection that’s got their firm fan favourites and also new limited edition donuts.
Favourites include the Frasier, Vanilla and Raspberry, Strawberry Cream croissant, and the Raspberry Danish, and limited edition wise, Donutelier are bringing out Sweet Rose with rose mascarpone ganache, Lucky Love with their Wild Berry ganache, and the Raspberry Marzipan Swirl. Find Donutelier on Leicester Square.
29. Get cheat codes to use in a game at Platform if you’ve been cheated on before
To give justice to those who have been played by love rats or cheated on before, gaming venue Platform are giving anyone who’s been cheated on the cheat codes for their most popular video games this Valentine’s. What better way to celebrate your new blossoming love by winning all the games against your current partner (or friends) using cheat codes given to you to right the wrongs done to you in your past. We are very much here for that.
Gamers will also be served bottomless drinks and heart-shaped, or rather heart-smashed as Platform calls it, pizzas to keep you refreshed and fuelled up for your gaming session. Each booth comes stocked with a PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, an incredible library of the latest and classic video games, including Mario Kart, FIFA and Smash Bros, to exciting new classics like Overcooked, Gang Beasts and Rocket League. Cheat Codes is available at Platform in both their Shoreditch and Canary Wharf locations. Find out more here.
30. Bring along your third wheel for dinner and Vapiano’s will cover the cost of their meal
For relationships where three isn’t a crowd, Vapiano’s are encouraging couples to celebrate their ‘third wheels’ by offering free main dishes to the first 50 ‘third wheelers’ in their Tottneham Court Road restaurant as a one-day offer on February 14. Vapiano’s want to celebrate that third person who accompanies and joins along at couples’ social outings, showing that the role does have it perks. Considering as 54% of Brits admitted they would actually be happy to ‘third wheel’ on Valentine’s Day that over 1 in 3 couples said they would quite enjoy having a third person at the dinner table, the offer means that no one will be left flying solo on the day of love. Find out more here.
And there you have it, all the best places to go and things to do for a Valentine’s filled with romance and fun in London!