London

Horse riding at Rotten Row

Action date
Place to meet Start with a stroll through Hyde Park. Take the route that leads you past the Serpentine lake and up towards the gallery. If your date is partial to a spot of culture, you could nip in and check out the Thomas Demand exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery (020 7402 6075 / www.serpentinegallery.org), but not too much chin-stroking – you’ve got calories to burn. If a bracing swim in the Serpentine Lido (020 7706 3422) is a little too chilly a prospect, go for a row around the boating lake (020 7262 1330) instead.

Galvin at Windows

Where to eat While you’re in the area, run up to the Hilton’s twenty-eighth floor where you’ll find Galvin at Windows (Hilton, 22 Park Lane, W1, 020 7208 4021) for impressive views of London, including the gardens of Buckingham Palace and the scorched brown grass of Hyde Park. The menu is sophisticated and simple – think perfect pink cutlets of lamb or fillet of wild halibut.
What to do Now for some real action. You have Hyde Park and its facilities at your disposal so how about a spot of tennis (020 7262 3474) in one of its six rather smart courts? Alternatively you could go for some horse riding down Rotten Row (020 7298 2100). Or there’s always rollerblading.
Later on Try a game of pool at the charming real ale pub Samuel Pepys (29 Clarges Street, W1) before taking a romantic evening stroll through Mayfair’s Shepherd Market.
Where to end up It’s got to be The Berkeley (Wilton Place, SW1, 020 7235 6000/www.the-berkeley.co.uk) for more glorious views of Hyde Park and a rooftop gym with a swimming pool. The spa offers excellent treatments if you are in need of a rub-down after all that hard work. And the Blue Bar is perfect for a night cap. Feature continues