Around Town

Skint mate from college | Grandparents | Teenage relative | Party animal | Friend with kids | Mum and dad | Long-distance lover | Seen-it-all-before cynic

Long-distance lover
Late Brunch
Randall & Aubin (14-16 Brewer Street, W1) opens at midday, and is an elegantly done out brasserie – the perfect place to kick off the day with champagne and oysters.

Landmark
A romantic stroll through St James’ Park will take the edge off the champers, and for a reminder of what really matters you can visit the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens – Queen Victoria’s tribute to her late lover.

Museum
At the Tate Britain, you can either head for the Pre-Raphaelite paintings, or take quick spin around the lovesick Degas, Sickert and Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition to stir the blood.
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Shop
Take them to tastefully naughty Coco de Mer (23 Monmouth Street, WC2). Whether you end up purchasing any of the saucy lingerie, erotic literature or beautifully-crafted sex toys, the frisson should keep you busy for the rest of the weekend. More of a romantic? Take a Sunday morning stroll through Columbia Road Flower Market (between Gosset Street & Royal Oak pub, 8am-2pm).

Drinks
The Blue Bar at the Barclay Hotel (Wilton Place, SW1) is stylish and discreet, a place to whisper sweet nothings while sipping pre-dinner cocktails.

Dinner
Andrew Edmunds (46 Lexington Street, W1) gets the nod when it comes to romantic restaurants, although you’ll need to book ahead. To catch a movie, the Electic Cinema (191 Portobello Road, W11, 020 7908 9696) is infinitely preferable to your local Odeon – for £30 you can book a two-seater sofa (more like a leather bed) where you can stretch out with a bottle of wine (book ahead). Then it’s a short stagger to the Portobello Hotel (22 Stanley Gardens, W11, 020 7727 2777) to complete your romantic evening.

Skint mate from college | Grandparents | Teenage relative | Party animal | Friend with kids | Mum and dad | Long-distance lover | Seen-it-all-before cynic