Alternative romantic things to do in London

DO learn how to whip up a terrarium

Giving flowers can be dangerous; how can you know which flowers to send when it’s still early days? Red roses mean ‘love’ and yellow ones ‘friendship’, but we don’t think there’s an official flower for ‘you’ll do until I find someone better’ (orange ones, maybe?) Happily, lovely London florist Leafage sells terrarium-making kits so that you can create your own tiny plant-filled kingdoms. And there’s not a lot you can read into something that’s so transparent.

From £60. www.weareleafage.com

DO eat nose to tail 

Sharing spag is old hat and, more to the point, incredibly messy; what are you, a cartoon dog? Instead, head to St John and feast on all kinds of offal: think livers, kidneys and intestines. What’s more romantic than a slap-up plate of lamb hearts?

26 St John St, EC1M 4AY. 

DO pick a bottle of fancy whisky

Once a wedding dress boutique, Cadenhead’s on Chiltern Street is one of London’s oldest whisky shops. But there’s nothing pretentious about its approach to whisky: ask the staff and they’ll give you a whistlestop history of Scotland’s best-loved spirit.

26 Chiltern St, W1U 7QF.

DO go on a gin odyssey at Mr Fogg’s

The upstairs salon of Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour houses London’s largest gin collection, and it’s here that you can sample and learn about four of the most interesting, concluding with one G&T made with your favourite G. Join a safari with your date, or book a private sesh with ten or more of your most emotionally supportive pals and get sipping. 


1 New Row, WC2N 4EA. £42pp. 

DO dine in darkness at Dans Le Noir

Staring longingly into the love of your life’s eyes is all fine and good until the other mates you’re hanging out with start to get irritated out of boredom or jealousy. One way to rectify this slightly awks predicament is to book a table at Dans Le Noir, a quirky dining experience sans mood lighting, or any lighting at all for that matter. Yep, you and your date dine in complete darkness so the sensory nature of the meal is prioritised over how aesthetically pleasing it (and/or your date) is. Just make sure you find your way back to the right table or that innocent leg rub could get weird.

69-73 St John St, EC1M 4AN. Set menu £52-£110.

DO travel back in time at the Rivoli Ballroom

Settle down in the beautiful surroundings of the Rivoli Ballroom – one of the oldest remaining public ballrooms in the world – for a pop-up film fest. The grand old dame of a building will be hosting screenings of ‘Roman Holiday’ and ‘Romeo + Juliet’ for Valentine’s Day – now that trumps a Netflix binge. 

350 Brockley Rd, SE4 2BY. From £10.

DO go on a craft beer tour 

Take your beloved on a tour of London’s best breweries to drink beer straight from the source. Plan your own using our round-up of the best taprooms, head to Camden Town Brewery for a whizz around the premises, or book a tour with AleHunters, where a sommelier will guide you through the offerings of four breweries along the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Because couples that ale together, stay together. 

£40. www.alehunters.co.uk

DO go to a roller disco

Ditch the boring drinks and strap on a pair of rollerskates for a proper fun date. And this isn’t a cheesy roller rink, this is a cool roller rink, where you can gawp at some of London's best skaters all soundtracked to RnB, jazz, afrobeats and hiphop. For those with superior balance, this is the chance to show off your tekkers. For the less coordinated, worry not, falling on your arse in front of your beloved will only bring you closer together. 

Flipper's London, Exhibition London, Ariel Way, W12 7SL. £17.50.