The 25 best date spots in London

Are you a foodie? Is your date a foodie? If the answer is yes and yes, then a first date won’t get much better than a good mosey around Southwark’s glorious Borough Market. Grab a flat white from Monmouth Coffee Company, before oohing and aahing over kaleidoscopic fruit and veg, giant wheels of cheese, cured meats and mouthwatering pastries... You’ll be united in hunger and greed.

Wise up on the likes of Hockney, Rothko and Warhol if you want to really impress your date while strolling around Tate Modern. When you’re ready for a sit down and a little refreshment, hit the Terrace Bar on the first floor of the Blavatnik Building for a coffee or a cocktail. Look out for Tate’s monthly late-night (well, late-ish – they end at 10pm) events, which include sets from NTS Radio, and your arty activity could take a very different turn.

Whatever the weather, Kew Gardens is a beautiful place to while away an afternoon. Spot the rarest of rare plants in the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, get a taste of the tropics in the vast Palm House, roam the Arboretum and Woodland Garden and teeter across the Treetop Walkway for (literally) lush views. The cherry on top of this scenic date? A leisurely cream tea at its on-site restaurant, The Botanical.  

What makes a perfect wine bar? Well there’s the wine, for starters. Lots of it. The classics and the stuff you want to take photos of. Then there’s the vibe of the place; cosy, dimly lit, but fun enough to laugh obnoxiously loudly and not get looks. The music mustn’t be too loud (I don’t like to shout) but definitely not too quiet either. The food should come out on little plates at random times so I feel like I’m in Spain. Half Cut Market is a perfect wine bar. It knows its target market; young and cool, with knowledgeable staff, good tunes, a wine rack labelled with multicoloured fridge magnet letters (‘zippy whites,’ ‘weird whites,’ oranges and more), as well as tables outside for that final glass of chilled red and a ciggie.

Opened in 1984, the Barbican Conservatory is pretty special. Home to more than 2,000 species of plants and trees (as well as exotic fish), there’s plenty there to look at if conversation with your date starts to dry up. And if your romantic rendezvous couldn’t be going any better? Well, with cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bars and restaurants all under one roof, an afternoon drink might just blossom into an all-nighter.

Drink in that London skyline while drinking your can of G&T in a prime spot on the top of Primrose Hill. A picnic in a pretty park is the antithesis of an over-the-top expensive meal at a flashy restaurant. Picnics are low-pressure – you don’t even need to worry about packing an elaborate hamper, just grab some snacks from the local shops and settle in.

Some might argue that a first date should be about getting to know each other, and how can you do that in a dark cinema? But if you're feeling the first date jitters, being in a dark cinema takes a huge amount of pressure off – and seeing a movie gives you something to talk about afterwards. The Prince Charles Cinema plays old classics alongside new releases, as well as hosting regular movie marathons and pyjama parties. For luxe comfort (and equally luxe bar snacks), book a sofa for two at Electric Cinema.

Embrace bitterly cold, rainy weather as an excuse to bundle into a cosy pub with a roaring fire. Our fave is The Holly Bush in Hampstead, the most cockle-warming backdrop for a chilly day date. Historic, homely and with hearty grub, this centuries-old local favourite is the perfect place to get acquainted with your new amigo (over a good bottle of red, of course).

If you’re feeling a little tongue-tied, you can write flirty messages (or draw crude doodles) on the walls of this buzzy Bermondsey bar. There are also ping-pong tables to keep hands occupied and first-date nerves quenched (the drinks help, too). Just go easy on the trash talk until you're a little bit better acquainted. 

Did you know that you can actually scale the roof of The O2 Arena? You and your love interest will be able to gaze out at landmarks up to 15 miles away, at 52 metres up. If heights aren’t your thing, The O2 is home so many entertainment options – a cinema complex, restaurants and bars, bowling and Oxygen Freejumping, if you want to keep that adrenaline pumping – you could feasibly fit five date activities into one day. 

Londoners love flocking to parks, castles, swimming pools and palaces to see beloved movies like ‘ET’ or ‘Grease’ projected on to the big screen. The Luna Cinema matches films with locations perfectly – playing ‘Jaws’ at Brockwell Lido, for example. Pack a picnic and we reckon you’ve got yourself a hard-to-beat first date there. This one’s a summer-only option, obviously. 

If you’re fans of the hit ’90s show (or even if you’re not), London’s real-life Crystal Maze is a total blast, and booking it as a date would certainly make a refreshing alternative to the traditional drinks-and-dinner set-up. Go in a group with mutual friends for guaranteed fun minus the first date nerves. Maybe romance will be sparked in the Aztec zone. 

Sitting above Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House is speakeasy-style bar The Blind Pig, where retro decor is combined with fun drinks. Try Harry Potter’s Best Bottled Butter Bitter, a potion of Monkey Shoulder whisky, beer, thyme and butterscotch. Since the bar snacks are sent up from the restaurant below, you and your date won’t have to go hungry, either.

A spot of semi-competitive crazy golf, accompanied by drinks and street food, makes a great date. Swingers has two locations (in the West End and the City) and you can either book in a group or as a duo. The lively atmosphere, tunes and ready availability of alcohol (bar staff deliver your drinks as you putt) will keep any potential awkward silences at bay.

Dying to say ‘I know a lovely little place in north London?’ Look no further than Caravel. This is an ultimate date spot, on a literal boat on Regent’s Canal, and it’s seriously intimate - there’s only ten tables. Watch the sunset on your way, order two strawberry negronis, and plenty of seasonal plates to share. But trust us, you’re going to need a portion each of the potato rösti with sour cream and caviar. 

Quietly harbouring a ping-pong-specific competitive streak? Take your date to Bounce in Old Street, for a casual (or combative) game of bat and ball. With a 25-foot long pizza counter and bar, you can even squeeze a little food, drink and conversation into the evening. While you’re there, don’t forget to give Bounce’s Wonderball concept a try – immersive projections that turn your ping-pong sesh into a giant computer game.

All Star Lanes bowling alleys (there are four London locations) are quite a departure from the sticky-floored bowling lanes of your teenage years. With all the gear flown over from the States, the alley’s Americana influence extends to food, too – think tacos, wings, burgers and buttermilk chicken. Good, clean, 1950s-style fun.

Wanna get a little sweaty? Chelsea’s Clip ’n’ Climb is spot-on for rock-climbing amateurs looking to combine a little exercise with a lot of fun. After flexing just about every muscle in your body, hit the juice bar for some light refreshments – or head to nearby date-friendly Megan’s for the all-day brunch.

What could be more romantic than drifting down London’s oldest boating late, ice cream or book of poetry in hand? It’s open daily from April (though from November to March it’s also open from Wednesday to Sunday, weather-permitting) and you can choose between a half-hour or hour slot. Take a break in the Serpentine’s Lido Café and Bar for a gin and tonic or a Bloody Mary afterwards.

With low, flattering lighting, cocktails aplenty and a foolproof menu, Hawksmoor Seven Dials – the restaurant’s flagship branch – is the place to impress and to be impressed. If you arrive before your table’s ready, be sure to order an Old Fashioned (very Don Draper) at the superbly stocked bar.

The atmospheric basement of Soho’s Swift is perfect for first dates. Tables can be reserved ahead, so there’ll be no awkward bar-leaning – and the cocktails are high quality and inventive. Book on a Saturday or Sunday from 9pm if you’d like your drink with a side of live blues or jazz music.

There aren’t many places in London where you can bowl, dance, slurp slushies and sing your heart out in a karaoke booth until the wee hours, but Rowans is one of them. This old den of entertainment has been there since 1913, surviving two world wars and even playing host to The Beatles in 1963. And over the years it’s also been the destination of choice for countless first daters. And we get it. Seeing how your potential new beau handles a bit of healthy competition can be quite revealing, and there are plenty of quiet corners for canoodling in should they pass the test.

Recommended: An oral history of Rowans Tenpin Bowl

Is there any food sexier than chocolate? Of course there bloody isn’t. Help yourself to truffles and order a salted caramel hot chocolate before scoffing them all at the back of the café together. Visit Dark Sugars on Brick Lane – it’s first-date heaven for chocaholics. 

If your date doesn’t know about Rochelle Canteen, they’re in for a treat. It’s housed in a Victorian school, and you’ll be buzzed in through a tiny door before finding a seat and ordering from a short, evolving menu of seasonal, vibrant and beautifully cooked dishes. With a lovely, plant-filled outdoor patio, this is one to book when the sun’s shining.

A hotel bar can be a staid and stuffy thing. The Seed Library, thankfully, has none of that. Instead, this basement adjunct to One Hundred Shoreditch, is a relaxed, impressively low-lit and supremely welcoming space. It's the perfect vibe for a date and boasts an impressive drinks menu that will fight your companion for your attention. A soundtrack of everything from The Gun Club to ​​William Onyeabor oozes out of an expensive-sounding PA, and there are more cosy cushions here than in the lounge of a countryside spa. Heavenly.