London isn’t exactly synonymous with the usual romantic scenes: endless sunshine and secluded beaches. But hey, who needs that when you’ve got Notting Hill? And the spots where people strolled about in Love Actually!
Really, there are more romantic things to do here than most people think. To show you what we mean, let’s dive into the best things to do in London for couples today, as picked by our staff.
Visit Sky Garden for panoramic views
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Location: 1, Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 333 772 0020
Opening hours:
- Monday – 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday – 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Do you want to ditch the predictable date night and take your romance to new heights – literally? Then you need to check out the Sky Garden, a seriously cool escape perched atop London’s iconic “Walkie Talkie” building.
Here, it’s all about vibrant plants, colourful flowers, and giant windows framing a panorama that’ll make your heart skip a beat. The majestic Tower Bridge, the shimmering Shard – every London landmark is laid out before you.
Bonus: this unforgettable experience won’t cost you a fortune! A general entry fee of around £28.50 per person is a steal compared to a fancy dinner. Plus, online booking is a breeze.
Dive into fun at Ballie Ballerson with its adult ball pits
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Location: 97-113 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3BS, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 333 772 0020
Opening hours:
- Tuesday to Wednesday – 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM
- Thursday to Friday – 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Sunday – 2:30 PM to 12:30 AM
This quirky, neon-lit bar is a giant playground for grown-ups that’s complete with over a million glowing balls that beg to be belly-flopped into. You can actually consider it the ultimate upgrade from those childhood ball pit adventures!
The cocktails here are designed to make your feed pop. Ballie Ballerson also has bottomless brunches with unlimited pizza and cocktails.
Or, for you night owls, there are late-night sessions with DJs spinning tunes to get you dancing (or hilariously face-planting into those balls – trust us, it’s bound to happen).
Play arcade games at Fairgame Canary Wharf
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Location: 25 Fishermans Walk, London E14 4DH, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 4599 3666
Opening hours:
- Tuesday to Wednesday – 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM
- Thursday to Friday – 11:30 AM to 1:00 AM
- Saturday – 10:30 AM to 1:00 AM
- Sunday – 10:30 AM to 12:00 AM
Remember the joy of Whac-A-Mole and the thrill of racing clowns with water pistols? Fairgame brings these classics back but with a twist. Cutting-edge tech keeps scores digitally, so you can focus on the joy of whacking those moles (or soaking those clowns) and not on tedious point-counting.
Here, every game is linked to a fancy wristband that tracks your score. This means playful battles with your date. Who’s the Skeeball champ? Who has the fastest trigger finger? You can decide it all here – and even get some fuel from the street food vendors on-site.
Experience Monopoly Lifesized
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Location: Monopoly Lifesized, 213-215 Tottenham Ct Rd, London W1T 7PS, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 8164 6469
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 1:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday – 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM
- Sunday – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
This can be your ultimate upgrade to that old-school Monopoly board. Yes, you’ll still be moving around those giant squares and eyeing iconic London properties, but get this: instead of just shuffling pretend cash, you’ll be diving headfirst into escape room-style challenges.
You can even choose from boards with different vibes – the glitz and glam of the Luxury board, the bustle of the City board, or the nostalgic feel of the Classic board.
After all that excitement, make sure to unwind and refuel at The Top Hat (on-site bar and restaurant). They have Monopoly-inspired cocktails and grub!
Challenge each other to ping pong at Bounce Farringdon
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Location: 121 Holborn, London EC1N 2TD, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3657 6525
Opening hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM
- Thursday – 1:30 PM to 12:00 AM
- Friday – 1:30 PM to 1:00 AM
- Saturday – 11:30 AM to 1:00 AM
- Sunday – 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
This ping pong bar has a unique claim to fame: it sits on the historic site where the sport of ping pong was actually invented! And get this: you could be playing on tables that were once used in the London 2012 Olympics – how cool is that?
But the fun doesn’t stop with traditional ping pong. Bounce Farringdon offers a high-tech twist with Wonderball, a dazzling mix of ping pong and augmented reality where interactive projections transform the table into a crazy game zone.
Of course, no epic ping pong session is complete without delicious food and drinks. Bounce has you covered with an in-house restaurant and bar serving up gourmet pizzas, classy cocktails, and even a bottomless brunch option on the weekends.
Compete in mini-golf at Puttshack White City
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Location: Westfield, Ariel Way, London W12 7HB, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3912 9400
Opening hours:
- Monday to Tuesday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Wednesday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday – 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Saturday – 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
- Sunday – 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Here’s the deal: Puttshack brings mini-golf into the 21st century. Using patented technology, all scoring is handled automatically. So, no more squinting at a scorecard or debating who actually got the lower score.
This frees you and your date to focus on the fun, engage in a little playful competition, and enjoy yourselves without the hassle.
You’ll also find a variety of interactive games sprinkled throughout, like Shuffle Up and even Beer Pong holes. It’s an unexpected twist that adds a whole new layer of excitement to the traditional mini-golf experience.
Enjoy a night of laughs at Backyard Comedy Club
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Location: 231 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 0EL, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7729 8424
Opening hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday – 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Wednesday – 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- Thursday to Saturday – 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Tired of the same old dinner-and-a-movie routine? Well, Backyard Comedy Club is here to tickle your funny bone and inject a dose of hilarious energy into your next date night!
This place boasts over 20 years of experience as a staple in East London’s comedy scene, offering a refreshingly unpretentious atmosphere that’s perfect for letting loose.
What’s great about them is that they feature a mix of hilarious heavyweights you might recognise from TV alongside the hottest up-and-coming comics on the circuit.
Put your relationship to the test at AIM Escape
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Location: Goodman’s Fields, 8 Canter Way, London E1 8PS, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3808 9225
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday- 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
AIM Escape is all about hyper-realistic worlds where you and your date become the stars of your own exhilarating escape story. They stand out with their cutting-edge technology, complex scenarios, and immersive sets designed to completely pull you into the action.
Here, your challenge awaits. Will you outsmart a deadly bio-threat in the post-apocalyptic world of “Patient Zero 2150” or navigate another high-stakes escape scenario? Whatever theme you pick, just prepare for an adrenaline-fueled rush demanding teamwork.
Enjoy the quiz nights at The Exhibit
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Location: 12 Balham Station Rd, London SW12 9SG, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 8772 6556
Opening hours:
- Wednesday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Friday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
If you’re searching for something fun, a little bit quirky, and guaranteed to spark some laughter, check out The Exhibit’s Wednesday quiz night. Forget those stiff, quiet trivia sessions, this place has a buzzing atmosphere and a good mix of questions to keep things interesting.
It’s the perfect way to break the date night ice in the funniest way possible. You and your partner get to team up, tackling everything from pop culture trivia to those brain-scratching history questions.
And let’s be real, nothing brings people together quite like laughing over a hilariously wrong answer (don’t worry, yours truly has had plenty of those!).
Race against each other at TeamSport Go Karting
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Location: 20 Allied Way, London W3 0RF, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 1252 732300
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Want to ditch the predictable date nights and shift your relationship into high gear? TeamSport Go Karting is about to change the game.
Here, you and your partner trade those dressy clothes for racing suits and settle into your karts at the starting line. The tension builds, the lights flash green, and suddenly you’re roaring around TeamSport’s incredible multi-level tracks (like those in Docklands or Acton).
Trust us, it’s going to be full of tight turns, thrilling straightaways, and the playful battle for the lead – pure adrenaline-fueled excitement!
Climb together at The Castle Climbing Centre
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Location: Green Lanes, London N4 2HA, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 8211 7000
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Housed in a beautifully converted Victorian water pumping station, The Castle provides a unique and charming backdrop for your climbing adventures. With over 450 routes and about 90 roped lines spanning across multiple floors, this climbing mecca caters to all levels.
What makes this place such a brilliant date night spot is the focus on teamwork and trust. Climbing demands cooperation! You’ll be belaying your partner (holding the rope safely), cheering them on, and navigating challenges side-by-side.
Plus, The Castle offers more than just climbing. With an organic café for refuelling, a relaxing outdoor garden, and even yoga classes to unwind after your ascent, it’s a full-on experience.
Explore underwater at SEA LIFE London Aquarium
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Location: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7967 8025
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Are you and your date animal lovers with a special interest in the sea? Then come here! From shimmering schools of fish to the silent power of a shark gliding overhead, SEA LIFE is full of awe-inspiring moments that can bring you and your date closer together.
Here, you can discover the playful personalities of penguins, marvel at the ethereal dance of jellyfish, and get up close and personal with majestic rays.
What’s even better is they offer awesome combo ticket packages with nearby attractions like the London Eye and Madame Tussauds. And if you’re ready to level up, try their Deluxe Package, which includes cool extras like a VR adventure!
Experience virtual reality at Navrtar
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Location: Dickens Yard, Longfield Ave W5 2UQ, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3696 5253
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday – 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Navrtar offers a choose-your-own-adventure approach. Whether you’re craving a quick burst of virtual thrills with mini-games or want to dive into a full 60-minute experience like surviving a zombie apocalypse, there’s something for every couple.
Here, you can sharpen your communication skills, strategise together, and celebrate your victories (or laugh hysterically at your epic fails) – it’s all part of the fun!
Plus, their bar area is the perfect place to unwind, grab a drink or a meal, and relive your VR adventure’s epic moments (and maybe some hilarious glitches).
Watch a classic film at Backyard Cinema
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Location: 2-4 Armoury Way, London SW18 1SH, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3773 9075
Nothing beats a classic date activity like watching a movie with your date, but what if you could make it extraordinary? That’s where Backyard Cinema in London steps in, transforming the typical movie night experience into an unforgettable adventure.
This place makes you feel like you’re living the movie itself! Imagine sandy toes and beach chairs for a summer blockbuster, or a jungle canopy complete with creepy crawlies (don’t worry, not real ones) for an adventure flick.
And Backyard Cinema’s program often features classic films or cult favourites. What better way to break the ice (or reignite the flame) than by reliving a movie from your childhood together?