Winter has now hit with full force with the temperature dropping to freezing levels. But don’t let this put you off from making the most of London on your dates. Winter can provide some of the most romantic settings and there’s no better place to do this than London.
So where is there to go on a date in London in winter? Read on to find out some of our favourites…
Ice-skating
Make the most of the winter ice rinks which are scattered across London. I had an amusing date whilst at the temporary Tower of London ice rink. Having to hold onto each other for balance was a good excuse to get the hand holding stage and although I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t help laughing when my date fell over and had wet trousers for the rest of the date – it totally broke the ice (excuse the pun). The best Winter London ice rinks are at The Tower of London, Somerset House, the Natural History Museum, Canary Wharf and Hampton Court Palace.
Markets
There are some brilliant markets in London and even more seem to spring up around Christmas time. Our favourite is the pop up market on the South Bank where you’ll find the food market just in front of the Royal Festival Hall and the tacky yet fun Christmas market by the river. Start with the food market which in our opinion is just as good as London’s famous Borough market and sells a top selection of food like vintage cheeses, organic cakes, crepes and chocolate as well as hot winter classics like stew and curries. We can also never resist getting a few mulled wines (well you can only get it once a year!). Then move on to the Christmas market where you can walk off the food and check out the quirky stalls where you may find the odd Christmas present. This is just one of the many markets that you can find in London – some more we love are Camden Market, Portobello Road market, Maltby Street Market is a big fave and of course we can’t forget Winter Wonderland, it’s one of those that you either love or hate.
London Pubs
Winter is when pubs really come into their own. Some of my favourite Saturday afternoon dates have been spent making the most of mulled wine and hot spiced cider on tap and playing old school board games. Settle in by a pub fire and enjoy the cosy atmosphere that a pub brings. One of my favourite dates was spent in the lovely Gladstone Arms in Borough where I thrashed my date at chess whilst enjoying a few Sailor Jerry’s and ginger ale in between my mulled wines. There’s something lovely about sitting inside a warm pub while it’s cold and raining outside. There’s loads of brilliant pubs in London to choose from, a few of our favourites are The Crown in Islington, the Windsor Castle in Kensington and The Lighthouse in Battersea.
Comedy
London is home to some of our favourite comedians and we’re lucky enough that there’s always a top act in town. A good comedy gig always delivers a fun evening and is guaranteed to put you and your date in a good mood. Check out Timeout to see if there are any big comedians in town doing shows or check out what’s on at The Comedy Store or the 99 Club. However don’t sit near the front if you’re feeling shy as those in the front rows are always picked on. If you get the chance to see Abandoman then book immediately – I’ve been to see him quite a few times now, it’s always different and it’s sheer genius.
Live Music, Theatre & Cinema
Living in London there are music gigs happening every night of the year so if you’re in the mood, you’re in the right place. Check out Ticketmaster to see what gigs are on, or try to get some theatre tickets at lastminute.com. Or if you just want to have a properly chilled evening then see what films are playing at the BFI IMAX.
Independent cinemas offering something different from the everyday Odeon are all the rage in London at the moment. We like the newly opened Electric Cinema in Portobello Road which has double bed seats at the front with covers so if it’s definitely the place to come if you want to get close and cosy with your date. You could also try the Aubin cinema or the Queen of Hoxton cinema which are both near Shoreditch High Street.
If you don’t fancy any of these then you could always try just staying at home with a film or just keeping warm under the duvet…
Where are your favourite places to go for a winter date in London? Comment below and let us know
Useful Links
Tower of London Ice Skating Website
Somerset House Ice Skating Tickets
Natural History Museum Ice Skating Tickets
Canary Wharf Ice Skating Website
Hampton Court Palace Ice Skating Website
Southbank Market Website
Maltby Street Market Website
Winter Wonderland Website
The Gladstone Arms Website
The Crown Pub Website
The Windsor Castle Website
The Lighthouse Website
Buy 99 Club Tickets
Buy Comedy Store Tickets
Electric Cinema Website
Aubin Cinema Website
Queen of Hoxton Cinema Website
Get a movie from Lovefilm
