The top romantic things to do in London
London is a fantastic city for couples, with plenty of places to create wonderful memories.
Whether you’re planning a romantic day out exploring the city’s best spots, or a romantic evening for a special date night, London has something for everyone. From classic experiences to hidden gems, the city offers some incredibly romantic things to do.
In my guide, I’ve highlighted 16 romantic things to do in London. They’re perfect for celebrating occasions like Valentine’s Day or anniversaries, or if you simply want to enjoy some quality time together.
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See the city from the London Eye
The London Eye – or Millennium Wheel – is one of the most recognisable landmarks in central London.
The giant ferris wheel offers stunning views across the city and has become a symbol of the capital. It opened on New Year’s Eve in 1999 and, since 2000, has carried millions of passengers in its 32 capsules.
The experience of riding the London Eye is a unique one as you slowly rotate high above the city.
You can see all the major sights from 135 metres up and you get a birds-eye view of the River Thames as it winds its way through the heart of London. On a clear day, you can apparently see up to 25 miles away.
If this is a treat on a special day out, consider booking a champagne ride. This gives you a fast-track ticket (handy because this is a popular attraction, so can get very busy), plus a glass of Pommery Brut Royal champagne.
Take a cruise along the Thames
A cruise along the River Thames is a great way to sightsee and experience some romance at the same time.
Along the way, you get to see several iconic sights, including St Paul’s Cathedral, the Globe Theatre, the Shard, and the stunning Tower Bridge. Nearby is the Tower of London and HMS Belfast.
If you catch the boat from the Westminster Millenium Pier, you’ll see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, with Westminster Abbey a short walk away.
You can also catch boats to Greenwich.
And for something a bit special, you can book dinner cruises.
Or you can book this cruise that includes live performances while you sip on a glass of bubbly and eat canapes.
Sailing along the river seeing all the famous landmarks lit up is really something quite romantic!
Go for a romantic walk around the Royal Parks
London has eight Royal Parks, all of which are great places to get out into the fresh air. They all also have various romantic spots to explore and opportunities for a romantic walk.
In central London, you can stroll around St. James’ Park. This is the oldest Royal Park and, in my opinion, is one of the most attractive ones.
It’s a beautiful green space to wander around, with a large lake, a fountain and a view of part of Buckingham Palace at one end. You can also spot the various wildlife at home here, including pelicans, ducks, and swans.
You can also spend some time in Hyde Park and go boating on the Serpentine boating lake.There are stables here if you fancy going horse riding.
Not far away are Kensington Gardens. These surround Kensington Palace, where Queen Victoria was born. More latterly Princess Diana lived here (I’d recommend going inside Kensington Palace if you have time).
Kensington Gardens also contains the beautiful Italian Gardens, an ornamental water garden.
For information on other parks and gardens in London, click here.
Drink cocktails in the sky
Another of the top romantic things to do in London it to head to The Shard and enjoy cocktails in the sky.
The Shard is London’s tallest building. It towers more than 1,000 feet over the city and offers some of the best views across the capital, including of Tower Bridge.
If you want a drink with a view, Aqua Shard is the place to go. This stylish bar on level 31 has an extensive list of cocktails, as well as wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages.
The 52nd-floor Gong cocktail lounge also provides panoramic views from even higher up in the building.
If you just want to enjoy the views, you can go to the viewing platforms at the top of the building. There are two indoor platforms on the 68th and 69th floors and another outdoor Skydeck on the 72nd floor.
You can book tickets to go to the viewing platforms here.
Or…sip cocktails in London’s highest public garden
An alternative to the Shard is a visit to the Sky Garden, London’s highest public garden. This is located on the 43rd floor of a building at 20 Fenchurch Street (otherwise known as the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building). It is 155 metres high.
The building is situated on the other side of the river to the Shard, but also offers spectacular views over the city and river. All while allowing you to wander through a garden containing a variety of plants from around the world.
A trip here is definitely something to do if you’re looking for a romantic evening out. You can stroll through the garden, look out on the city at sunset, and then have a drink or a meal in one of the bars and restaurants here.
To explore more rooftop bars in London, click here.
Have afternoon tea at the Ritz
Having afternoon tea at the Ritz in London is a classic British experience and a very special one! It’s definitely another of the top romantic things to do in London.
Served in the elegant Palm Court, with live piano music playing in the background, you’re treated to a range of sandwiches, cakes, and scones served with clotted cream. You can choose your tea from among 20 different types.
Topping this off is your choice of cake and gateaux at the end from a table side trolley service. Had I known this when I visited, I’d have left more room for it!
You book afternoon tea here. And if you fancy it, you can add a glass of champagne or sparkling tea.
Be cultural in a museum
London has an incredible wealth of museums to visit and there’s something for everyone. If you’re someone who enjoys visiting museums, then this is an ideal thing to do on a romantic date.
Art lovers can choose between world-class museums such as the Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery, and The Wallace Collection (the latter has a café restaurant in a beautiful courtyard if you want to stop off for something to eat or raise a celebratory glass of bubbly).
There is also the Design Museum next to Holland Park (you could take a romantic stroll around its beautiful Japanese Kyoto Garden while visiting).
For history buffs, there’s the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Churchill War Rooms, and The Imperial War Museum.
There are also some more unique or niche museums in the city – including the London Transport Museum, National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, and Madame Tussauds.
If you want to make a day of visiting museums and fancy popping into a few, then I’d suggest heading to South Kensington. Here, you’ll find several of the top museums in London: the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).
Tickets for London museums
Some of London’s museums are free, but specific exhibitions may incur a fee for entry or require a pre-booked ticket. So I’d advise checking individual websites first before planning a visit.
Others museums do require you to buy a ticket.
If you plan to visit a few, the London Pass includes entry to some of these, as well as to other places covered here, including the London Eye, the Shard, London Zoo, Kew Gardens, and Kensington Palace.
See the animals at London Zoo
For some people, an outing to the zoo may not be considered romantic. But if you’re an animal lover, you’re bound to love it here and appreciate your loved one booking tickets.
ZSL London Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world. It is home to almost 20,000 animals in a 36-acre area.
The creatures you can see on a visit here come from all over the world. There’s giraffes, gorillas, and hippos; lions, tigers, and monkeys; penguins, flamingos, and tortoises. The zoo also has separate sections for different creatures, including ‘Butterfly Paradise’, ‘Giants of the Galapagos’, ‘the Farmyard’, ‘Bird Safari’, and the ‘Reptile House’.
There are several ways to enjoy the zoo. You can explore independently (something you might favour if you’re on a date), or take part in a guided tour.
Even more special are the animal encounters the zoo offers (the latter will make for a really memorable present for someone!).
You can book tickets for London Zoo here.
Picnic in Regent’s Park
If you’re looking for something romantic to do on a fine sunny day in London, packing up a picnic of your favourite food and drink and heading to Regent’s Park (or any of the city’s parks and green spaces) is a great thing to do.
You can lay out your rug, indulge in fine food and drinks, and spend some time relaxing with your partner.
Regent’s Park is an ideal place to do this. It’s another of the Royal Parks and one of the most famous parks in London. It covers an area of just under 400 acres and contains various beautiful gardens. These include Queen Mary’s Rose Garden, which has 12,000 roses, the biggest collection in the capital.
There are also several attractions in the park that you can explore after you’ve had your picnic.
Aside from nearby London Zoo, there is the Open Air theatre. The theatre has been running since 1932 and puts on various performances, many of which are Shakespearian plays.
So it’s an ideal place if you’re a fan and want a unique experience during the summer months.
See the London skyline from Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill borders Regent’s Park, so it’s easy to visit both within one trip. It’s another of the Royal Parks.
Primrose Hill might be smaller than some other parks and gardens in the capital, but it’s worth visiting for the views of the city’s skyline. These are best from the top which is over 60 metres above sea level.
The hill is another perfect spot for a picnic on a sunny day, and it’s easy to see why. The greenery and tranquillity of the area make for a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s a particularly lovely place to spend some quality time with a loved one.
Have a romantic day out at Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is a little further out from central London (it’s about half an hour by train).
But it’s a great option if you’re looking for somewhere to head to for a full romantic day out. The gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site, cover a large area (over 300 acres) and there’s lots to do here.
There is an excellent selection of different types of gardens to explore. These showcase some beautiful plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees.
There’s also Kew Palace, a small 17th-century palace where George II and Queen Charlotte lived in the early 18th century, as well as the Treetop Walkway. This is essentially a viewing platform where you can walk 18 metres above the gardens and look down.
You can also climb the 50-metre high 18th-century Great Pagoda.
Last, but certainly by no means least, there are two spectacular glasshouses that you must see when you visit Kew. One of these is the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse and houses over 10,000 plants from temperate zones around the world.
Kew Gardens has several eateries if you want to make a day of it. You could even have a romantic afternoon tea at the Botanical Brasserie.
To book tickets to visit Kew Gardens, click here.
Have fun in the maze in the Hampton Court Palace gardens
Another gorgeous garden can be found in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace in south west London. As with Kew Gardens, this is slightly outside of central London but is worth the short train ride.
The palace gardens cover 60 acres and were originally built for King Henry VIII in 1529. There are several different sections, all with beautiful manicured formal gardens. There is also the nearby Home Park, notable for its great canal (The Long Water). It contains several hundred deer and a single oak tree dating from the original park.
Perhaps most famously, Hampton Court has a maze within its gardens. This was planted at the turn of the 18th century. The part you can visit is the only remaining section of the original layout, but it still covers a third of an acre.
It has a trapezoid shape and, according to the palace’s website, takes 20 minutes to complete (if you don’t get lost!). It’s great fun and something to try out if you’re here.
A ticket for the gardens and maze includes access to the palace itself. This is also worth spending some in (see my separate post for more information on what to see and do here).
See a show
London is famous for its theatre scene, and offers a huge range of classic and contemporary shows and musicals to see.
The West End features popular productions that draw in large audiences. Beyond this, there’s also a thriving fringe theatre community.
Opera and ballet lovers can visit the Royal Opera House, near to Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Taking in a show in the spectacular Royal Albert Hall is also a really special experience.
And if you want to see a show in a historical setting, head to the Globe Theatre. This a replica of William Shakespeare’s original 16th century Globe Theatre on the south bank of the River Thames, and which is just a few hundred metres from the original site. You can watch live open-air performances of Shakespeare’s plays in an auditorium that holds over 1,500 people.
If you’re looking to treat your loved one, booking a theatre trip is a winner.
Book a romantic meal
Another great thing to do on a date is to go for a romantic meal. London has a large and diverse culinary scene, so there are plenty of places to choose from if you want to eat out in an intimate setting.
Check out this guide to some of the best restaurants in London.
From fine dining restaurants like Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden, known for its flower-adorned dining room, to riverside venues offering stunning views of the Thames, there are plenty of options for a special evening in London.
I particularly like the restaurants along the river in Butler’s Wharf, where you can sit outside and enjoy great views of the iconic Tower Bridge.
The area along the South Bank is also recommended. It has a range of reasonably priced restaurants. There are a few in the Southbank Centre here, including Skylon where you can grab a drink and look out over the river.
Many restaurants offer pre and post-theatre deals if you want to combine your meal with a show.
For other romantic restaurants in London, see this guide.
Get some peace and quiet in the Isabella Plantation
Another place to visit if you want a romantic walk is the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park. This is a Victorian woodland garden dating from the 1830s.
The gardens here are gorgeous, with beautiful flowers, trees, and shrubs. You can see these sights as you wander through 40 acres of woodland paths and past small streams and ponds.
It’s a really peaceful place to visit. So if you’re looking for somewhere to spend some quiet time with your loved one, this is it.
If you have time, you can then explore Richmond Park, the largest of the Royal Parks that covers 2,500 acres. It famously has over 600 Red and Fallow deer living in it that you’ll see as you explore the park.
Isabella Plantation is open throughout the year. The azaleas in the garden bloom into full flower at the end of April through to early May, making this a great time to visit.
Make a day of it in Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is another of London’s royal parks which you could visit on a romantic day out.
Located in south east London, it’s a popular destination that overlooks the River Thames.
The park was originally established in the 15th century as a hunting park. It now contains several notable landmarks that you could stop off at on your visit.
Notably, there is the Royal Observatory. This houses one of the world’s largest telescopes, Flamsteed House where the royal astronomers once lived, and a planetarium. The Greenwich Mean Time meridian line is also here.
You can also visit the National Maritime Museum, another free museum in London.
Within the park, there are several gardens to explore. This includes a rose garden with a Georgian villa, the Queen’s Orchard growing fruit and vegetables, a herb garden, and the 200-metre long Herbaceous Border.
After exploring Greenwich Park, you can stop off at the pretty octagonal Pavilion Cafe. This is near the Royal Observatory at the top of the hill.
