Christmas time often feels like one big whirlwind of Christmas shopping, drinks with friends, work parties and family commitments. However, Christmas is also a very romantic time in London and an ideal time to take your new date for a special day or night out in the city.

So, when you’re ready for some time out from the usual traditions here are 12 fantastic date ideas that are sure to impress!

1. Get icy…

Skating at Christmas is a total romantic classic and what better place to take your date than the sumptuous surroundings of Somerset House. Join them in the evening and you can enjoy a specially curated programme of music to dance and skate your way round the rink to – all whilst holding onto your loved one’s hand! Afterwards you can treat your partner at Fortnum’s Lodge to drinks and platters which are designed for 2 to share. Bliss!

Skate at Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA

Tickets for skating start at £7.50.

2. The alternative Christmas market experience

Forget Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park this is where it’s at if you really want to impress your date with an alternative Christmas experience. With Street Feast curating all the food and drink, club nights, brass bands, Mexican wrestling, crazy Golf, a roller disco, fairground and more in the mix your date will be spoilt for choice on what they want to do!

Winterville
Clapham Common

Free entry. Prices vary according to activity.

3. One for the Harry Potter fans!

The Harry Potter studio tours get a festive makeover once more this Winter, with Christmas trees and a seasonal feast in the Great Hall, decorations in Gryffindor common room and snow drifts in Diagon Alley. You can both geek out and immerse yourself in Harry Potter’s world!

Hogwarts in the Snow
Studio Tour Drive
Leavesden
London
WD25 7LR
Tickets from £37.00

4. Illuminations with a difference!

Walking through the gardens at Kew is romantic at any time of the year but during the Christmas period it really does come into its own. The Gardens light up for an unforgettable after-dark festive trail of lights. So wrap up warm, grab a mulled wine and enjoy over one million twinkling lights, illuminating heritage trees and buildings. If you’re lucky you may even catch a glimpse of Santa and his elves at the North Pole village!

Kew Gardens
Richmond
TW9 3AB
Tickets start at £16.00

5. Crafty Christmas cuts

If you want to impress your date with your crafty skills what better way than to pimp up a tired old jumper into the Christmas jumper of dreams! Brixton based fashion boutique Make Do and Mend will be on site to jazz-up those jumpers. Go on you’ve always wanted to be that smug couple on Instagram in matching Christmas jumpers. They’ll be truly unique design for extra smugness!

Christmas by the River: Jumper for Joy
London Bridge City Pier Workshop Space
Free

6. What’s your favourite Christmas film?

The festive period wouldn’t be complete without watching some classic Christmas films. St Katherine’s Dock has a week-long extravaganza showing all of your favourite seasonal movies. You and your date can snuggle down on bean bags with cosy blankets and enjoy mulled wine (again!), hot chocolate and tasty snacks. The only problem might be choosing which film - Elf, Love Actually, Home Alone and more!

Christmas Floating Film Festival
St Katharine Docks
50 Saint Katharine's Way
London
E1W 1LA
Tickets starts at £13.25

7. Traditional festive lights…

You know Christmas is coming when the centre of London is transformed by twinkly, sparkly lights. This year along Oxford Street will be home to 1,778 decorations (and 750,000 LED lightbulbs) inspired by falling snowflakes. We suggest you take a tour of Central London with your loved one. Start with the lights at Oxford and Regent Streets. Take a quick pit stop at one of the eatery’s in Kingly Court then finish with the lights of Carnaby Street and Covent Garden. Rounding it all off with a traditional egg nog or hot cider at The Covent Garden Hotel!

Christmas 2018 lights
Free

8. Have a one of a kind Finnish experience!

Not one for the body conscious but sitting on top of the Southbank Centre this winter will be a Finnish sauna. Overlooking the river, the London skyline and the Southbank Centre’s Wintertime festivities this is the perfect setting to get up close and personal with your date!

Finnish Rooftop Sauna
Southbank Centre
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Roof Garden
Belvedere Rd
London SE1 8XX

Tickets start at £15

9. Christmas tree shopping

One of the most exciting traditions at this time of year is picking out the perfect Christmas tree, taking it home and decorating it with Mariah Carey warbling away in the background. Sharing this experience with your date is one of the most romantic Christmas experiences you can have. To top it off you get to snuggle up afterwards and enjoy the beauty of the tree you have chosen and decorated together.

There are a number of excellent places all over London to get your tree but for the ultimate experience we recommend the following:

Columbia Road, E2
Brockley Market
The Christmas Forest, various locations
The Chelsea Gardner, Chelsea Flower Market
Pines and Needles, various locations

Free (apart from the cost of tree and decorations)

10. Cheese, cheese, cheese and more dating cheese!

Need we say anything more than cheese. As much a part of Christmas as mince pies, Santa and mulled wine (again!). If you and your date love a bit of cheese then you need to head to Woody Bear and choose their Raclette - melted gooey cheesey goodness. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it! Woody Bear is the latest rooftop popup for Winter with a secret entrance tucked away at the far end of Oxford Street near Marble Arch, just follow the staircase up to killer drinks, great food and relaxed vibes. Your date will love you forever!

Woody Bear
535 Oxford Street
London
W1K 7AA
Free entry. Prices for food and drink vary according to what you order

11. Let’s get active after all that cheese

If you’re pining for the open mountain air of the Alps then London’s newest ski destination – Chel-Ski – (see what they did there) might be the next best thing for you and your date. Chel-Ski is a new dry slope that offers skiing and snowboarding training just a ten-minute walk from Fulham Broadway station. Please note that your lesson will take place on a giant astroturf treadmill but it is still great fun. Even if it is just to laugh at each other getting used to skiing on the spot.

Chel-ski
4 Sotheron Place

Michael Road

London

SW6 2EJ

Prices start from £39.95

12. Ice, ice baby!

For a unique drinking date experience we recommend one of London’s ‘coolest’ bars, Icebar. The venue is shaped entirely from arctic river ice and is kept ice cold at -5°C. Surrounded by ice sculptures and sipping on cool cocktails served in their famous ice glasses the only thing to do is snuggle up and enjoy the night together!

ICEBAR LONDON
31-33 Heddon Street
Mayfair
London
W1B 4BN


If you’re looking for someone to share the Christmas season with then SpeedDater are here to help. We have a number of Christmas themed events throughout December for you to enjoy!

Merry Kissmas party (Ages 24-40)
Sterling Bar, The Gherkin
Saturday 2nd December
BOOK HERE

Christmas Film Night – Love Actually (Ages 24-40)
Candid Arts Trust
Thursday 7th December
BOOK HERE

Christmas Party (36-50)
The Pepys
Saturday 16th December
BOOK HERE

New Year’s Eve Party
The Gable
Sunday 31st December
BOOK HERE