8 Romantic Things To Do In London
When it comes to romantic things to do, London offers a multitude of options. From the regular to the kooky, offbeat to the downright weird, this is a city that offers unlimited opportunities to woo your loved one.
1. The View From The Shard
Not simply London’s highest skyscraper, but Western Europe’s tallest building, you can marvel at what has to be the best view in all of the city.
From the dizzying heights of the viewing platform, all of London is laid out in detail before you: thousands of year’s of history standing shoulder to shoulder with 21st century buildings in an eclectic mix. See The Tower of London as you’ve never seen it before, get a bird’s eye view of St Paul’s Cathedral, not to mention the countless other landmarks London has to offer.
And if your partner is afraid of heights, this is the perfect opportunity to cosy up with a comforting arm around them…
2. Go Deer Spotting in Richmond Park
The largest of London’s Royal Parks, Richmond Park was the former hunting ground for King Henry VIII. Not that you and your loved one want to actually hunt deer – more go deer spotting as you roam amongst 2,500 acres of national nature reserve.
Home to 630 Red and Fallow Deer, it won’t take too long before you see some of the wildlife. Pack up a picnic and you’re set for a delightfully romantic day. And the great thing about this park is no matter how many people visit, you can always find a private spot tucked far away from everybody else.
3. Take a Row Boat on the Serpentine
Arguably one of the most famous expanses of water in London, Hyde Park’s Serpentine is a great place to spend some time enjoying the peace and quiet. From April through to the end of October you can hire either rowing or pedal boats and explore the 40 acres of water. Just you, your partner and the swans…
4. Fly Kites on Parliament Hill
Located on Hampstead Heath, Parliament Hill offers a wonderful viewpoint over the city. Grab a couple of kites from a toy shop (try Hamley’s if you want another great London experience) before you head up there and the two of you can regress to childhood as you enjoy the unbridled joy that kite flying brings. Go on… Give it a try!
5. Mirror the Royals at Westminster Abbey
What could be more romantic than treading in the very footsteps of the wedding venue of Wills and Kate. Britain’s next-to-be king and queen were married here on the 29 April 2011.
Not only do you get to tread that very same ground, but you get to walk within the walls of one of the most famous churches in the world, with a history dating back more than 1000 years.
6. Walk through Little Venice
This delightful stretch of canal is home to not only river boats, but a floating art gallery, café and puppet theatre. It also offers wide, tree-lined streets and wonderfully grand houses to marvel at.
It’s so tranquil here you may well forget that you’re in the buzzing metropolis of London. And whilst any time of the day is great here, we recommend early morning or early evening when the sun bounces off the ripples and you can hear the birds either waking up or coming home.
7. Whisper Sweet Nothings at St Paul’s Whispering Gallery
The glory of St Paul’s Cathedral is something not to be missed. And there’s nothing more fun (or romantic) than climbing the narrow, spiraling steps to the Whispering Gallery, 30 metres up from the cathedral floor.
Once there, the circular shape of the gallery makes it possible for whispers in one part to be heard in another. Try murmuring sweet nothings to your loved one and see if they hear what you say…
8. Star Gaze at the Royal Observatory
Located in leafy Greenwich, the Royal Observatory is home to the world famous, Meridian Line. Here, you can stand astride both of the world’s hemispheres – not something you do every day.
But even more romantic, you can gaze at the heavens, either at the daily planetarium shows, or take part in one of the specially organized ‘evening with the stars’ nights that are run on occasion.
For the super romantic amongst you, they even run one on Valentine’s Day (and what a perfect location to pop the question!). To ensure you keep warm, hot chocolate drinks are provided, as well as small telescopes and experts to tell you exactly what you’re looking at. At the end of the evening you’ll ascend into the large dome on the top of the observatory to look through the gigantic telescope that’s housed there.