This is your definitive guide to last-minute Valentine’s Day ideas in London, covering events, restaurants, cinema, hotels, romantic ideas and cheap options for a perfect 14th February 2026 - whether you're planning a big romantic gesture, a laid‑back date or a full Valentine’s getaway this weekend.
From romantic film screenings and Champagne with a view, to quirky experiences for couples and immersive events, this expertly curated roundup brings together the most exciting ways to celebrate the day of love across the capital - highlighting everything happening in London this Valentine's Day.
Quick FAQS:
What’s on in London for Valentine’s Day? London is packed with romantic dinners, themed events, immersive experiences and scenic spots to celebrate on the 14th. From sky‑high views to quirky date ideas, there’s something for every couple.
Where should I go for a Valentine’s dinner? Popular options include rooftop restaurants, tasting menus, candlelit British dining rooms and Italian hotspots - with plenty of special one‑night‑only menus across the city.
Are there affordable Valentine’s Day ideas? Yes - from walking tours and free exhibitions to budget‑friendly events and casual dining deals, there are lots of low‑cost ways to celebrate without compromising on romance.
Expertly curated by our Lead Editor, Jasmine Lee Kennedy, and last updated on 13th February 2026. Find out more about how we create our guides in our Editorial Policy.
We've rounded up the most romantic things to do across the city this Valentine's Day in London. Whether you're looking for stunning viewpoints and photo-worthy spots that'll take your breath away, romantic walks around pretty neighbourhoods, or candlelight cinema screenings of The Notebook, you'll find something for everyone.
Looking for free things to do in London for Valentine's Day? Skip the dinner dates and take a romantic winter walk through stunning countryside trails and circular paths.
We've rounded up the top ten winter walks in the city that will make your heart flutter, from Hampstead Heath and Kew Gardens to Kensington Palace and Gardens. Click through to find out more.
For a truly romantic moment, check out our guide to London's most beautiful views. Whether you want to watch the sunset from The View from The Shard, enjoy a delicious dinner at rooftop restaurant Wagtail or drinks at sky-high stunner Aviary, you can have the city's skyline as your backdrop.
There's everything from views of St Paul's at Madison to the spectacular scenes of the City at Duck & Waffle, not to mention Battersea Power Station's Lift 109 experience and free viewpoints like The Garden At 120 or Horizon 22. Click through to find out more.
Make your Valentine's Day celebrations extra special by booking a room at one of the most romantic hotels. If it's cosy central surrounds you're after, head to The Bloomsbury Hotel. For modern motifs? Book The Hoxton Holborn.
From rooftop bars to swanky restaurants and stylish interiors, you'll find plenty of sultry settings to help keep the fire burning.
London is full of romantic restaurants perfect for a Valentine's Day dinner with your loved one, and we've rounded up the very best in this guide. For an intimate and charming atmosphere, The Pem is a great choice - complete with rouge interiors and award-winning menus.
If you're looking for gorgeous Italian food surrounded by ornate ceilings and decadent walls - then Piazza Italiana should be your first port of call. Or for British plates in floral surrounds, how about Brunswick House? Whatever you fancy, you'll find exactly what you need to impress your date.
Nestled within the stunning Westminster venue, The Rubens at The Palace Hotel, The English Grill is a sophisticated dining spot that boasts two AA Rosettes. Expect amazing service in a stylish setting, alongside a seasonal British menu made with UK-based produce and top-quality cuts of meat cooked over a charcoal-fired Josper grill.
Their Valentine's Day menu comes in at £249 for two people, including five delicious courses and wine pairings chosen by the sommelier. Tuck into everything from beef Wellington to butter-poached halibut and chocolate fondant, finishing with coffee and petit fours.
2 courses for £32, 3 courses for £38 set menu and 1 other offer
Nestled in the heart of the National Theatre, one of London's best hidden gems, Lasdun, is rolling out the romance this Valentine's Day. Perfect for dates and mates, its special set menu is indulgent yet understated.
After bar snacks and a sparkling glass of Veuve Clicquot to start, you'll tuck into signature pies and seasonal sides, perfectly paired with a glass from the exceptional wine list. All this is yours for just £110 - or £55 each if you're going Dutch.
There's nowhere better to be on Valentine's Day than one of the city's most romantic bars - and there are plenty to choose from all over London. We've rounded up all the top spots for romancing, from sultry cocktail haunts to rooftop destinations with amazing views.
With names like Opium, Coupette and many more making our list, you won't be short of stunning spots to impress your partner at.
Lyaness at Sea Containers London is the perfect Valentine's Day drinking destination. This isn't a date night for couples only - it's a night for friends, lovers, and anyone who wants to celebrate the season with a little more sparkle and a lot more style. The ultra-chic setting is where you'll find cocktails that are nothing short of pioneering - carefully crafted by the world's most decorated bartender, Mr Lyan (Ryan Chetiyawardana), and his team.
The menu is a masterclass in innovation, with inventive ingredients and techniques that elevate every sip, including the legendary Unfiltered Martini. And for Valentine's Day, the romance is in the bubbles: enjoy 2-4-1 Blood Orange Bubbles from the Special Editions menu, a bright, citrusy twist that feels made for toasting the night away.
Flowers wilt, but chocolate cocktails don't. If you're looking to seriously sweeten your Valentine's plans, The Chocolate Cocktail Club in Farringdon is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. As the UK's first chocolate cocktail bar, this decadent hideaway serves rich, chocolate-infused twists on classic cocktails, from indulgent chocotinis to inventive mocha and mint combinations.
Tickets start from just £12.10 and include a Chocolate Chocotini on arrival, making it a surprisingly affordable date with serious wow factor.
Map Maison is a stunning destination for Valentine's Day, London, thanks to a range of spirits masterclasses, afternoon teas, cocktail-making sessions and more. If you and your other half love a tipple in a cosy, dimly-lit den, this is the place to head.
If you want to go all-in, you can even book a practical cocktail-making class that comes with the tapas afternoon tea itself, all from £54 per person. Included will be a complimentary signature cocktail on arrival, the lesson, a drink made by you, the afternoon tea, and another drink of your choice from the selected masterclass menu. Stunning.
Woo your date at the ultimate plush spot, Disrepute. This Soho haunt is a sexy basement bar that makes you feel like one of the 60s social elite, what with its stunning art deco-style decor, glamorous cocktail list and an oozingly cool jazz playlist.
Pick from a fun 'counterculture menu' and look forward to sipping on the likes of the tequila-based Staring, Hysterical, Naked, or The Hippie, made with gin, timur berry, lime leaf and grapefruit.
With locations everywhere from Leicester Square to Victoria, Moorgate and Wimbledon, All Bar One is a great choice for budget-friendly Valentine's plans. These guys serve a wide selection of cocktails, as well as a cracking food menu.
They've got a special deal for the occasion, including four small plates and two glasses of Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut Champagne for £45. Think halloumi fries, beef brisket tacos, hot honey chorizo and more.
From immersive performances to cabaret shows and West End favourites, inject some drama into date night this Valentine's Day with these incredible theatre shows.
Some of our highlights include Phantom of the Opera, Shadowlands and Matilda.
There's a reason why going to the cinema for date night is as old as time - it's bloody great. And while there's plenty to see in the traditional cinemas, like Hamnet and Wuthering Heights, there are also lots of lovely pop-ups and cinema screenings at venues across the UK, often complete with dinner packages. Click through to find out more.
Fancy something a little more unusual this Valentine's Day? You're well and truly covered with everything from afternoon teas on nostalgic bus tours and boogie nights at a 50s-style ballroom, not to mention masquerade discos, karaoke brunches, curling experience and so much more. Click through to find out more.
@ BAM Karaoke Box on Saturday 28th February 2026 and 42 other Saturdays
Whether you're heading down with your partner or your best friends, the Voulez-Vous BAM Brunch is a great way to kick off your Valentine's Day. This features two hours of karaoke in your very own private room, with countless songs to choose from.
You'll also get to enjoy 90 minutes of unlimited drinks, including prosecco, Champagne and alcohol-free options. Pair these with a tasty brunch dish, and enjoy live performances from their hosts and DJs. And if you're swinging by a little later, check out their karaoke open mic nights too.
On the hunt for things to do in London for Valentine's Day? Book this delightfully nostalgic Valentine's Afternoon Tea Bus Tour with Brigit's Afternoon Tea Ltd. It offers a romantic ride through the city aboard a classic Routemaster. As the capital glides by outside your window, you'll tuck into a beautifully presented afternoon tea with a French twist, complete with delicate sandwiches, indulgent cakes and freshly baked scones.
You can also add a glass (or bottle) of Champagne. Over 90 minutes, the route weaves past some of the capital's most iconic sights - Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St James's Park and Trafalgar Square among them - while you sip, snack and soak it all in together.
@ Secret Loft East London on Friday 27th February 2026
Looking to explore intimacy and new connections this Valentines Day? Make your way to East London for The Lust Supper. Expect guided erotic moments, shared rituals and aphrodisiac-inspired dining designed to heighten the senses.
Touch, taste and tension are woven throughout the night, with a focus on sensual awakening and the quiet power of want. Spaces are limited to just seven couples, so act fast or miss out.
You're spoilt for choice when it comes to Valentine's Day experiences. Whether you fancy learning a new skill at a dim sum masterclass, drinking cocktails in a prison-turned-bar, or enjoying an immersive experience that combines murder mystery with delicious food - you're going to have one hell of a 14th February.
The 5-star Rubens at the Palace Hotel has a long-standing reputation for serving up one of the best afternoon teas in London. Get down here with your one and only on Valentine's weekend and you can nibble on scones and fabulous fancies with views of Buckingham Palace.
Expect romance-inspired pastries, speciality teas and luxurious sweets, all served in the uber opulent Palace Lounge overlooking to Royal Mews. This truly special treat is all yours for just £70 each.
Head to Tooting or Haggerston, where The Big Bakes are injecting a little sweetness into London for Valentine's Day. Bring your top skills and impress your other half with some serious cooking action, and see if you can't score that all-important best baker title.
You'll have 90 minutes to bake, decorate and (hopefully) be crowned champions. There'll be instructions, pre-measured ingredients and guidance, so all you need to do is bring your a-game.
@ Alcotraz Penitentiary: London on Various dates from Friday 27th February 2026
Hidden behind an unassuming façade, Alcotraz London: Cell Block Two-One-Two is where date night gets delightfully delinquent. It throws you and your Valentine straight into a cinematic lock-up, complete with orange jumpsuits, metallic cells and a cast of crooked guards who are very much open to bribery.
The mission? Smuggle your own liquor past the watchful Warden and into the hands of long-serving inmates, who'll transform it into four bespoke cocktails tailored to your tastes.
For couples who bonded over butterbeer, midnight book releases or back-to-back film marathons, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is a spellbinding Valentine's date. Set inside the very studios where all eight Harry Potter films were made, this behind-the-scenes experience lets you wander hand in hand through the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest, surrounded by original props, costumes and cinematic wizardry.
This Valentine's season, the Magical Mischief feature adds extra charm, bringing the Weasley twins' pranks to life with playful set pieces, interactive moments and clever filmmaking secrets revealed. From O.W.L. exams under Umbridge's watchful eye to floating cakes, flying letters and Cornish Pixies causing chaos, it's a reminder that love, much like magic. thrives on a little mischief.
@ Hexmoor: London on Various dates from Friday 27th February 2026
Hexmoor: Wizarding Prison is where you both leave the ordinary world behind. Don a jumpsuit, mingle with imprisoned sorcerers, and navigate a magical storyline filled with alchemy, hexes, and plot twists straight out of a film set.
Along the way, sip three (or four, if you level up) magical cocktails that bubble, smoke and shimmer before your eyes. From casting spells to colluding with dark arts convicts, every moment is interactive and cinematic.
Turn up the heat this Valentine's with a dough-tastic date at Pizza Pilgrims' dedicated kitchen in Canary Wharf and Selfridges. Guided by expert pizzaiolos, you'll learn how to stretch dough like a pro, top it your way, and cook it to perfection.
There's a three-course feast and drinks included in the package price to keep you refreshed while you hone your skills. Bag your spot at the pizza party from just £59.40.
@ Mr Fogg's Apothecary on Saturday 28th February 2026 and 37 other Saturdays
If you're after a Valentine's date with a little intrigue, Mr Fogg's Cocktail Experiments is a wonderfully offbeat way to spend an afternoon together. Set within the hidden Elixir Room in Mayfair, this two-hour experience invites you both to channel your inner Victorian mad scientists, guided by Mr Fogg's very own apothecary pharmacists.
For £58 per person, you'll sip your way through three imaginative cocktails while learning the art of experimental mixology, and you can expect fizzing ingredients, colour-changing potions and plenty of theatrical flair.
@ Pedley Street Station on Various dates from Friday 27th February 2026
The Murder Express Part Deux - Jewel Of The Empire is an award-winning dining experience packed with mystery and immersive theatre, set in the early 20th century.
Plus, there's a three-course menu, courtesy of award-winning restaurant Lunar, for you to dine on while you try to crack the case, so you can guarantee your special someone a delicious feast.
A brilliant choice for competitive couples, Electric Shuffle is an activity bar that promises interactive shuffleboard tables. The Canary Wharf outpost normally only takes bookings of six or more on Saturdays, but on the 14th you can reserve a spot just for you and your partner.
Battle it out at all sorts of fun minigames, with screens that track your scores and record all your best moments. Sip creative cocktails while you play, paired with tasty pizzas, small plates and sharing boards. Not in the area? Check out their King's Cross and London Bridge sites instead.
We think that Flight Club Bloomsbury, Victoria, and Islington offers a refreshingly fun alternative to the usual candlelit dinner. This is date night with a competitive edge: fast-paced social darts, tongue-in-cheek games and a buzzing atmosphere that makes laughing together feel effortless. The setting oozes Victorian glamour, with ornate murals, dramatic portraits and that iconic carousel bar.
Between turns at the oche, settle in with pizza paddles made for sharing and flirty cocktails (the signature slushies do a lot of heavy lifting), while the Flight Club team keeps the night running smoothly.
Looking for London Valentine's Day ideas? Paint a Pic is hosting classes at Finch's and Counting House, where you and your partner will be guided on how to paint a pair of love birds, kissing swans, romantic landscapes or night and day.
Create a work of art, either solo or together, with all the materials provided for £70.20 each. Plus, you can enjoy music and drinks as you develop your masterpiece.
@ 58 AND CO. on Saturday 28th February 2026 and 7 other Saturdays
Haggerston's 58 and Co has a gin school masterclass for making your own gin with your other half this Valentine's Day, so expect a three-hour session for crafting and distilling your unique gin recipe. Charcuterie, drink pairings and cocktails also feature throughout the experience, and there's a tasting to boot.
Ultimately, though, the two of you will go home with a 700ml bottle of your very own gin each and a goodie bag too.
@ The Candlelight Club on Saturday 21st March 2026 and 3 other Saturdays
One of the very best things to do this Valentines Day in London, The Candlelight Club will transport you back to the 1920s this 14th February. At a secret South London location, they're hosting a Valentine's ball, complete with hot live jazz from six-piece band Ritzy Palooza, sizzling burlesque from Miss Betsy Rose, a tarot card reader, and a fabulous cabaret host - Champagne Charlie - not to mention DJs spinning vintage vinyl late into the night.
You're encouraged to dress the part and dazzle in Roaring 20s glam, so making sure to get your feather boas and best suits out for the occasion. And if you fancy making it extra special? You can even choose to indulge in a three-course dinner, or even just reserve a table for the night, complete with a few bottles of Champagne.
Stuck for present ideas this Valentine's Day? Explore our guide to the best gifts, ranging from immersive dining experiences and boat rides along the Thames to cocktail masterclasses.
Make this February one they won't forget with some of our thoughtful and imaginative ideas. You're welcome.
We get it, the bank account is looking a little light this month - but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate Valentine's Day. We've found all kinds of cheap date night ideas that'll send hearts aflutter (minus the price tag). From comedy nights for as little as £5 to mini-golf that doesn't cost more than a tenner and cut-price bars, restaurants and more - here's to a romantic (and affordable) 14th February.
