London gives you an entire city's worth of alternatives to "drinks somewhere loud." Here are eleven proper date ideas that actually give you something to talk about, whatever the weather is doing.
1. A Thames Path walk, South Bank to Greenwich. Long enough for a real conversation, scenic enough to fill any silence with something to look at.
2. Borough Market, early evening. Wander, share small plates, and let the market itself do the work of giving you things to react to together.
3. A cinema worth going to for itself. The Prince Charles, the Electric, or an outdoor screening at Somerset House when the weather allows - low-pressure, side-by-side, and easy to talk through the credits after.
4. Kayaking or paddleboarding on the Regent's Canal. Slightly ridiculous, genuinely fun, and a fast way to see how someone handles a bit of good-natured chaos.
5. A gallery that isn't the obvious one. Skip the queue at the big names and try the Dulwich Picture Gallery or the Wellcome Collection instead - smaller, quieter, easier to actually talk in.
6. Primrose Hill at golden hour. Simple, cheap, and one of the best skyline views in the city, free of charge - a picnic in summer, a flask and a coat in winter.
7. A rooftop bar with a view rather than a scene. The Sky Garden or a smaller rooftop away from the crowds - the view carries the moment more than the drinks list does.
8. Columbia Road Flower Market on a Sunday morning. Loud, colourful, and a genuinely nice way to start a date early, with coffee and somewhere warm never more than a street away.
9. A short train out to Hampstead Heath. Proper countryside feel within thirty minutes, with a swim in the ponds if you're both up for it.
10. A supper club or communal dining table. Forces conversation with each other and, often, with the people sitting either side - a good test of how someone handles a bit of unpredictability.
11. An evening at an open-air theatre - Regent's Park or the Globe. A shared experience with a natural structure and an easy talking point afterwards.
The thing that actually matters
The best date ideas aren't the most impressive ones - they're the ones that give two people something to do together, react to together, and talk about afterwards. London makes that unusually easy. Pick whichever suits the season and the person, and let the city do some of the work.
Elsewhere: New York, Los Angeles and Dubai. Related reading: Getting Back Into Dating: 5 Tips to Start.