8 Things To Do In London As A Couple For An Unforgettable Experience

If you think London's not as romantic as its continental counterparts, you're in for a wonderful surprise. The city is packed full of fun and unusual things to do as a couple, from secret gardens waiting to be explored to exclusive adults-only nights in world-class museums. So whether you're planning an intimate, candlelit dinner or you're in the mood for an adventure, we've got you covered with our top recommendations for great things to do as a couple during your stay in London.

Check out our tried-and-tested suggestions for the best things to do when you want to spend a few quality hours with your partner.

It's always great to explore a new area with your other half – you never know what you might find. The Parkland Walk, which follows an old railway line from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace, is an easy, mostly flat walk through a nature reserve where you might spot hedgehogs, foxes and deer. Also look out for mini artworks by local street artist Ben Wilson, known for his chewing gum paintings. Want a more leisurely walk with cafes to stop at along the way? Stroll the Thames Path between the lively Putney neighbourhood and Hammersmith Bridge, an ornate Victorian-era suspension bridge. Another waterside gem is the Regent's Canal towpath from Little Venice to Camden or further, where quaint canal boats and grand Regency houses make for a uniquely romantic walk.

Parkland Walk: Take the Piccadilly Line tube to Manor House, then cross Finsbury Park westward to the start of the trail. 

Thames Path: Take the District Line tube to Putney Bridge, then follow signs for the Thames Path.

Regent's Canal Towpath: Take the Bakerloo Line tube to Warwick Avenue, then walk southeast to the Little Venice triangular basin.

Sometimes it's fun to push those creative boundaries and discover a different side to your partner – and it's even better when you can get messy, too. Print Club London offers beginner screen printing workshops, where all you need to bring is your own design (a photo of you both, perhaps?) and you'll be taken step-by-step from artworking it in Photoshop to pulling your very own screen print. Or try the throwing taster class at Columbia Road Clay, where skilled – and admirably patient – ​​instructors guide you through the basics of using a pottery wheel. 

Print Club London: Miller's Ave, London E8 2DS. Public transport: Dalston Kingsland Overground.

Columbia Road Clay: Studio 13 Sunbury Workshops, Swanfield Street, E2 7LF. Public transport: Shoreditch High Street Overground.

Graffik Gallery: 284 Portobello Rd, London W10 5TE. Public transport: Ladbroke Grove tube.

Chilling out in a garden has to be one of the best things to do in London as a couple at any time of the year – think spring flowers, autumn glows and winter snows. St John's Lodge Gardens in Regent's Park (one of the city's eight Royal Parks) is a tranquil, landscaped green space with seasonal tulips and roses, plus a burbling fountain anchored by a statue. Look for the small gate along the Inner Circle of the park, near the office. Another hidden gem to visit is the St Dunstan in the East Church Garden, where you can whisper sweet nothings amid the ivy-draped ruins of a medieval church, or relax on a park bench and enjoy the solitude.

St John's Lodge Gardens: The Regent's Park, Inner Cir, London NW1 4NR. Open daily 5am-6pm. 

St Dunstan in the East Church Garden: St Dunstan's Hill, London EC3R 5DD. Open daily 8am-7pm or dusk, whichever is earlier.

Keen for romance with a side of adventure? Book an evening group or private paddleboarding session. The River Thames tour starts under Kew Bridge, where you'll navigate the tidal river with experienced instructors who'll tell you about the different landmarks along the way. You can also explore north London from Paddington Basin near the famous Rolling Bridge sculpture, paddling through charming Little Venice and past a host of quaint waterside pubs. For a well-deserved beer at the end of your trip, join the Kayak to Crate Brewery tour, which takes you on a 5km route through east London from Limehouse to Hackney Wick as you glide alongside warehouses telling the story of London's industrial past, as well as canal boats, swans and moorhens.

Don't want your magical day to end? Keep the romance alive with one of these evening activities.

Brisk evening air and a twinkling sky make for the perfect excuse to snuggle up to your date while watching a movie. The Luna Cinema screens classics and new releases – recent showings have included Top Gun: Maverick and Clueless – in parks as well as in front of iconic locations like Westminster Abbey and Hampton Court Palace. Want something more comfy than a rug on the ground? Level up your night out by hiring a pair of director's chairs.

Rooftop Film Club, in southeast London, offers a cosy experience, plus you can order pizza and drinks directly to your seat. For a themed experience, head to Backyard Cinema, which builds wonderfully detailed recreations of movie sets for visitors to immerse themselves in before the screening – think anything from a live choir and candlelit aisles (Romeo+Juliet) to a winter night garden for Christmas movies.

There's a simple reason why dining out is one of the classic things to do for couples in London. Neither of you needs to cook or clean up, which means you can devote all evening to really enjoying your time together over exquisite food and wine. Clos Maggiore serves modern European cuisine in an intimate, flower-filled conservatory, with a crackling fireplace adding to the ambiance. Team your romantic dinner with a luxury stay at The Savoy, a five-minute walk from Covent Garden.

Over in Belgravia, La Poule Au Pot is a rustic, exposed-brick dining space where you can indulge in classic French dishes at candlelit tables dressed in white linen. Looking to turn up the heat? The Lust Supper offers a dining experience that promises to engage all your senses, in a location so secret that you'll only find out where it is a few days before the event.

Clos Maggiore: 33 King St, London WC2E 8JD, open Mon-Sat noon-2:15pm & 5pm-10:30pm, Sunday noon-2:15pm & 5pm-10pm.

La Poule Au Pot: 231 Ebury St, London SW1W 8UT, open daily noon-9pm.

While you can't go wrong with a West End show, our insider pick has to be Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, based on John Van Druten's 1966 musical. Here, a talented orchestra, phenomenal dancers and an award-winning cast bring to life the hedonism of 1930s Berlin as the political landscape shifts. Up the romance factor by booking a stageside table for two, which comes with a built-in holder for a bottle of bubbly, and remember to get to the theatre in plenty of time for the spectacular pre-show performance. 

Less flamboyant but equally impressive are candlelight concerts at various venues across London, including the atmospheric art deco Freemasons Hall. Live musicians – from string quartets to solo pianists and ensembles – perform classical and contemporary music as you relax, cocooned by the candlelit glow.

Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre: Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5DE. Public transport: Charing Cross station or Embankment tube.

After hours, when night has fallen and the crowds have dispersed, museums become magical wonderlands begging to be explored. At the Science Museum, Lates are adults-only events where you can wander the exhibits, gaze at the night sky while learning about galaxies and nebulae, or get competitive playing retro video games. You never know what you'll discover at the V&A's Friday Lates, where special events often include live music or dance, DJs and installation artists. To really make a night of it, book into Dino Snores for Grown Ups at the Natural History Museum, which includes a pub quiz, a stand-up comedy show and an all-night movie marathon.

Science Museum: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD. Public transport: South Kensington tube.

V&A: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL. Public transport: South Kensington tube.

Natural History Museum: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD. Public transport: South Kensington tube.  

Whatever you and your partner are in the mood for, London has a huge variety of romantic things to do as a couple. From candlelit dinners guaranteed to keep that flame burning to creating chemistry in a crafts class, the choices are limitless. Have fun!