Got a new date coming up and stuck for fun things to do during lockdown? Or are you getting bored of staying in with your better half and watching Netflix?
Fear not, here’s a collection of alternative date ideas in London to help fend off the tedium that lockdown is inflicting upon your dating life. While keeping social distancing in mind, these things should provide some entertainment.
1. Watching Deer in Richmond Park
Enjoy an idyllic afternoon watching these beautiful creatures roaming freely around one of London’s largest parks. If you have trouble spotting them, look out for their antlers peeping up between the grassy parkland. Don’t forget to leave without visiting Isabella Plantations for a romantic stroll among the flowers and foliage.
Further reading – Deer Watching & Cycling in Richmond Park
2. Go for a Bike Ride
Plan a little route that involves exploring London by bike. It’s the perfect activity whilst we’re still in lockdown. Even if your date doesn’t get your pulse racing, at least the ride will! All going well, grab some beers and find a cosy spot on a park bench.
If you don’t have your own wheels, it’s easy to rent a Boris bike – they’re a bit clunky to ride but that can add to the fun.
3. Borrow a friend’s doggy
If you don’t have a doggy but happen to know they make your crush go all mushy, get one of your friends to lend you theirs for a few hours which will guarantee you massive brownie points. Hopefully, by the end of your walk your date will be looking at you the same way they look at the pooch – all goo-goo eyes.
4. Stroll around the Barbican Estate
This one is for architect and design lovers. The Barbican Estate is huge and home to one of the best examples of brutalist architecture in the UK. After lockdown you can look forward to visiting the Conservatory located on level 3 of the Barbican. This beautiful hidden oasis is the second largest conservatory in London and home to more than 1,500 species of plants and trees. Book free tickets in advance.
Further reading: Where to Find Brutalist Architecture in London
5. Picnic at the flower garden in Greenwich Park
I’ve written loads about Greenwich Park previously on my blog so it won’t come as a surprise to see it in this list. Start at the food market in the centre of town, then take your picnic to the beautiful flower garden at the top of the park. Here, you’ll also find an enclosed section with deer and if you’re lucky you’ll spot some absolutely adorable baby deer too. Don’t forget to catch the incredible panorama of London nearby the Observatory.
Further reading: Greenwich Park: Everything You Should See
6. Walk London’s Sculpture Trail
Since museums are closed at the moment, a walk along London’s Sculpture Trail is your best alternative for an art fix. Created in 2015, the trail will take you best part of the day to complete, running from Greenwich all the way to Stratford, between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. In total it’s about 8km/5 miles and along the way you’ll discover sculptures from the likes of Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor and Antony Gormley. If you don’t want your date to finish, you could also hop on the Cable Car across the River Thames.
7. Exploring London’s Cemeteries
Walking around a bunch of old gravestones might not sound like the most romantic thing to do but I beg to differ. London is home to some pretty magnificent cemeteries that are actually eerily beautiful and fascinating to walk around. You can stroll around one in famous spots like Nunhead, Highgate, Kensal Green, Brompton and Abney Park.
8. Do a Yoga Class Together
Want to see your date getting into a variety of uncompromising positions? Then don your comfy clothes and try out a class of online yoga together. If you don’t fancy joining a class, then head to the park and find a quiet spot to bend like a pretzel. Doesn’t matter how good or bad you are – even a little bit of yoga makes you feel oh so good.
9. Live Stream a Gig
Gigs might be off the menu for a while, but you could live stream your favourite DJ and dance like it’s 2019. In the words of George Bernard Shaw: ‘Dancing is a perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire’. Browse tickets here.
10. Self-guided Street Art Walk in Shoreditch
Add a splash for colour to your day on a self-guided street art tour of Shoreditch. It boasts one of the highest concentrations of street art anywhere in the world so you’ll find works on almost every corner. New works are constantly cropping up so there’s always something new to discover.
Further reading – Street Art Guide of Shoreditch, London
11. Play Chess
There’s nothing more attractive to me than a person who can play chess. It’s not necessarily a deal breaker but my, oh my, it gets me in the mood. The great thing about chess is that you can play it anywhere. For those with a competitive streak, raise the stakes so that the loser has to cook dinner! If you’re new to the game, download the chess.com app to figure out the moves. Be warned, chess can be addictive.
One Response
Believe it or not, some of these Victorian cemeteries were intended as tourist destinations from their earliest days, so there’s some continuity to them being good lockdown activities over a century-and-a-half later.
However while Karl Marx’s tomb is one of only two Grade I listed tombs in London, unlike the other one (hint: located more central)…this is not its original location in Highgate Cemetery – it was moved to a more prominent location and with a more prominent monument long after he died. (Perhaps to attract more tourists and/or those undertaking pilgrimage 😉