6 Amazing Valentines Day Dates in London 2020

The challenge has been set. Valentines Day 2020 is on a Friday, completely blowing out the fallback that there's work tomorrow. We might actually have to go out this year folks.

Here are my top 5 picks for things to do

1. The Big London Bake (Tooting)

Photo: The Big London Bake, Design My Night

So you both like Bake Off (or at least, your partner does)? Check. You can get to and from Tooting without too much pain? Check. I think we've found your winner. Thank you and goodnight.

A team-based 90 minute baking competition very much in the style of the show, with experts at hand and a judging process at the end. You're pretty sure to have a good night. No guarantees on good cake though...

2. Vintage Date Night, Bletchley Park (Milton Keynes)

Photo: Creative Commons, Wikipedia

This may take some doing. Most of us don't randomly find ourselves in Milton Keynes and I know this is not technically in London, so I'm cheating. Yes. But here we have an ideal date for a history buff. Bletchley Park after all is where brilliant minds such as Alan Turing's cracked the enigma machines' codes during WWII, bringing the war to an end two to four years earlier according to expert estimates. In doing so they saved millions of lives.

Add 'vintage' to the mix and you got your perfect date that your vintage-shop-diving, jive-hopping partner won't stop talking about for rest of the year.

3. Live Jazz @Paris Hill (Tower Hill)

Photo: Benoit Vielleton and His Orchestra

If you're looking for a classy and entertaining evening, try some live music. 'Live jazz' may be stretching it because the selection is eclectic - from chanson francaise to Russian folk. It's all entertaining, however, and very popular so good on you if you land yourself a ticket.

4. Boat trip on the Thames with Thames Rocket Rush (Westminster Bridge Rd)

Photo: Thames Rocket Rush

Some magical connection exists between romantic dates and bodies of water, whether a lake, the sea, a waterfall or indeed, a river. This option will take you onto the Thames for 50 beautiful minutes for sight of the city as you don't usually experience it. Even for London natives, this offers a new lick of paint to the cityscape from the Houses of Parliament to the Tower of London and more, and a great memory to share together.

5. Afternoon Tea @The Ritz

Photo: Palm Court, The Ritz

If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right! Not just afternoon tea, but afternoon tea at The Ritz. Let's be clear about what that means. Next time you leave the towel on the bed, or forget to take out the rubbish, or whatever that thing is you do that you shouldn't really do, you can say 'ah, you remember that scone from the afternoon at The Ritz?', to which your partner will stop and say 'ah yes, that was divine wasn't it.' Crisis over. Besides this, you will have a wonderful, dressed up afternoon.

6. Beginners salsa classes @ The Natural History Museum

Photo: The Natural History Museum

It's my opinion that any excuse to go to The Natural History Museum is exceptionally brilliant reasoning. So add to beginner salsa classes:

• A complimentary ticket to the ever-popular Wildlife Photographer of the Year 
• Conception and Deception: The Strange World of Animal Sex – a talk by Helen Arney, Dr Natalie Cooper and Hana Ayoob (spaces are limited)
• Our LGBTQ+ natural history trail
• Screen printing with exclusive Valentines designs
• Ask the expert with Curator of Minerals and Gemstones, Robin Hansen
• Science stations including Lovebugs, Love Birds and You're my Lobster: the crustacean station

...and it'd be harder to find reasons not to go than to go.

So those are a handful of recommendations for you and your special someone. Anything tickle your fancy? Try these 5 new ideas for a date night in London if you still need some inspiration.

Kassandra Lauren Gordon is a Hatton Garden-trained Goldsmith and has her hallmark registered at the London Assay Office. She has 13 jewellery stockists worldwide including Wolf and Badger. She was chosen by the founder of Not on the High Street as her International Women’s Day Designer