For couples · London · United Kingdom
Romantic things to do in London
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Øyvind Holmstad, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
London's romantic side lies in its views and quieter corners: the river at dusk, a hilltop over the skyline or a candlelit pub by the fire. Plan sunset around the South Bank or a viewpoint, and book theatre or afternoon tea ahead. Couples tend to stay in Covent Garden and Soho.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 3
- Area for couples
- Covent Garden and Soho
- Best months
- May–June and September
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset on Waterloo Bridge
The bridge looks west to Parliament and the London Eye and east to St Paul's and the City, and the views are at their best as the lights come on.
2.Primrose Hill at dusk
A short walk from Camden, the hilltop gives a sweeping skyline view; bring a blanket and a bottle on summer evenings.
3.Afternoon tea
A traditional tea in a Mayfair or Piccadilly hotel, with scones, clotted cream and a glass of champagne, makes a classic special-occasion treat.
4.A West End show and late supper
Pair a musical or play with a late dinner in Covent Garden or Soho, where many kitchens serve after the curtain falls.
5.Little Venice and the Regent's Canal
Walk the towpath past painted narrowboats from Little Venice towards Regent's Park, or take a seasonal waterbus to Camden.
6.Kew Gardens glasshouses
Wander the Palm House and the treetop walkway on a quiet weekday morning, then lunch in Kew village.
Sights couples love
Viewpoint · South Bank
London Eye
Book a time slot online for a lower price than on the day, and in winter aim for late afternoon to watch the city lights come on.
- Time needed
- 1 hour including queues
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Iconic
- After dark
Park · Hyde Park
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Enter at Marble Arch and walk west along the Serpentine to Kensington Palace — about an hour at a gentle pace with stops.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Nature
Garden · Kew
Kew Gardens
Reach Kew Gardens station on the District line or the Overground, or take a seasonal river boat from Westminster for the slow route.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
Where couples should stay
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and couples
Covent Garden and Soho
The core of the West End holds most of London's theatres, the Covent Garden piazza with its street performers and Apple Market, and Soho's dense grid of restaurants, bars and Chinatown around Gerrard Street. Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery are a five-minute walk away, and the Piccadilly, Northern and Elizabeth lines all stop nearby.
- Good
- Walk to theatres, the National Gallery and the river; Huge choice of restaurants and bars; Excellent Tube connections
- Watch out
- Among the most expensive hotels in London; Crowded and noisy late into the night
- Nearby
- National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Chinatown, Seven Dials
Romantic day trips
- Hampton Court Palace (About 35 minutes by train) — Henry VIII's Tudor palace on the Thames combines his vast kitchens and Great Hall with the baroque wing Christopher Wren built for William III and Mary II.
- Oxford (About 1 hour by train) — The university city's honey-coloured colleges, the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Camera are a compact walk apart.
- Cambridge (About 50 minutes by train) — King's College Chapel with its fan-vaulted ceiling, the riverside college lawns known as the Backs and the free Fitzwilliam Museum are the highlights.
- Brighton (About 1 hour by train) — The seaside city's attractions are the onion-domed Royal Pavilion, the Victorian Palace Pier with its funfair rides, a long pebble beach and The Lanes, a warren of narrow alleys full of independent shops and cafés.
- Bath (About 1 hour 20 minutes by train) — Bath's Roman Baths, still fed by a natural hot spring, the Georgian sweep of the Royal Crescent and Bath Abbey make it one of England's most elegant cities.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Fish and chips, Sunday roast and Pie and mash. Pub kitchens often stop serving food around 9pm, and earlier on Sundays.
Questions travellers ask
+Is London romantic?
London's romantic side lies in its views and quieter corners: the river at dusk, a hilltop over the skyline or a candlelit pub by the fire. Plan sunset around the South Bank or a viewpoint, and book theatre or afternoon tea ahead.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in London?
Sunset on Waterloo Bridge: The bridge looks west to Parliament and the London Eye and east to St Paul's and the City, and the views are at their best as the lights come on.
+Where should couples stay in London?
Covent Garden and Soho: Theatreland, the market piazza and late-night restaurants in the West End.