Though the air in February is crisp, the love in the hearts of those visiting the city over Valentine’s Day is warm and toasty. Here are five things to impress your date this Valentine’s Day and ensure it is a night to remember.
Dress to impress
If you want your date to be suitably impressed by your plans, you need to look the part too. Whether you are going mini-golfing at Junkyard Golf Club near Liverpool Street London, or for a classy cocktail at the bar of The Montcalm Hotel at the Brewery London City, you still need to look like you have put effort into your appearance.
If it feels as if you don’t have enough in your cupboard to make this possible, then you may need to make your way to Oxford Street, Carnaby Street or Regent’s Street and make sure you have everything you need to look the part. Sometimes, just having a new pair of lipstick, or matching socks, can make all the difference to how you feel. It can also boost your confidence, meaning you are much more likely to impress your date with your charm and conversational skills.
Gifts
Though there is no strict rule about whether or not you should bring along a gift or token for your date on Valentine’s Day, there is no denying that it always goes down well. Some might argue that chocolates are a cliche, but there is always a reason for a cliche existing and in this case, it is because it is a relatively fool-proof gift – everyone loves chocolates! However, if you really want to impress your date, simply turning up with a slab of supermarket chocolate isn’t going to crack it. Instead, head to Hotel Chocolat, luxury chocolatiers of epic proportion and masters of chocolate truffles and gift-boxes specifically. The boxes themselves are beautiful, meaning they don’t require you to wrap or decorate them but instead just to arrive holding them. Arrive with this, and the date will start on a high.
Alternatively, a bunch of flowers is always a safe bet – they are beautiful and when they are sat on your date’s bedside or table the next day, they will be reminded of the wonderful date you had.
Skyscraper cocktails
Impress your date this Valentine’s Day by starting out the date with a cocktail in one of London’s many sky-high bars. Though the Accommodation near Brewery Road may seem on the surface as if it is only suitable as a business Hotel in London, hotels like Montcalm Royal London House Hotel in Finsbury Square are also home to the 10th floor bar, The Aviary, an excellent spot to wow your date with sweeping views of London’s exquisite city skyline.
Address: Royal London House, 10Th Floor Montcalm, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London Ec2A 1Dx, London EC2A 1DX
Another sky-high winner is Aqua, which is on the 31st floor of The Shard and as a result, has one of the most strikingly beautiful views of the city. Get there before the sun sets if you really want to impress your date – although that does tend to be quite early in the winter months, so be sure to plan properly and check the weather forecast to make sure there is a sun to see set.
Address: Level 31 The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY
Fine dining
Nothing is quite as impressive as a fine dining experience, and London is a key spot for those looking to dine in famous restaurants serving up spectacular contemporary food that is really pushing the boundaries of fine dining.
Marcus is a two-Michelin starred gastronomical haven in South West London, with food made with love by famous head-chef and Masterchef judge, Marcus Wareing. Between the glazed wood pigeon and the Herdwick lamb rack, the only thing you will have to worry about is whether your date is more impressed by you for picking the restaurant, or with Marcus for serving up some of the most delicious food in the city.
Address: The Berkeley, Wilton Place, London SW1X 7RL
Le Gavroche is yet another two-Michelin starred restaurant, serving up French cuisine from the wonderful restaurateur and chef Michel Roux. If your date isn’t wildly impressed by the menu as well as the expansive wine list, they may prove very hard to impress ever, because it is one of the most accomplished menus in the city.
Address: 43 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7QR
Relaxed dining
Sometimes, especially on a first date, going too extreme when it comes to food can be a mistake. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go to a fast food joint or pub – there are a number of wonderful restaurants around London that are charming and rustic without being intimidating.
Chucs Cafe absolutely crushes the balance of excellent quality and comfortable, living-room aesthetic. There are a few around the city, but you may want to consider heading to the branch within Hyde Park, as this way part of the date could be an impressive tour of The Serpentine Gallery, which shares a plot with the restaurant. Nothing speaks the language of love quite like artwork and a meal within a modern architectural landmark.
The Ladbroke Arms in Notting Hill is technically a pub, but from the comfort of the romantically-lit dining room, you would hardly believe it was anything but a high-end restaurant. A gastropub is probably even too relaxed a description for the exceptionally high quality of food being served. The atmosphere is relaxed, meaning your wit and conversational skills can get to work impressing your date while the kitchen make sure that you are both full and happy.
Address: 54 Ladbroke Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 3NW
So, follow these love-inspired guidelines and you will find yourself basking in the success of a great Valentine’s Day date with a suitably impressed partner. Who knows, if you follow this point by point, you may need to look into some London hotel deals, too.
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