Romantic capital: the best loved-up things to do in London

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Romantic capital the best loved-up things to do in London

One of the most exciting, electric and eclectic cities on earth, London is also one of the world’s most romantic cities. Brimming with gorgeous architecture, awesome attractions, delightful restaurants and nightspots, as well as many more beautiful features, the UK capital is simply ideal for a loved-up European getaway.

So, then, if you’re planning to book a romantic break at one of the best hotels in London, just what and where should you add to your itinerary…? 

Tuck into a picnic in St James’s Park

How about picnicking somewhere with a view of Buckingham Palace? Not bad, eh? Well, that’s what awaits you if you take your loved one and a hamper along to St James’s Park. Lying in the space between the Palace, The Mall and Horse Guards Parade, this splendid park is always a favourite, what with its cornucopia of colourful flowers, friendly squirrels and pigeons, as well as numerous wildfowl; not least swans and flamingos. Moreover, if you fancy pushing the boat out, you might want to pop into nearby Fortnum & Mason for a truly luxurious picnic hamper. 

Imbibe by candlelight at Gordon’s Wine Bar

Imbibe by candlelight at Gordon’s Wine Bar

One of the cosiest of all wonderful spots to make your own for a marvellous memory in London, the Charing Cross-located Gordon’s Wine Bar always delivers something of a sparsely-lit lovers’ mood, along with the uniquely romantic rumblings of passing trains (yes, really), thanks to how close to you Charing Cross station and its tunnels actually are. Along with your wine, you may well want to try the offerings of one of their cheese boards as you soak up the irresistible atmosphere of this subterranean watering hole. 

Browse around a beautiful London neighbourhood

A huge metropolis always teeming with hustle-bustle, London is far from merely skyscrapers, office blocks and grey-stone buildings of yore, though; for, it also features some truly lovely-looking neighbourhoods that feel like they could be the locales for romantic breaks all of their own. We’re talking the likes, then, of the green-garden-blessed Notting Hill, the almost rural Hampstead, the Thameside idyll that’s Greenwich and the Regency/ Victorian mansion-filled South Kensington. Why not spend an afternoon strolling around their pleasant streets, courts and alleys, snapping all that’s around you for your Insta feed as you hang on your squeeze’s arm? 

Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Borough Market

There are few more enjoyable things to experience with a loved one, let’s face it, than to make loved-up small talk while dining and wining in an exquisite venue. And that’s exactly what you and your someone special can do via a lunchtime visit to London Bridge’s standout highlight, Borough Market. It really is a must-visit for any food enthusiast during a stay at the likes of The Montcalm At The Brewery London City.

A foodie’s paradise, then, this place is absolutely awash with lip-smacking smells, fantastic flavours and terrific tastes, thanks to its stylish stalls being jam-packed with treats galore – everything from fresh fruit and veg to hot baked goods. Many of the restaurants, cafés and bars that surround the market proper are more than worth checking out, too. 

Sip champagne on a London Eye trip

The London Eye, eh? A bit ‘too touristy’ for a couple-only activity during a romantic London getaway? Well, you may want to reassess that assumption when you consider that it’s possible to book one of the revolving pods on the Eye for you and your loved one alone and, as you both take in the experience, you can make the experience truly experience courtesy of a romantic bottle of Champagne and chocolates.

Indeed, you can go that extra romantic mile (or, rather, that extra romantic revolution) by booking a full private dinner in one of the pods – an unforgettable hour or so, surely, during a break spent at chic but discount hotels London. 

Spend a couple’s day at Kew Gardens

Spend a couple’s day at Kew Gardens

One of the greenest swathes of the capital has to be the leafy environs of Southwest London, not least the Botanical Gardens at Kew, of course. Here, you can explore an extraordinarily luscious landscape boasting in excess of 60,000 plants and trees, as well as glasshouses and even, yes, a treetop walkway. Let’s face it, when it comes to planning a romantic day out, it’s surely hard to come up with a more suitable venue.

Even better, Kew transforms in appearance, of course, when the seasons change. For instance, it rarely looks more romantic than in the lead up to Christmas, when the place is perfectly beset by all sorts of special, festive features, including an innovative light show that plays in time to delightful seasonal music. 

Take a sunset cruise down the Thames

A romantic London experience with a difference; this one enables you to take in the iconic sights of the centre of the city but from quite a different vantage point than normal. The likes of City Cruises put on several trips down the River Thames, some of which come with dinner cruises and others with musical performances – a fitting experience, no doubt, if you’re looking to book one of the best London hotel deals.

Although the routes of the cruises differ, the majority of them go under Tower Bridge and pass the Houses of Parliament (and the Big Ben clocktower); iconic sights, indeed then, especially on a cruise that takes you from Westminster all the way down to the equally as historic Greenwich district to the east. 

Go for a yomp in a glorious park

Finally, modern London may not be well known for its green pastures; yet, its parkland is actually plenty and really quite unrivalled for some stolen moments and memorable minutes spent with a loved one. The likes of Richmond Park in the west, Hampstead Heath in the north, Greenwich Park in the east and Hyde Park in the centre offer ample opportunity to stroll about in nature with that most treasured person in your life. Who could pass up such an opportunity during a romantic stay in one of the most essential cities on the planet? Could you?