Planning a budget-friendly date night in London is easier than you think.
The capital has garnered a reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, but that doesn’t mean that budget-friendly activities are totally out of the window.
Once you start looking for things to do, you’ll realise that you can quickly fill up a whole day without burning a hole in your wallet. This makes London perfect for a fun date. So below we’ve come up with some of our top picks for what to do.
See Buckingham Palace
No visit to London is complete without a stopover at Buckingham Palace. While people often go to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony, even just strolling along The Mall is a romantic way to spend some alone time with your partner. If you’re planning on watching the iconic ceremony, just be sure to position yourself near the gates. If not, you’ll probably just end up seeing small figures in the distance (and not to mention lots of selfie sticks).
Visit around South Bank
There’s always something going on at South Bank, which is why it comes highly recommended by The Culture Trip. The Southbank Book Market is a common fixture, where sellers set up shop under one of South Bank’s many bridges — and they’re there rain or shine. There’s also a skate park nearby, as well as a handful of street performers you’ll find on any given day. Indeed, you can spend an entire day just strolling around South Bank. It also helps that the National Theatre is right there in case you want to catch a show!
Grab a bite at Borough Market
Borough Market is a nine-minute walk away from South Bank, but it’s well worth the trip even on a hot summer’s day. Market dates are always a good idea, and one of the best things about Borough Market is that you can get all kinds of food at cheap prices. A write-up on affordable date ideas by Gala Bingo lists how visiting local food markets can easily take up a couple of hours of your day. You can start by walking around and trying a few food and drink samples before finishing off your date by getting a full-sized serving of your favourite sample.
Check out the National Gallery
London is one of the most prominent cultural capitals in the world, and one of the best things about the city is that many of their museums are free of charge. The National Gallery overlooks Trafalgar Square, so you’re able to hit two sites in one go. The museum houses artworks by some of the most famous painters in history, and the space itself is so big that you’ll find yourselves wanting to go back for another visit.
Lounging around in a park is the perfect lazy summer date, and Greenwich Park is the best place to do so. Even on its busiest day, the park covers a huge enough area (over 74 hectares, to be exact) to make sure you and your partner can have an intimate date without any distractions. Even though London isn’t necessarily as busy as the likes of New York City, sometimes you still need a quick break with nature to really rejuvenate yourself.
There are tons of stuff to do in London, whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture or just walk around and take in the stunning sights and sounds. So don’t just stop with this list, have a look for some more great ways to spend a day with your loved one in London.