Date night ideas in London

Ahh date night. How you revive us from our daily battle with the school run, feeding routines and around-the-clock CBeebies. If you’re unable to get away for a child-free break, then regular date nights are the next best thing. So book the babysitter and head down to one of these places for a gorgeous few hours of food, wine and romance…

number-one

Brasserie Zedel is a French restaurant in bustling Piccadilly, but don’t let the touristy area put you off. The food is unbelievably good value – and totally delicious. The snails are fantastic and the steak is to-die-for. It’s a huge room, but rather than the ambience getting lost in it all, there’s a brilliant buzzy atmosphere. Go for a drink in Bar Americain beforehand (and afterwards if you don’t want to go home just yet.) Nearest tube: Piccadilly

number-two

Catch a film at the Everyman Cinema in Selfridges. You can order a Mediterranean platter from Harry Gordon’s bar and sit back in a comfy sofa with a personal wine bucket and table, to watch a movie. It’s a seriously plush little cinema and afterwards you can wander to a bar in St Christopher’s Place for some cocktails. Nearest tube: Bond Street

number-three

For a daytime date, head to Columbia Road Flower Market one Sunday then swing by super cool French shop Elsie’s Droguerie where you can pick up gifts and gorgeous household items. After all that shopping, grab a beer and some food at The Royal Oak pub – they even serve coffee and pastries on a Sunday morning if you’re there early enough. Nearest tube: Bethnal Green or Old Street

number-four If south of the river is more your thing, you can’t go wrong heading to Brixton Village. Our top choices are sourdough pizza at Franco Manca (get there early to avoid a long queue) or Chicken Liquor (don’t leave without having a whisky sour). Nearest tube: Brixton

number-five Fancy a date with a view? Aqua Shard in, er, The Shard will provide this. Whether you go for brunch (have the lobster benedict) or dinner, the views across London are unbeatable and the food is super tasty. Nearest tube: London Bridge

Image: DTTSP