Next up in our series of blogs looking at the best date ideas in the capital is South London. Heading south of the Thames offers a mix of urban and village-like areas with plenty of great things to discover together while you get to know each other better. We’ve shared our top picks and tips for making the most of first dates and romantic date nights in this thriving part of London.
Explore vibrant markets
Borough Market is the perfect place to spend a relaxed few hours exploring the variety of stalls and then sampling your favourite cuisines. Don’t miss Humble Crumble for tempting desserts and The Black Pig for huge toasted ciabatta sandwiches. There are plenty of great bars and restaurants to sample when you feel like resting your feet, as you soak up the atmosphere of this historic food market.
Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey is a popular weekend destination offering delicious food from a variety of traders. It’s in a gorgeous flag-lined alley where you can seek out your favourite street food and sample new dishes. Tooting Market offers an interesting mix of food, drinks, independent retail, and homewares which gives you plenty to explore.
Nights out
Boxpark in Croydon is bound to have something that suits. There’s food to suit all tastes and plenty of events, from match screenings and live music to comedy nights and speed quizzing.
Another interesting area to explore is the new shopping and leisure development at the iconic Battersea Power Station. There are a range of restaurants and bars overlooking the river and tucked under railway arches, plus plenty in the power station itself. Browse the shops if you fancy some retail therapy, or enjoy a boutique cinema experience at The Cinema in the Arches. Make sure you stop by Searcys Champagne bar to experience their extensive menu of bubbles.
Along the river in Putney, you’ll find The Boathouse which offers British classics and seafood dishes with river views over three floors with a patio and balcony. Then head on to Tequila Mockingbird to try their tempting cocktails in the secret garden by the riverside.
Over in Peckham it’s worth visiting Forza Wine, a rooftop bar and restaurant with great views.
Take a stroll
There are plenty of great green spaces to explore together if you fancy an active date or a romantic picnic. Clapham Common offers 220 acres of open space and is home to the SW4 Festival in August, if electronic and dance music is your thing. Greenwich Park offers majestic views of London’s skyline in a spot which often isn’t that crowded. You can pay a visit to the Royal Observatory to see the famous Prime Meridian line and stop by the National Maritime Museum as well. Rest your legs with a visit to Greenwich Picturehouse to watch a movie and enjoy a drink in The Crows Nest bar, which offers views of Greenwich and the surrounding area.
Battersea Park is another peaceful spot, and you can extend a relaxed first date that’s going well by grabbing a drink by the water at the Pear Tree Café.
If you both enjoy shopping then Clapham is known for its vintage and charity shops, so take a look around and dip into the stores that take your fancy.
Try something new
Sometimes it pays to plan an activity to help break the ice when you are meeting somebody new. Gravity Max in Wandsworth offers a range of activities to take on, including e-karting, urban street golf and augmented reality bowling. There is an exhilarating high ropes course with zip lines over in Battersea Park with great views as you take on the challenge. If your romantic interest is into climbing, try Substation in Brixton which offers indoor climbing facilities with routes to suit all abilities.
We’ve love to hear your top tips for the best places to head in South London – share them on our Facebook or Instagram page!
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