Second Date Ideas in London

You’ve had a successful first date, know a little more about one another, and have agreed to meet up a second time. The pressure is slightly off for a second date, but it’s by no means gone. However, now you can choose an activity that’s more personal to each of your tastes.

If you went for a classic option for your first date, you probably enjoyed a nice lunch, a coffee at your favourite cafe, or a short walk in the park. These are all great options when you’re meeting someone for the first time and want some neutral ground, but a second date is an opportunity to break away from the dining table and get to know more about one another in a different kind of setting.

Read our inspirational guide to things to do in London on a second date.

Take a private tour of an art gallery

There are so many wonderful galleries in London, but an extra-special experience for art-lovers is to tour one in private. The Tate and the National Gallery both offer private tours, which highlight the best pieces and offer unique insights into the key pieces.

If history is more to your date’s taste, The British Museum also hosts a number of private out-of-hours tours.

London Zoo

London Zoo promises a great day out for any animal lovers. Find out more about each other’s favourite critters and each other: you’ll have plenty of time to chat as you wander around the enclosures. If you want to do a little extra, consider a zoo experience package for you and your date: meet meerkats and monkeys up close, or play zookeeper for a day.

Show and a cocktail bar

Musical theatre, opera, ballet, plays… whatever your tastes, London has the pick of dazzling shows, deep dramas, and spectacular performances of all shapes and sizes. Sit back to enjoy the show and then discuss your thoughts at a nearby cocktail bar as you relax into the evening.

Spa day

When you’re always so busy at work, then taking some time out to relax can be a great way to unwind. A spa day for a second date may be a little more intimate than other ideas we’ve suggested, but if you (or your date) love to be pampered, it could be just right. You can choose from plenty of options too, from a foot massage to a day with all the bells and whistles of treatments, pool and spa.

Take a class

If you enjoy new experiences and want the opportunity to learn something while you enjoy yourself, then pick from one of the many short classes available in London. Foodies would enjoy champagne and wine tasting masterclasses, sushi or chocolate making workshops. If you’re of a more artistic nature, try a one-day art or pottery class.

Escape room

Engage your brain and work together in a fun escape room. You’ll be locked in a themed room together and have to hunt out clues to escape. This is a good option for those with a competitive streak, but makes you work together so you don’t have to go head-to-head so early on in your relationship. You’ll also get to see how your date acts under pressure!

Cook at home

Nothing quite has the same impact as a home-made meal. It demonstrates care and effort and is a chance to show off your culinary skills. If you’re a dab hand in the kitchen, consider cooking a meal at home for your date, or cooking something together. Expand it further with a visit to a local market in advance to pick up your ingredients fresh from the producers.

Climbing walls

If a sporty date is right up your street, then a good way to share that passion is on the climbing wall. Take a lesson with your date if you’re both new to it, or teach them yourself if you have the required skills. If you’re both experienced, you can push each other and enjoy working out climbing challenges together. Climbing is a good way to work with one another while enjoying this popular past time.

Go dancing

Dancing doesn’t have to just take place in a noisy, overcrowded nightclub. Refine your evening with a ballroom or Latin dancing class. You’ll be able to hold your date close without breaking second date etiquette, and there’s something very romantic about formal dancing.

Kayaking or paddle boarding

See London from a different perspective with a kayaking or paddle board trip down canals or the River Thames. This one is good for couples who don’t mind getting a bit wet, but it’s fun and unusual, and will certainly make an impression!

Day trip to a vineyard

The great advantage to London is that you don’t have to stay in London for your dates. Why not head out of the city and make a day of your second date? Vineyards such as the Albury Vineyard, just round the corner from our Surrey Office in Shere, offer tours and tastings as well as occasional special events.

Helicopter ride

For a really breath-taking experience, take to the skies and admire the London skyline with your date. A helicopter ride across the city provides an unforgettable birds-eye-view of the most famous sites and will get the adrenaline pumping for an exciting and memorable second date.

You can even step things up a notch and book a test drive where you and your date get to fly the helicopter yourselves!