Having booked tickets to see the Book of Mormon months ago, I was thrilled to realise this week that the blessed day had finally arrived.

My date and I fought our way through the throngs of Leicester Square and arrived at the packed theatre just in time to have a drink before the show nervous with anticipation and excitement of what lay ahead.

I don’t want to give too much away about this show but to give you a brief overview, the story focuses on two new Mormon missionaries who are sent to Uganda to spread the word of The Book of Mormon. There’s hilarity throughout, from when the conductor strikes up the music until the curtain comes down. The story is ridiculous and pure genius and it’s accompanied by catchy songs that you’ll end up singing all night. You won’t stop laughing and smiling throughout and even today I’m finding myself grinning at the thought of it.

The Book of Mormon delivers all it says. It’s outrageous, hilarious and so wrong it’s right. I can’t stress this enough, you can’t miss it, it’s the perfect show for a date!

See other shows that are great for a date in London

Useful Links
Buy Tickets for Book of Mormon on lastminute.com
Google Map Link for Prince of Wales Theatre
Book of Mormon Website
Closest Tube: Piccadilly Circus / Leicester Square

In the centre of the room are two tables, one of them laden with freshly made salads, cold fish and charcuterie items, while the other is filled with countless different types of desserts. There’s also a live cooking station where you can get any type of omelette, eggs, pancakes or waffles that you desire. Needless to say, it’s perhaps not the best for a first date as you can’t be shy here when it comes to eating a lot! But for a longer term couple it’s a great choice.

I’ll admit that it is on the pricier end of the scale at £49 per head, however this really is a bottomless buffet of delicious food plus you get limitless sparkling wine and Bellini’s included in the price and it’s worth every penny.

I opted to try some of the dishes on the central table, helping myself to chilli prawns, smoked salmon, pumpkin salad and avocado pasta while my date treated himself to a made to order waffle with chocolate sauce and maple syrup – basically a heart attack on a plate but judging by his enormous grin it made him very happy. After a pause we moved on to the hot tasting dishes of halibut with chorizo on olive oil mash, lamb with rosemary and tomato compote and pearl barley. Meanwhile our lovely waiter kept the Crémant flowing by endlessly topping up our glasses.

Though we were completely stuffed by this point we couldn’t resist trying some of the deserts. You can help yourself to vanilla cheesecake, raspberry crème brûlée, macaroons, pistachio sponge and chocolate mousse (to name just a few).

This is definitely the place to indulge and make the most of all the treats on offer. It’s one of the most stylish and fun brunch options in London and a great way to while away a Saturday. It would also be an excellent choice for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. Book yourself a table for this weekend, you won’t regret it!

Useful Links
The Cookbook Cafe Website
Google Map Link
Closest Tube: Hyde Park Corner

Meeting my date on a sunny day we ambled the short walk to Apres from Bond street. We were greeted by a friendly waitress who sat us outside under a heater and left us to get to know each other better.

Cocktails are the drink of choice at Apres. We particularly recommend you visiting during happy hour when selected cocktails are a fiver until 8pm which can be easily ordered via the table service.

I opted to try the Pink Panther cocktail which was recommended to me while my date opted for the Raspberry Mule. I did feel a bit effeminate when my drink arrived as it looked a little like pink angel delight! Luckily it tasted of a refreshing mix of fresh watermelon and chocolate which was interesting but hit the spot.

The live guitarist provided the perfect background noise keeping the atmosphere mellow but still allowing the bar to be abuzz with chatter. There’s also the opportunity to get shisha at Apres, though it was a date too early for us!

Apres London also seemed to be a hot spot for celebrity spotting. During the evening, my date and I saw Paul Weller walk past having done a spot of shopping in Selfridges, and on the table next to us was an actress who used to be in Hollyoaks (one of the twins I think).

Apres is a great place to start a date and make the most of the happy hour. Afterwards you could move on to St Christopher’s Place where you’ll find a good mix of restaurants. Apres also hosts other nights that include salsa dancing, make your own bellini and scrabingo so it’s worth checking out what’s on.

Useful Links
Apres London Website
Google Map Link
Closest Tube: Bond Street

My date and I took advantage of the happy hour which offers 2 for 1 on selected cocktails and happens from 5pm – 7pm every day. I’ll admit that we may have gone a bit overboard and indulged in a jug of cocktail each but it’s totally worth it – do the same and make yours a frozen strawberry daiquiri, you won’t regret it.

After a jug each we decided that it might be wise to get some food. As you can imagine, if you’re not a fan of Cuban food this might not be the best place but luckily for me, my date took it in her stride and we polished off a tasty sharing platter while getting to know each other better.

Though pretty tiny, this place is laid back cool and makes you feel like you’re part of non-stop fiesta. On Friday and Saturday nights there are DJ’s, live music and stays open until 3am with free entry before 11pm.

If you need a sobering walk afterwards, I’d recommend a walk along the Southbank which is just up the road. You can start by the National Theatre and end up at London Bridge.

Or if you fancy trying another bar, handily another one of my favourites also sits on Lower Marsh Street – ScooterCaffe you could always head there first for a cosy romantic drink then hit up Cubana for a livelier atmosphere and maybe a bit of dancing.

Useful Links
Cubana Website
Google Map Link
Closest Tube/Rail: Waterloo

We started our evening with a glass of wine and a game of table football. Though this massively brought out my competitive streak, it really broke the ice and filled any moments of silence that naturally happen on those first few dates. By the time we’d played a few games and finished our drinks, we felt more relaxed which put on a good track for the rest of the evening.

As this bar is pretty big, we had no problem securing one of the sofas which gave us the chance to chat some more now that we had both settled into the evening.

As the evening continued, we couldn’t help but notice the delicious looking food coming out of the kitchen so we decided to stay on for dinner and were seated upstairs at a table overlooking the bar. Though we were tempted by the British-style tapas menu which included dishes like shepherd’s pie croquettes and sticky cola pork ribs, we decided to go for a main course each. I eventually chose the seaside catch of the day dish, which for me was fillet of seabass with lentils while my date went for the steak burger in a sour dough bun. I was really impressed by the quality of food that came out, as I quite often find that a good bar doesn’t always equal good food. But luckily, this most definitely wasn’t the case at the Artisan of Clerkenwell.

Overall, the evening went off without a hitch and I would definitely come back. Though it is definitely a trendy bar, of which there are plenty in London, the overall package that the Artisan of Clerkenwell brings makes it stand out from the crowd.

Useful Links
The Artisan of Clerkenwell Website
Google Map Link
Closest Tube/Rail: Farringdon/Barbican

We were seated on a little candlelit table next to the window and I was instantly impressed by the welcoming wait staff and stylish Italian feel that the restaurant had. Being an Italian wine bar, there was an extensive choice of wines. Admittedly, I don’t know much about wines so I let my date decide. Luckily he choose a delicious bottle of red which was the perfect start to our evening.

Super Tuscan offers tapas style dishes, allowing you to try a number of dishes which I was really tempted by, but in the end we couldn’t resist the sound of the main courses.

I chose the fresh pasta spirals served with spicy red pepper sauce, fresh rocket and parmesan cheese whilst my date went for the classic Tuscan dish of chargrilled sausages flavoured with fennel seeds and served with lentils. Both were top drawer. Tasty looking platters were also on offer which would be a good choice if you ever find yourself on a double date here.

Though this place is much bigger than I first thought, it stills manages to retain an intimate feel to it which makes it a good date choice, especially if you’re in this area and aren’t a fan of the typical chains.

All in all, I was really pleasantly surprised by my date in the city, and feel it’s definitely earned it’s place here on The London Date Guide.

Useful Links
Super Tuscan Website
Google Map Link
Closest Tube/Rail: Liverpool Street

Picture by Joel Knight. courtesy of The Horniman Museum

I’ve wanted to come here for a while so tying it into a date was the perfect opportunity. The Horniman Museum contains weird and wonderful items from around the world collected by Frederick Horniman. The Collection was originally started to impress his friends and to educate the public on the wonders of the world and it’s now become one of London’s most interesting attractions.

Possibly one of the best things about this place is the free admission. You only have to pay for the special exhibits which means that if you’re trying to save on cash you can keep the spending to a minimum.

There are six galleries in total, all of which are completely different. If the thought of walking around six galleries fills you with boredom and horror, then don’t worry – all the galleries are fairly small so it doesn’t take long to wander round the whole thing.

The first room my date and I visited was the Natural History Collection filled with stuffed animals which I’ll admit is slightly macabre but we couldn’t help but be a little fascinated by it. Sitting in the centre of the room was the star attraction, a giant stuffed walrus which lives on an iceberg surrounded with stuffed animals in glass cases.

We then made our way to the Centenary Gallery which continues the theme of unusual and fascinating items from around the world and includes things like spears, masks and idols. It’s quite similar to the Wellcome Collection so if you’re a fan of that, this place will definitely be for you.

I’d recommend not leaving without seeing the immaculate gardens which have just been redeveloped. My date and I particularly liked the kitchen garden and musical garden. The gardens also include a petting zoo which was unfortunately closed on our visit and a bandstand that gives a fantastic view over London. It was a shame that when we visited it was a cold and windy day but I can imagine that on a warm day in summer when the gardens are in full bloom, this place will be a truly idyllic location to spend the afternoon.

After our walk around the gardens, we decided to stop in at The Teapot cafe to warm up which is situated on the walk back to the station. It’s a lovely tearoom selling fine tea, coffee and irresistible cakes so it’s the perfect accompaniment to a day at the Horniman Museum and Gardens.

Useful Links
The Horniman Museum and Gardens Website
Google Map Link
Closest Tube/Rail: Forest Hill

Once a run-down hotel, this massive basement setting has been completely refurbished into a beautiful bar and restaurant. The original features have been brought back to life and it’s now buzzing with a renewed energy. I’d recommend starting your evening in the cocktail bar, enjoying a glass of wine or a cocktail or two.

Once you’ve had a chance to get to know your date and settle into the evening, make your way into the connecting restaurant. This cavernous ballroom has marble columns interspersed through the restaurant and I couldn’t help but be slightly in awe of the huge space the restaurant filled. I haven’t seen too much like it in London and I had to admit, it was really beautiful.

I would however recommending learning some French before you come here as although the mains have an English translation, all the starters and desserts are in French, which did leave me feeling a bit clueless when I came to look at the menu. Luckily for me, we were both happy to skip starters so I went straight for a main course and chose the fillet of sea bream with onion and olive compote which was really tasty.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this place, and really enjoyed the French feel that it had. And I clearly wasn’t the only one thinking that, judging by how many people had also chosen Brasserie Zedel as their venue for the evening. All in all, a great change from my regular haunts.

Useful Links
Brasserie Zedel Website
Google Map Link
Closest Tube: Piccadilly Circus

This inventive play is based on the adventure novel by John Buchan and the Alfred Hitchbock film and is delightfully tongue-in-cheek the whole way through. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and is a breath of fresh air from the sometimes stuffy plays that you can find in the West End.

Set in the 1940s, it tells the story of the unflappable Richard Hannay who is on the run from the police after being accused of murdering a beautiful spy that he has recently befriended. The 139 roles are played by just 4 actors and they spend their time racing around the stage and switching characters in a frenzy of costume changes, wigs and accents – it’s bloody ridiculous but completely hilarious. It has a similar feel to the reduced Shakespeare company (which, by the way, is also a good date choice)

The play is only 100 minutes long so it’s a particularly good first date choice, putting you both in a good mood and then leaving you time to enjoy a drink afterwards.

Currently playing at the very cute Criterion Theatre, The 39 Steps will make a fabulous outing for a date and there are also many ticket deals for the show online so get yours booked now.

Useful Links
Buy tickets for The 39 Steps
Google Map Link
Closest Tube: Piccadilly Circus

I’d heard great things from friends about Doodle Club so I knew I was on to a winner when I went there on recent date. I met my date at Kings Cross and to get the evening going, we started out at the Big Chill Bar with a few drinks, then set off to the doodle club to continue the evening of fun and frolics.

On arriving at Drink Shop & Do we were directed to the basement by an assortment of comedy signs. We were then greeted by the host of Doodle Club, the eccentric Mister Mumbles and he is crazy fun! He made us feel so welcome and helped to get our imagination flowing with his starter drawings that reminded me of a more warped and adult version of “The Anti-Colouring Book” (a drawing book I much adored when I was young).

On every table there was a pot of felt tips so which allowed us to get started on our doodles straight away. Meanwhile the table service provided us with some delicious cocktails, notably the Cutini and great music was spun on the decks by Mister Mumbles himself. The night’s theme was tattoos but Doodle Club has a different theme every month which is a good start for some inspiration if you can’t think of anything to draw at first. I do not have any tattoos but if I did they definitely would not be anything I ended up drawing (a shark on a penis?).

Drinking cocktails and doodling seem to go hand in hand which left me thinking that I should be doing this much more often. The evening was a relaxed one and most importantly fun!

Doodle Club is held once a month on a Thursday in the basement of Drink Shop & Do, a bar, restaurant, shop and nightclub all in one. It resides at the Kings Cross end of Caledonian Road and is a fantastically enjoyable and different evening to spend with your date. We highly recommend you go.

Drink Shop & Do also holds other nights including swing dancing, fun with Lego, musical bingo and much more so it’s worth seeing what’s on as it may be the ideal place to go for your date.

Useful Links
Doodle Club Website
Mister Mumbles Blog – Snorting Rennies
Drink Shop & Do Website
Google Map Link
The Anti-Colouring Book (Amazon)
Closest Tube/Rail: Kings Cross