Aaah! London's most romantic places
Is love in the air? The let's get it onnnnn...
Look out... love is in the air.
When Cupid is circling with his bow and arrow neither hell nor high water will stop the attraction of two star-crossed lovers... but it can never hurt to help things along with romantic environs (up against the bins behind Pukka Pizza on the Edgware Road is unlike to ignite passion).
You may be surprised with some of our choices below, including a museum, cemetery and even a garlic restaurant.
So let's get everyone in the mood by hunting out some of London's most romantic places...
Europe’s longest champagne bar is just the place to go if you’re looking for a romantic spot to imbibe the bubbles. Located on the upper concourse of the recently redeveloped St. Pancras Station it combines the regal champagne station with stunning views of the historic architecture that has made this station one of London’s most recognisable.
Scooterworks Cafe
132 Lower Marsh Street SE1 7AE
Cafes & Tea Rooms
Opening Times
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Scooter Works is the former Vespa repair shop that ditched the grease for the greasers with a beatnik array of film, music and art to get your pulses revving. With fairy lights in all the right places, canoodleable (made up word alert) cubby-holes and an all round fog of lusty romance the café itself is so pretty it might just make you go weak at the knees.
When you’re surrounded by great examples of artistic human achievement it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and ever so slightly fainty – make sure there’s somebody with you to catch you if that feeling takes over in one of the V&A’s exceptional galleries. We find the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries to be particularly noteworthy, romantically speaking.
There’s no denying the romance of the past and since Wilton’s is the world’s oldest surviving grand music hall, its intoxicating credentials are safe. Crumbling, dilapidated and all but derelict – the romantic setting for ping-pong tournaments, theatre and music - it will not disappoint. It’s survived two world wars and with the help of the Wilton’s trust this amazing monument to London will live much longer.
The view from the top of Primrose Hill gives a glimpse of a type of London unrecognizable at street level. No shops, cafes, restaurants or grime, but an expansive skyline of skyscraping towers juxtaposed with the greenery of the park in front of you.
Forget Paris’ Pére Lachaise and head to Highgate Cemetery – our own celluloid worthy whereabouts for London’s whimsical. How could you fail to appreciate each other with romantic rambling around the cemetery? Hand holding beneath gothic arches and weeping willows? Just being together in the cemetery will make you feel alive!
The Whispering Gallery at St Paul's:
Nothing says romance like whispering sweet nothings and where could be more perfect for that than in a bona fide whispering gallery? Climb the stairs towards the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral and you’ll come across this feat of engineered acoustics. Whisper to your loved one – something like, “Marry me?” perhaps – and the sound will carry around the wall and into their ears.
Apparently religion causes a fair bit of controversy, but we won’t get bogged down in that when there’s praising of another kind to be done– at the altar of love! Union Chapel is one of London’s greatest places to worship… each other and you’re favourite bands. Think anti-folk, acoustic programming in a venue, which has welcomed the likes of Kimyah Dawson, M Ward and First Aid Kit in the past.
Possibly as close as you’ll come to living out a little bit of Lost Boys/True Blood fantasy freakiness in the heart of Soho. If you prefer your romance on the macabre side then disappear into the seedy basement for beers and garlic infused shots and spend the night trying to cancel out the heavy sour garlic taste in each other’s mouths.
Opened in 1867, Kettners is an institution built on decadence. The Soho champagne bar attached to the restaurant, is the perfect escape for lovers who can enjoy the intimacy of bookable private booths. Sip bubbles behind heavy curtains and channel the extravagance of Oscar Wilde – reportedly a huge fan.
