Gulp...
A damp brow, sweaty palms, a tied tongue, maybe some gas - these are all to be expected as you prepare to drop on one knee, whip out a ring and pop the big question.
London is a deeply romantic city (Kilburn High Road notwithstanding) and so it's easy to get overwhelmed in trying to pick the perfect backdrop for your proposal. So if you're stuck for inspiration then take a look at our suggestions below.
And... best of luck!
When it comes to proposals, some people want theirs to be the most romantic, some want the most original and some want the most expensive. Then there are those who want the highest (yes, there are those people, we’re not just making them up). And if you want the highest then The Shard is the only way to go. Plus, if you want a bit of privacy to go with your view then try the toilet on the 68th floor. There’s a clear sightline out across the city and all the tissue you might need for those weepy eyes.
London Bridge is much like any bridge once you’re on it. What is important here is the view that this particular bridge affords you. Head here by night, look east and gaze upon the lights that decorate Tower Bridge. There’s no London proposal spot quite like it.
In our opinion, by night, there are few more romantic spots in London. You have the views across the park, the amber glow of the observatory above you and your place together on the prime meridian of the world. That way you could also name your two children ‘Longitude’ and ‘Latitude’, which would make a really sweet touch.
Nothing says ‘will you marry me’ like saying it at the St. Pancras Grand Champagne Bar before whisking your beau off to Paris for the weekend. That’s how we do anyway. You might find champagne, flowers and Eurostar a little classic, but darlings, Paris can never be a cliché…
“This could all be yours if you marry me…” we would say as we got to the very highest point of our revolution inside the pod on the London Eye. While you might not want to go for that specific line, perhaps finding it a little too much, the view should put whatever you say into - a very thoughtful and romantic - second place.
A wedding proposal is first and foremost about the words exchanged; those four words loaded with what could be a lifetime of happiness with another human being. However, they are also often about the view – as this list will have informed you. So why not let us throw anther one out there for you. How’s about Parliament Hill? Some say the climb to the top of Hampstead Heath and the view out across the plains can only truly be capped off with a proposal of marriage.
London has a number of boating lakes where you could stage the ultimate proposal. There’s Victoria Park, Hyde Park and Dulwich Park to name a few. Take aboard some champagne, take charge of the oars and row yourselves towards a blessed future of love and happiness together.
Whether you decide to make use of St. Paul’s famous Whispering Gallery, the ancient cathedral makes a great proposal spot. Look for a quiet time and drink in the glory of this great landmark. Work up your courage and then… whisper away.
An institution like marriage should be treated with the reverence it deserves. And for us that means entering into it in sight of that bastion of British democracy, Parliament. Stroll the banks of the Thames, take courage from the leaders who reside within the Houses of Parliament and ask away.
The Edwardian interior of Daunts is just about as romantic as any shop could ever get. Feel the weight of literature, make a beeline for the poetry section and take inspiration from somebody who writes romance for a living. Plus Daunt is almost as quiet as a library so atmosphere and intimacy won’t be a problem.