The Complete Valentine’s Day Experience Guide

February 14^th – regarded as Valentine’s Day, THE Day or just a regular day depending on who you ask. This famous holiday riddled with a fascinating history was nothing as we currently know it today where lovers from around the globe seek experiences to create an amazing day for their beloved. However, what happens when you’ve outdone the typical breakfast in bed or Lover’s Day lunch/dinner prior or post gift exchange and you’re stranded for ideas? Fret not! My experience guide will inspire all in need of a gentle coaxing in the direction of fresh ideas on adventures you and your partner can embark on this Valentine’s Day.

 

ADVENTEROUS

Horse riding

Horse riding aficionados and/or non-experts can saddle up and unwind once enrolled in a horse riding lesson, whilst taking in gorgeous sights of the great outdoors with their partner. Saddles Riding Centre is a wonderful location for a horse riding lesson this V Day (or any other day). The centre boasts an experienced team, a 5-minute walk location from the station and affordable prices – this may just be THE best V Day experience this year! Now, for my non-commuting folks Trent Park in Enfield offer riding lessons within luscious green pastures but at higher prices and is sure to be also as enjoyable.

Location: Bexley, UK | Trent Park, Enfield London

Prices: from £22pp semi private lessons & £25pp private lessons | from £43pp group lessons & £58pp indiv. lessons

Additional info: riding gear may be required; visit websites for more information

Helicopter flying

Propel your love into a higher altitude with a flying lesson that will teach you and your partner the principles of flying, how helicopters are controlled and the opportunity to fly! Flying Pig Helicopters is a unique family run flying school with an aim of injecting the fun back into flying; expect exceptional panoramic views of the capital’s skyline and the Hertfordshire landscape.

Location: Elstree, Borehamwood London

Prices: from £99pp for experience encounters

Additional info: special clothing may be required, visit website for more information

Black Taxi Tour of London

Hit the road in style and explore this cosmopolitan city’s landscape as you take in well-known landmarks of London. Black Taxi Tour offers personalised sightseeing tours of London in the comfort of a London Black Cab; tours include Tales of the Thames, London Villages, Secrets of London – to name but a few! Expect full commentary from your driver, the choice of stopping wherever and whenever and a unique experience.

Location: Marylebone, West London

Prices: from £150per cab for Sights of London Tour

Additional info: visit website for more information

Romantic Walk & Sunset Watching

At one point or another everyone has marvelled at the magic that is watching the dazzling hues of amber, red, pink and blue lace across the vast sky as the city descends into a period of momentary darkness. Sunsets are beautiful, fiery and romantic – a few of the things that comprise an amazing Valentine’s Day and what better way to enjoy this than a stroll through the likes of Primrose Hill at Regent’s Park, a gander across The Millennium Bridge along the Thames Embankment or at the serene terrain that is Richmond Park in South West London? Want to know the best (one of the best) parts of this experience…it’s totally FREE! (yes, I’m doing my happy dance and I know you are too!).

Location: various across London

Prices: absolutely free!

Additional info: wrap up warm with sturdy comfortable footwear; check websites for more info 

 

ARTSY

Pottery Workshop

The art of pottery stands as one of the oldest human inventions of time. This ancient art form is becoming increasingly popular and provides an opportunity to produce special pieces of artwork one can use to decorate regardless of  the end result! Take your partner to a pottery workshop this Valentine’s Day at Midas Touch Craft, which aims to fuse the fun element of crafting with socialising and mindfulness, and produce precious pieces of art that you can both treasure for years to come.

Location: Borough, South East London

Prices: from £149pp for full ceramic & pottery workshop

Additional info: visit website for more information

West End Theatre Shows

London’s legendary West End  – saturated with a multitude of day/night time destinations for the masses to immerse themselves in and enjoy; from restaurants and exhilarating escape rooms, to designer shopping hotspots and tourist attractions. The West End has it all. One such destination that is sure to be an exceptional experience is a trip to the variety of theatre shows on offer at the West End. These include Dreamgirls, The Phantom of The Opera, The Lion King and Disney’s Aladdin – to name but a few. Make time for a West End Show this V Day and allow yourselves to be whisked away into the realms of musical theatre with skilful acting, unique sets and bold costumes. For dazzling discounted tickets check out Last Minute or Love Theatre.

Location: various across London

Prices: dependent on show and seats

Additional info: visit websites for more information

Social Painting Experience

Artists in the making and fun seekers can enjoy creating various masterpieces within a social environment. Artistique Painting Club offers participants a painting experience, where they are guided through a number of steps to recreate masterpieces like The Kiss by Klimt or Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, all whilst socialising and enjoying refreshments. Situated in the South West London’s The Northcote – Artistique Painting Club places strong emphasis on creating a social surrounding for all who join, to thrive and create masterpieces. Check them out today and book a session for you and your lucky partner!

Location: Battersea, South West London

Prices: from £35

Additional info: visit website for more information

 

Live Music Entertainment

A bit of live music is always good for the soul; it’s a romantic and intimate way to spend time with your partner whilst sipping on a glass or two of Merlot or Chardonnay… London is a fantastic hub for live music and there is an array of venues that specialise in outstanding live entertainment that will leave you wanting to get up and own the dancefloor as you take on the night with your beloved! Some great places include: Piano Smithfield, Brasserie Toulouse Lautrec, Boisdale of Canary Wharf, Dirty Bones Kensington, Jazz Café Camden – to name but a few. Make live music entertainment part of your Valentine’s Day plans this year (you’ll thank me in the end)!

Location: various across London

Prices: dependent on location

Additional info: visit websites for more information

ACTIVE

Dance Classes

Dancing is an art form that has existed for thousands of years. It’s a great activity to partake in with your partner this Valentine’s Day whether you’re a dancefloor newbie or a salsa wizard and with a host of dance studios and classes available in London, you’ll be sure to find the best one. City Academy run classes in ballet, belly-dancing, salsa and tap for example, 7 days a week at over 40 locations across the capital. Additionally, you can both learn to dance and dazzle each other with new moves from the Swing Patrol that run classes, workshops and socials across London and Brighton. City Salsa Dance School are another great organisation that run friendly and fun Salsa classes at some of London’s best Salsa clubs.

Location: various across London

Prices: dependent on location

Additional info: visit websites for more information

BOOZY

Wine tasting

Wine connoisseur or enthusiast? It doesn’t matter because regardless of what category you fall under, you and your significant other can take pleasure tasting an array of wines from different regions at Mirabell. Mirabell is a family-run wine bar with a passion for the finest wines and cheeses, delivered with a personal yet professional service within a relaxed and stylish environment. Additionally, why don’t you both celebrate the finer things in life with a tasty trip to the Wine Cottage – a stunning location priding itself on providing guests with luxurious wine selections, delectable cheeses, sumptuous fruits and chocolate. What makes this offer even sweeter, is that Virgin Experience Days are offering a deal at the Wine Cottage for two priced at just £50!

Location: various across London

Prices: dependent on location

Additional info: visit websites for more information

Gin tasting

As wonderful and delicious as wine tasting is, gin tasting is something different and equally exciting. City of London Distillery is a famous distillery in the heart of London that brought back gin distilling in 2012 after its absence for nearly 200 years. Their offered experiences run weekdays during the evening and will see you and your partner journey on a guided tour of the distillery followed by gin tasting.

Location: Bride Lane, City of London

Prices: £25pp

Additional info: visit website for more information

FOOD

Luxury chocolate making

The luxury chocolate making workshop presented by My Chocolate London is a chocoholic’s dream! This workshop is one that combines indulgent chocolate martinis and prosecco with chocolate making; you and your lucky lover will be treated to an assortment of delightful treats including chocolate martinis, prosecco, chocolate taster platters and truffles tasting. This is all while expert chocolatiers coach you on how to blend chocolate martinis, teach you the history of chocolate and provide you both with the opportunity to get your creative juices flowing and make your own delicious chocolate slabs.

Location: various locations across London

Prices: £80pp

Additional info: visit website for more information

Cooking class

Work towards your cooking skills with your significant other at an array of cookery classes offered at The Smart School of Cookery. The school offers an intimate dining and learning experience where you and your SO can gain tricks and tips from the school owner as well as, from esteemed specialist chefs, using fresh locally sourced ingredients. Alternatively, the London Cookery School offer classes in Dim Sum, Sushi making, and Korean cooking classes where your chef/teacher will guide you both through easy to follow recipes that will see you recreate them easily when at home together. Finally, check out Groupon for delicious discounted cookery classes at various other venues that will see you learn essential skills and still save a bit of mula!

Location: various locations across London

Prices: dependent on location

Additional info: visit websites for more information

RELAXATION

Thames Sightseeing Cruise

Cruise along to your loved one’s heart with this relaxed Valentine’s Day sightseeing cruise along the Thames. Enjoy options such as, a champagne afternoon tea, dinner, free-flowing bubbles, live music entertainment, bright city lights plus much more all along the Thames as you both discover new and old favourites thanks to City Cruises. Check them out today and be uniquely inspired for Feb 14^th.

Location: the Thames London

Prices: dependent on option selected

Additional info: visit website for more information

Spa Packages

Discovering the perfect pamper gift for you and your loved one can be tricky; my top tip is to search around for the best deals on offer. But guess what?! You don’t have to because this section will highlight some great locations that offer amazing deals available in the capital. Last minute is a fabulous place to start, offering a range of deals including spa days with afternoon tea, spa days under £50 and spa days that can be booked this week. Spa seekers are a spa booking specialist who aid you in finding your perfect spa day deals, spa beaks and 2-for-1 deals with trusted customer reviews. Finally Buy-A-Gift and Groupon are famous sites for a variety of spa offers found across the UK at some exclusive 5* establishments at super discounted prices. So, what are you still waiting for…?.

Location: various across London

Prices: dependent on location chosen

Additional info: visit websites for more information

The Solo Foodie

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