Valentine’s Day – Loved up in London

Under two weeks to go…and you haven’t planned V-day yet! Don’t panic, here are a few ideas sure to impress a new squeeze, old flame or significant other…

Diner à Deux
Love is in the air…or in the sky! Fly up to 35-storeys where the Sky Garden’s Fenchurch Restaurant is serving divinely decadent five-course lunches and seven-course dinners, featuring scallops, angus beef, champagne and chocolate, and a panoramic view over the City.

Back down to earth but no less romantic is the offering from Blakes, one of world’s first boutique hotels, designed by former Bond Girl Anoushka Hempel (The Australian Girl in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service... you’re welcome). The Aphrodisiac Menu is a flirty feast of
tempura oyster with caviar, saffron risotto with prawns and burrata and a chocolate mousse with passion fruit, mango and yuzu. Libations include a bespoke Love Potion cocktail made with gin, Disaronno and cranberry. Extend the evening with an overnight 'love package' stay, choose between a Naughty or Nice experience - the former including a Kama Sutra book and the latter, roses and poetry, ahh.

For a meat-free romantic meal, Vegetarian restaurant Titbits in Heddon Street has prepared two special menus: ‘Fondue for Two’ (served on their winter terrace) and ‘The Loveboat’, both accompanied by a bottle of vegan prosecco.

If you don’t like the thought of sharing your V-day with a roomful of tables for two, try one of the following ideas for size.

Tango Fire at The Peacock Theatre: light your fire by watching the sultry moves of authentic Argentinian tango as performed by award-winning professionals, with a live backing by the Tango Fuego Quartet.

Or celebrate in a more classical style at a candlelit piano recital in the iconic Southwark Cathedral. Pianist Warren Mailley-Smith will be playing a selection of Romantic favourites from Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata to Gershwin’s The Many I love by way of Rachmaninov, Chopin and Debussy, with a red rose for every concert-goer.

Not strictly in London but an easy cab or train ride away, Windsor Great Park is the setting for the ultimate in romantic gestures: horse-drawn carriage rides around the park, the Queen’s country garden, complete with champagne and cosy blankets.

Finally, for a slightly more sophisticated version of Netflix and chill, Luna Cinema, the pop-up picture house, is screening romantic classics such as Pretty Woman, Love Actually and uber-weepie The Notebook on the 14th.

NDY