From foodie crawls and scavenger hunts to nights spent dancing the time away, This list of low budget, unique and quirky date ideas in London is perfect for any couple wanting to do something a bit ‘different’ for your next date!
Way back in 2013, my partner and I had a tradition of surprise ‘budget-friendly’ quirky dates around the house. From balcony blanket forts with pizza and board games to surprise BBQ’s (that almost smoked out all our neighbours with a defective disposable bbq. Oops!).
Almost six years later, we still love a date- these days, usually outside the house! But Dinner and a movie aside, we love quirky dates in London. This may not be the most romantic list of idea’s, but hopefully, it’ll be a little bit unique and a lot of fun!
I struggled with whether or not to include the low-budget part, because I know that budget is subjective. But I’ve tried to think of a fairly reasonable amount. Hopefully, you’ll all agree. With that in mind, All the quirky date ideas in London listed below are a maximum of £20 p/person for the main ‘activity’ and general extra’s that I’d expect you to pay for, with the majority being below that amount.
Also, side note, all of the ideas for date night below that include food options are vegetarian/Vegan-friendly!
Without further ado, in no particular order…
Note, all prices were correct as of the time writing this article in February 2019 and may not be indicative of what they are in later years.
1. Get crazy for Crazy Golf
When it comes to mini-golf, you are definitely not stuck for choice around London. From Swingers in two central London locations with its hip 18+ venue, cocktails, pizza and nostalgic course design. To Junkyard Golf club on Brick Lane, home of fluorescent lights, crazy course design and massive slushie cocktails, there are more than enough choices, BUT the prices can easily add up.
I’m going to focus on Puttshack in Westfield. Puttshack is the world’s first super tech indoor crazy golf location. No longer do you have to rely on pencil and paper to take score, as these courses work it all out for you. With countdowns, special tasks and even an opportunity to win prizes ( we didn’t win anything unfortunately), these fairground/arcade-themed courses are definitely not the norm for crazy golf!
Each game is 9 holes, lasting approx. 20 – 45 minutes according to their website so I’d ALWAYS suggest booking multiple games. With that in mind, it’s definitely best to take advantage of off-peak pricing. The price is £12.50 per adult at peak times or the same price for two games, off-peak ( which is all day Mon & Tue, before 5 pm Wed-Fri and after 6 pm on Sun).
MONEY SAVING TOP TIP: One of the ways these places end up leaving you speechless when the bill arrives, is with the food/drinks cost. With this in mind, if you’re feeling particularly thrifty, then I’d suggest skipping out on getting a meal there and heading into the main part of Westfield. There you have a vast array of food options including cupcake, doughnut and pretzel stalls ( I suggest getting the warm cinnamon pretzel from Mr.Pretzels! You won’t regret it). There are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, of course!
Website || Location: Westfield, Ariel Way, White City, London W12 7HB
2. Thrash your other half at bowling!
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I don’t know who decided that bowling just isn’t that cool anymore but – they’re wrong. There’s nothing better than thrashing your other half at bowling and completely losing all sense of dignity ( who doesn’t love a good victory dance after all?!). Tenpin in Acton is a popular budget-friendly option though. With 50% off on Tuesday, you can get 2 games for 2 people for under £15 total. What is even better is that the 50% off includes drinks too- alcoholic or non-alcoholic! Making for a super cheap round of drinks!
In fact, there are lots of offers available at TenPin; £10 Thursdays, 50% Student discount etc. You can see the deals HERE.
Yeah, it’s not the most ‘hip’ location, but bowling is bowling, right? Plus, If you’re doing you’re maths you’ve probably realised that up until now the entire date is only really costing around £20 overall – which you won’t get in more modern bowling alleys.
There is also an arcade in this bowling alley, so save some money to go ‘waste’ ( and I say that lovingly!) there. I’ve even stuck a cheeky tenner in there for some food as they serve grub including sharing platters, hotdogs and burgers ( including a veggie one) directly to your bowling lane.
So really this date could cost you anywhere from around £15 ( for a single game of bowling for two, a round of drinks and some spare change for the arcade) up to about £40 for multiple games, drinks, some grub and arcade spending.
And if Tuesdays just aren’t a possibility for you then you can head over to their website and take advantage of their exclusive online offer for Thursdays; 2 games of bowling, a sharing platter PLUS a drink – all for £13.50 per person! Add in some change for the arcade, and you’ve got yourself a date for around £30.
Website || Location: Royale Leisure Park, Western Avenue, Park Royal, Acton, London, W3 0PA
3. Spend a day playing games at a Board Game Cafe
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There are two types of people in this world. People who love board games and crazy people! Just kidding. But all jokes aside, if you lean towards the ‘meh!’ side of playing boardgames then this probably isn’t for you!
Imagine spending a day in a board game cafe, hundreds of possibilities for ways to thrash your other half at a game ( keeping score is recommended!). From exploding kittens to Zombicide. Even if you’ve never heard of 85% on the games on offer, that’s half the fun of it! And all part of what makes this the perfect quirky date in London.
I’m going to mention two locations here. One in North East London and one in South West because we don’t want anyone to feel left out.
Draughts: With two locations ( Hackney and Waterloo), this chic brand has over 800 games on offer( you can see their full selection HERE)in very modern-deco locations. At just £6 entrance fee, you can go and spend an entire day there ( or 4 hours maximum on weekends). They even have a small retail selection of games to buy and take home with you. Along-side the board games are a stocked bar and kitchen with plenty of Vegan and Veggie options.
Website || Location: Hackney 337 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA & Waterloo Arch 16 Leake St, Lambeth, London SE1 7NN
Library Pot: Taking a trip down south-west London is Library Pot in Richmond, our second board game cafe choice. A world apart from Draughts, within this cosy Boardgame cafe you’ll find a whole host of surprises. With an adult ball pit downstairs ( where you can watch anime movies on a big screen!), plenty of manga on offer, Japanese inspired food items and even Japanese language meet-ups, there is a definite theme going on.
From a choice of 500 games, the pricing at this venue works slightly differently. On weekdays you’re able to take advantage of 2 free hours then £2 per person for every hour after that. On weekends, it’s £5 for a ‘session’ of around 4-5 hours. Session times available HERE
2020 Update: I’ve checked their website again and it now shows A weekday mimimum spend of £10 p/person and Weekends £5 covercharge and £5minimum spend on food/drink.
You’ll be happy to hear there’s also delicious food on offer with tons of vegetarian and vegan options ( as the chef is Vegetarian!) and drinks including blossoming floral teas, alcohol and even fro-yo if I remember correctly.
So for this quirky date in London, I prescribe lots of laughs and LOTS of competitiveness. Go!
Website || Location:86 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2PQ
4. Rent Boats/Pedalo’s for splashing away an afternoon in London
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Even as I’m typing this, I realise that February isn’t really the right time to be mentioning this particular option. Especially as the majority of these boating locations aren’t available till Easter, but this list is for all-year anyway.
It’s not always easy to take advantage of the green spaces within the city of London, but this gives you the perfect reason to step away from the brick and stone of the London streets to a green area of calm.
I’ll never forget spending an afternoon with Rhys on a pedalo in Prague. Taking the time to just pedal aimlessly along a river, soak up some rays and just feel at ‘peace’. But did you know you can have that in London too? ( Although likely without quite as many sun rays!)
I know there are around a dozen different options for this across London from Alexandra Palace, Victoria Park to Greenwich so I won’t mention them all. Instead, I’ll give you my top three picks!
Hyde Park – Serpentine: I obviously had to include Hyde Park in these options, as the oldest boating lake in London. Not to do so would be crazy! Word of warning- when the weather is good, then these boats will be flying out so if you’re wanting a bit more privacy you’ll have to choose your timing carefully. Here at the Serpentine Lido, you’re able to book either a rowboat or a pedalo for around £12 per person, per hour. These are available from April – End of October. MORE INFO HERE
Victoria Park: If the various outdoor activities, weekly food market and summers filled with festivals and events aren’t enough to draw you to this park in East London then maybe a date opportunity will. Within Victoria park, there are actually 2 huge lakes – one of which has it’s on Pagoda on an island!- plus the boating ‘pond’. As far as I’m aware you’re able to rent out boats for £10 per 30 minutes from Easter – October 31st.
2020 UPDATE: There’s currently
Regent’s Park: This option is on the list for the romantic in all of us. Not only does this park offer a kids mini-lake, which means fewer kids around, but this is also the lake right out of the movie ‘Brief Encounter’ – the 1945 British Romance classic! Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you can FEEL like a romantic at-least, following in the footsteps of those before you. Plus these boats are available for £8.50 per person (£5.50 before noon), per 30 mins or for £10.50 per hour (£7 before noon). MORE INFO HERE
Money-saving top tip: To really take advantage of your time spent in one of London’s green areas, I’d suggest packing a picnic and blanket and setting up a spot in the vast park area. Just make sure to follow the rules – which usually means no BBQ/cooking and try to stick to non-glassware.
5. Paint some pottery
If pottery wheel a la ‘Ghost’ style is what you’re after – well that might be a bit of a stretch in London, for those on a low budget. BUT you can still paint some matching pottery with your other half ( matching egg cups anyone?!) at the Pottery Cafe in Fulham. Okay so this quirky date might bring you back to your childhood ( unless you haven’t been to a ‘pottery party’ in which case I say to you ‘whaaaaaa?!’ ), but it’s also a bit of a laugh. Whether you’re a Picasso or a stick figure type of ‘artiste’, you’ll get to take home your wares to keep and remind you of the day.
You pay £6.99 for the ‘session cost’, which covers all materials and the glazing/firing of the item. You then have to pay for the actual pottery pieces separately. To remain below budget, you’re looking at an egg cup ( £8.95 ), a small mug/bowl (£11.95) or even tiles of two sizes – or something similar. You can check out their website to see their full range and prices.
Plus, you can’t say that going home with matching egg cups isn’t a unique date!
Website || Location: 735 Fulham Rd, Fulham, London SW6 5U
6. Foodie Crawl
I could ( and will eventually) write a whole blog post on this. Because really there are just SO many options for fantastic street food markets in London. I know that, as a London local, you could visit these markets at any point, but I also think they make for the perfect quirky date in London for any foodie! My suggestion is to go for a foodie crawl, pick up a whole bunch of food ( within budget, of course) and head somewhere for a picnic! Alternatively, just splash out and eat plenty of hot grub as you wander. As I can’t mention every single option here though, I’ll give you a select few choices.
Borough Market: is an obvious choice for any foodies in London, with some truly old-school traders for baked goods, cheese’s, produce and more. As well as anything from Thai, Indian, Italian etc. as hot dishes that you can get right then and there. There is plenty on offer! Warning – there will also be LOTS of tourists. Details: Monday 10am-4pm, Wed & Thurs 10am-5pm, Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 8am-5pm
Website || Location: Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL
Mercato Metropolitano: You could spend a whole day here! And probably will as it’s 45,000 square feet! Mercato Metropolitano took an old paper factory and transformed it into a massive collection of traders, food stalls, shops and bars. From Gelato to pasta to pizza, plus an artisanal Italian supermarket, there’s plenty on offer. Along-side the food there are also events held there with dance lessons and live music! Details: Open daily from 8am-late (11 am on weekends)
Website || Location: 42 Newington Causeway, SE1 6DR
Broadway Market & Netil Market in Hackney: This is a bit of a double-entry because these two markets are literally around the corner from one another. For the hustle and bustle head over to Broadway Market and meander through the crowds to taste the foodie wares. There’s so much on offer they even have an interactive map on their website. This is particularly good for Veggies and Vegans because you can see in advance everything there is to offer. From vegan crepes, brownies and other baked goods, there is LOADS to try. Alongside the food stalls, the road is full of cafe’s and restaurants as well so a foodie paradise.
Around the corner, you can take a breath and relax while wandering through Netil Market. This market has a mix of pop-up stalls, foodie shacks and non-food offerings too. Definitely a good one for Vegetarians and Vegans, with offerings such as Death By Pizza’s Vegan pizza, Oli Baba’s Halloumi fries along-side others.’
Broadway Market Website || Location: Broadway Market, E8 4QJ @ Saturdays 9-5pm
Netil Market Website || Location: 13-23 Westgate Street, E8 3RL @ Saturdays 11-6pm
Vegan Nights in Hackney: For a complete celebration of Vegan food then head on over to Vegan Nights. With over 40 vendors you’re sure to find a new favourite. Plus with Dj’s and drinks flowing, you can easily spend the entire evening here. This market is a monthly event so check the website for exact dates. £7 for an early bird ticket, getting more expensive the closer to the date. I’d try to get the tickets as early as possible so you can spend the rest of your money on exciting food at the event.
Website || Location: Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Ln, London E1 6QR
Bonus Mention: If you’re looking for a daytime celebration of all things vegan then definitely also be sure to check out Soho’s vegan market, running on Saturdays. Having been there at its launch, it’s very exciting to keep up to date with their social media and see all the new vendors/meal options.
7. Sofar London – Secret gigs around London
If the idea of going to a secret gig, in a secret location sounds like your kind of quirky date, then Sofar London events might be right for you. With a website packed full of events and the ‘general’ area, you can then apply for tickets. If you’re lucky enough to nab a spot, tickets go for £13.99 each. You’ll be sent an e-mail with the exact location the day before the gig and most are BYOB. From someone’s living room so a shop floor – you never know where you’ll end up or what 3 eclectic music acts you might listen to ( it has been known for huge acts to perform too – Ed Sheeran, Bastille and James Bay have all done performances). With all the mystery, it’s definitely top of the list for quirky dates in London.
Website || Location: Various Locations around London
8. Pub Quiz evening
Once again working on our competitive natures, I think a local pub quiz is a perfect way to spend an evening outside of the house. At just a few quid to take part, you’re left with the rest of your budget to spend on food and drink. Plus, if you’re looking for something a bit more special, then there’s always themed quiz nights about. Cock Tavern in Fulham, for instance, has had Disney, Friends, Star wars etc. quizzes!
10. Cheap Theatre Tickets in London
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Okay, so cheap theatre in London are usually words strung together so casually but it’s true that with a bit of thought ( or some spontenaiety), you can nab some great cheap theatre tickets for you and a date.
And okay, your West End shows may not be super quirky – but you never know what type of theatre/cabaret etc experiences you’ll find.
There are a Couple of methods for getting cheap London theatre tickets that I’m aware of/ have used, so I’ll be focusing on them:
Day Seats: The theatre Box Office usually keeps aside a handful of day seats to sell on-the-day, at a reduced price ( yay!). These seats are only available from the box office but as they’re so limited it’s worth getting there even before they open ( there can be queueing). The prices vary from show to show – Luckily Theatre Monkey have a great ‘Day Seat Finder‘ page with a ton of information: prices, estimated amount of tickets, and perhaps best – updates from other users who’ve waited to give you an idea of the process.
Filler Seats: Saving the best for last – I absolutely LOVE finding cheap filler seats and you can get some AMAZING deals( and I’m talking super-duper reduced prices or even FREE tickets) with a bit of spontaneity.
My favourite option is Central Tickets. There are a few rules to using seat filler sites that you should be careful to keep to but otherwise this is my favourite method to finding exciting, cheap tickets. You’ll be sent e-mails with the most recent offers and have to jump on the quickly, so this option is best for spontaneous dates ( but who doesn’t likea surprise date?!)
Bonus: Central Tickets doesn’t just have tickets to theatre – there are also tickets to events like summer outdoor cinemas, events etc.
Note* There are other options for getting cheaper theatre tickets, including Ticket lotteries. However, these tend to be slightly higher budget- usually to get agreat seat location for a cheaper price point.
10. Swing & Salsa dancing galore!
Once again, this is an option that deserves a whole blog post of its own! But I’ll just mention a few options for you here. So if you want to drag your partner out for some hip-swinging, foot shuffling action then here are some options for you.
For Swing Dancing in Hammersmith: Head over to Hammersmith Club’s ‘A-Train’ on a Thursday evening. At £12.50 ( £10 for concessions) for standard admission, this won’t break the bank. No need to book, just turn up for the beginners class at 7:45 pm! The full list of classes and times are on their WEBSITE. OR turn up at 10 pm for some social dancing, no ‘class’ necessary, to show off your moves on the dance floor- for just £5!
Website || Location: 11 Rutland Grove, Hammersmith, London W6 9DH
For Jazz and swing in Dalston: Arcola theatre hosts a weekly Tiger Rag Fridays for those who want to dance all night long. With a beginners lesson of dancing between 9-10pm then Live music right up until 3 am, a lot of energy is a must! And, at £15 per person ( for the class plus entry to the live music) or only £10 to the live music, you’ll still have some money left over to splash out on drinks, to keep your energy levels up! You can get your tickets at DesignMyNight.
Website || Location: 24 Ashwin St, Dalston, London E8 3DL
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Salsa & Bachata in Fulham: Kona Kai in Fulham is a tiki paradise with fruity cocktails, hours of ‘happy hour’ plus, on the first Sunday of every month, in their Salsa & Bachata Club. No booking is needed, beginners welcome. £10 per class ( Bachata from 7:30-8: 15 pm or Salsa from 8:30-9: 15 pm) or £5 for the social dancing from 9:15 pm to midnight!
2020 Update: The Dance Club doesn’t seem to be running anymore. However, there is still a DJ and dancing, if you’re in the area.
Website || Location: 515 Fulham Rd, Fulham, London SW6 1HD
11. Secret Treasure Hunt & London Scavenger hunt
This one is a bit of a cheeky addition because the scavenger hunt itself is below the £20 p/person ( or exactly £20 ). However, you’ll likely spend extra on drinks/ food throughout the day. A true reflection of the date cost is probably closer to £30 p/person. I had to include it, however, because it really is a whole day of fun. With multiple, interactive options around London, you’re able to choose an adventure based on story/theme, and clue difficulty. You receive a start location, send a text and thus begins your adventure. You’ll receive text clues to send you onwards to your next location and on and on. These really give you a chance to explore area’s of London you may never have been to before and is definitely a unique and quirky date in London for the adventurous kind. I recently took part in the ‘enchanted mirror’ version and absolutely loved it, You can see my recent review HERE.
Website || Location: Various locations around London
12. Discount Experiences in London
I think it’s worth mentioning that ‘bargain hunting’ dates isn’t something you shold feel guilty for. You can get some amazing dates planned and some wonderful memories made at a great price.
Now, there are lots of options here to choose from so I’ll be focusing on just a couple. The first is Time Out Offers – Which have a large selection of special offers for eating, wellbeing, events, tickets etc.
The second site is something a little bit different and interesting; AVA Experiences; This siteallows you to ‘bid’ on experiences at a price of your choosing. There are instant-win as well as timed auctions, depending on what you’d prefer.
Experience options include BYOB Pottery and bread-making experiences, eating out, workshops etc.
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And that is my complete list of low-budget unique and quirky dates in London. What do you think?
Also, let me know your own favourite quirky date ideas below! 🙂
Till later,
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