Valentine’s Day ideas and gifts: top romantic date activities to do this year
Call us Cupid because we have the most romantic activities and gifts to treat your loved one to this Valentine’s Day.
Looking to surprise your significant other with a present that’s a little more meaningful than a box of chocolates? Then you’ve come to the right place. The RadioTimes.com team have put together a list of the top Valentine’s Day date ideas from all across the UK, as well as the best presents you can give a special someone on February 14th.
Valentine’s Day this year falls on a Wednesday. Although the day of love originated as a Christian feast day honouring the martyr Saint Valentine, later folk traditions have reimagined the February date as a celebration of romance, and with that has come some big spending. In 2022, money advice site Finder reported that Brits spent a whopping £1.37 billion on Valentine’s Day.
However, the Going Out team have considered every budget in our list as in the words of Jennifer Lopez, "love don’t cost a thing". We've included everything from experience days (because if there’s one thing that is incredibly meaningful without requiring too much effort, it’s an experience) and gift ideas, to bucket list activities and date night suggestions.
Valentine's Day is less than three weeks away, so for inspiration on how you can treat your someone special this year, take a look at our list below.
Looking for an experience for you and your loved one for February and beyond? We've visited and would recommend the Balloon Museum, Frameless, and BBC Earth Experience.
Get two-for-one tickets this Valentine’s Day for the London Eye
Is there anything more romantic than taking in the city skyline on one of London’s most iconic attractions with your other half? After all, with love in the air this Valentine’s Day, you might as well be, too!
For a limited time only, from today until Wednesday 14th February, you can get two-for-one tickets when you buy one full-priced adult ticket.
These tickets are redeemable from now until 30th June this year, which is perfect if you want to celebrate the special day later in the year. Simply use the code VAL24 at the checkout.
Valentine’s Day ideas 2024 at a glance:
Valentine's Day activities
- Candlelight: Valentine's Day Special, from £20
- Pottery Painting Experience,
£45£22 - Notting Hill Rom Com Walking Tour for Two in London, £30
- Two-for-one London Eye tickets, £45
- Rage Room Experience for Two with DESTROY'D, £60
- Three Course Lunch for Two at 20 Stories Rooftop Restaurant, £62
- Pure Pamper at Pure Spa & Beauty for Two,
£110£69 - The Mixologist Experience for Two at Harvey Nichols, £70
- Lovers Leap Bungee Jump for Two,
£198£136 - Two Hour Dim Sum Making Masterclass for Two at Ann's Smart School of Cookery,
£258£125 - Cotswolds: Full-Day Tour with Two-Course Lunch in 17th Century Bibury Hotel, from £128
- Two Night Memorable Break with Dinner for Two, £299.99
- Valentine's Day at The Meat & Wine Co
Valentine's Day gifts
- Mon Dessert subscription, from £59.99
- Gift Roses, from £14.99
- An Acre of Land on the Moon, £25
- Stormtrooper Valentine's Thirst Aid Kit, £25
- A bouquet of flowers at Bloom & Wild, from £24
- Romantic Flowers bouquets, from £37
- The Classic British Cheese Box from Letterbox Cheese, £40
- Phomo Valentine's Day kit, from £39.95
- Smooth & Plump Edelweiss Skincare Set from The Body Shop,
£58£29 - The With Love From Fortnum's Gift Box, £72
Best Valentine’s Day date ideas and activities for 2024
Valentine's Day at The Meat & Wine Co
It's the most romantic day of the year, so you deserve something extra special; celebrate Valentine's Day in style with a set A La Carte menu at The Meat & Wine Co, with a complimentary Elephant Gin cocktail. If you and your other half are foodies, you're sure to be impressed with the delicious meats and selection of sides — our mouths are watering just looking at the above photo!
Buy Valentine's Day at The Meat & Wine Co at The Meat & Wine Co
London Eye
Love is in the air, and what if you were, too? How about 140-metres in the sky on the London Eye? In this experience, you can elevate your Valentine's Day plans with a trip up the London Eye, where you'll see breath-taking views of the city of London. You could make the celebrations even more special by hiring a private capsule, too.
Plus, Merlin is offering a special two-for-one deal from now until Valentine’s Day (Wednesday 14th February); buy one full-priced adult ticket, and your partner will get a ticket for absolutely free.
Simply use the code VAL24 at the checkout. This deal is redeemable on tickets from now until 30th June this year, so if you’re planning on celebrating Valentine’s Day a little later, Merlin has you covered.
Get two-for-one London Eye tickets for £45 at London Eye
Lovers Leap Bungee Jump
The clue is in the title: you and a lover are going to leap off a 160-foot stand in a tandem bungee jump! Perfect for a couple who are a bit more on the adventurous side, the bungee jump includes a full safety briefing, plus a bottle of champagne to share after the jump.
Buy Lovers Leap Bungee Jump for Two for £198 £136 (save £62 or 31%) at Buyagift
For more activities for thrill seekers, check out the best UK zombie experiences and best UK skydiving experiences.
Cotswolds: Full-Day Tour with Two-Course Lunch in 17th Century Bibury Hotel
If you live in a city, then an escape to the gorgeous Cotswolds could be exactly what you and your loved one need this Valentine's Day. While the promise of the peaceful countryside is enough to convince us to experience this activity, you'll get a full-day tour of the Cotswolds, starting in Burford, stopping in Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold, and by the scenic River Coln. There's also a two-course lunch in a 17th Century former coaching inn and transportation to and from London included.
This experience is valid for one child and one adult, so would be perfect if you and your partner would like to bring little ones with you this Valentine's Day.
Rage Room Experience for Two with DESTROY'D
Now, we're not saying your other half gets on your nerves, but let's face it, they can be annoying at times... Let out any frustrations in the rage room.
Start with a safety briefing and get kitted out in protective gear before you get smashing. You'll have 30 minutes to obliterate objects like TVs, glass bottles, crockery, printers and much more, in any way you choose.
Buy Rage Room Experience for Two with DESTROY'D for £60 at Virgin Experience Days
Three Course Lunch for Two at 20 Stories Rooftop Restaurant
Soak in the Manchester skyline and enjoy a three course meal from a set menu at this next Valentine’s Day suggestion. 20 Stories in Manchester city centre is known for its panoramic views, buzzing atmosphere and gorgeous décor.
Buy Three Course Lunch for Two at 20 Stories Rooftop Restaurant for £62 at Virgin Experience Days
Two Night Memorable Break with Dinner for Two
For a Valentine’s experience which is both special but minimal effort, this two-night stay voucher is the perfect option. Choose from a venue in the UK or Europe, and enjoy two overnight stays in a cosy location, as well as breakfast each morning and a delicious dinner for two.
Buy Two Night Memorable Break with Dinner for Two for £299.99 at Buyagift
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The Mixologist Experience for Two at Harvey Nichols
Level-up on going out for Valentine’s Day cocktails and create your own instead! In this experience, you’ll learn to make three signature cocktails, then you’ll be given free reign to whip-up your own creation. With the experience available at various Harvey Nichols locations across the UK (Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds), travelling to this date night should be a piece of cake.
Buy The Mixologist Experience for Two at Harvey Nichols for £70 at Buyagift
Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special
What could be a more romantic setting than sitting next to your significant other, listening to music while bathed in candlelight? At St Columb's Cathedral in Derry, you’ll listen to a selection of romantic music played by a string quartet, including songs like Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy and Radiohead's True Love Waits.
Buy Candlelight: Valentine's Day Special tickets from £20 at Fever
Why not make a whole day of it and visit one of the best art exhibitions in London before your candlelight concert? Plus, here are the best candlelight concerts.
Pottery Painting Experience
Based near London Bridge, this bring-your-own-booze (BYOB) pottery painting workshop is the perfect experience to get your creative juices flowing. The 90-minute session sees you paint your crockery of choice — let's just hope your partner's painting isn't better than yours! This experience from Wowcher currently has over half price off, taking it from £45 to £22, so bag it while you can.
Buy Pottery Painting Experience for £45 £22 (save £23 or 51%) at Wowcher
For more exciting things to do in London, take a look at the best immersive experiences and best London escape rooms.
Pure Pamper at Pure Spa & Beauty for Two
Nothing says 'I love you' like a couple’s massage, right? In this romantic experience, you’ll enjoy Pure Spa and Beauty’s facilities and a 25-minute treatment each, which will either be a back, neck and shoulder massage or a manicure, complete with French polish, a hand massage or cuticle treatment.
Buy Pure Pamper at Pure Spa & Beauty for Two for £110 £69 (save £41 or 37%) at Red Letter Days
For us, a massage feels super luxurious. Check out our guide to the best luxury cinema experiences in London for other date night inspiration. Plus, these are the best London spa experiences.
Two Hour Dim Sum Making Masterclass for Two at Ann's Smart School of Cookery
Are you and your partner keen to sharpen your culinary expertise? Perhaps you want to learn a new skill to try out at home? If so, head over to Ann’s Smart School of Cookery for the Dim Sum Making Masterclass.
The two-hour workshop will see you making authentic Asian cuisine like crispy salt and chilli squid, vegetable gyoza, chicken and prawn dim sum with a sauce to dip, plus beef tataki with wasabi mash.
Head over to best London experience gifts for more like this.
Notting Hill Rom Com Walking Tour for Two in London
Instead of staying in and watching a romantic comedy, why not experience one with the Notting Hill Walking Tour? Visit the locations from hit romance movies like Notting Hill, Love Actually and Sliding Doors, such as Portobello Road Market.
Buy Notting Hill Rom Com Walking Tour for Two in London for £30 at Red Letter Days
Are you a fan of films like Notting Hill and Sliding Doors? Here's how to get cheap cinema tickets. For more walking tours, take a look at the top London walking tours.
Best Valentine’s Day gifts to buy in 2024
Phomo's Valentine's Day kit
If cooking with your partner sounds like your idea of heaven, but doing it in a public setting sounds like hell, then why not bring the joy of cooking something new to your doorstep? Phomo specialises in meal preparation and its Valentine's Day kits are perfect for getting crafty in the kitchen. Each kit includes phõ, a starter, pak choi, prawn crackers, and Phomo's signature chilli oil, and there are four options to choose from: Surf n’ Turf, Vegan, Cluck Cluck, or Mighty Meaty.
Buy a Valentine's Day kit from £39.95 at Phomo
The Classic British Cheese Box from Letterbox Cheese
This special edition box from Letterbox Cheese contains two cheeses — a heart-shaped cheddar and an extra mature cheddar blended with Spanish rioja wine and caramelised onions. It also has biscuits, homemade chutney relish, a silk red rose, and a slate cheese board, which comes with chalk for you to write your own romantic message.
The Classic British Cheese Box from Letterbox Cheese for £40 at Virgin Experience Days
Smooth & Plump Edelweiss Skincare Set from The Body Shop
Revive your loved one's skincare routine with this gift set from The Body Shop. Inside the kit is Edelweiss Concentrate (30ml), Edelweiss Day Cream (50ml) and a Jade Roller (which if you've used one before, you'll know how totally life changing they are!), all of which will leave skin looking smooth and plump.
Buy Smooth & Plump Edelweiss Skincare Set for £58 £29 (save £29 or 50%) at The Body Shop
A bouquet of flowers from Bloom & Wild
Picture this: you’ve surprised your loved one with breakfast in bed and a bouquet of flowers, and you’ve just been awarded the coveted Partner of the Year Award. A bunch of flowers goes a long way on Valentine’s Day, and Bloom & Wild has a page dedicated to the most romantic selections.
Buy a bouquet of flowers from £24 at Bloom & Wild
Mon Dessert subscription
Mon Dessert is a dessert subscription company which makes creating puddings at home super simple. Have you just cooked the perfect Valentine's Day meal and you're looking for something sweet to finish it off? Or perhaps your other half is a baker in the making? A Mon Dessert box is just the ticket.
Firstly, choose your plan size, from one dessert up to three desserts, then select the puddings you'd like to create, and your dessert box will be delivered to your door every four weeks.
Buy a Mon Dessert subscription from £59.99 per kit at Mon Dessert
Stormtrooper Valentine's Thirst Aid Kit
Prezzybox has plenty of brilliant gift ideas in its Valentine's Day gifts section, but one that particularly stood out to the RadioTimes.com team was the Stormtrooper Valentine's Thirst Aid Kit (of course!). This beer hamper contains five imperial tipples, beer mats, a Stormtrooper glass, and even snacks.
Buy Stormtrooper Valentine's Thirst Aid Kit for £25 at Prezzybox
Check out this month's Disney Plus offers to save a pretty penny the next time you want to watch Star Wars.
Gift Roses from Harkness Roses
At Harkness Roses, there's a rose for every occasion and for every person; choose from wedding anniversary roses and ones for your husband or wife to 'Soul Mate' and 'Love Never Dies' variations. After all, what's more romantic than giving a loved one a rose? It's very Beauty and the Beast-esque, except, hopefully, these ones won't die.
Buy Gift Roses from £14.99 at Harkness Roses
An Acre of Land on the Moon
Have you ever said that you love someone to the moon and back? Well, show them that you truly mean it with this next unique gift. You won’t be able to build a house on your newly-bought land, but with this gift you’ll get a lunar site map to show you exactly where your spot is located, lunar deeds, and a declaration of ownership.
Buy An Acre of Land on the Moon for £25 at Virgin Experience Days
To see if the sky has twice as many stars as usual, take a look at the best UK stargazing activities.
Romantic Flowers from Interflora
Whisk someone off their feet with Interflora's hand-picked selection of 'romantic flowers'. The bouquets include statement red roses, brightly coloured flowers, pastel hues and lilies galore, all crafted for you by your local florist, as well as sweet plants.
Buy Romantic Flowers bouquets from £37 at Interflora
The With Love From Fortnum's Gift Box
Choose between an alcohol and alcohol-free version of the With Love From Fortnum’s gift box. This alcoholic version comes with a mini heart chocolate box filled with caramel chocolates, Blanc de Blancs champagne, and a cashmere eye mask from brand Rosie Sugden.
Buy The With Love From Fortnum's Gift Box for £72 at Fortnum & Mason
We've put together a series of theatre guides so check out what's on at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
