The best winter dates in London
Words: Guy Aubrey Devito
Christmas is fast approaching and there’s nothing a lady likes more than being taken out and treated to a frosty winter date in the capital. London is a city that suits the coat of winter and comes alive at this time of year; these are the best winter dates in London.
THE LONDON EYE
Yes you read that correctly, the London Eye, that gargantuan tourist trap that no Londoner has actually ever been on, makes for a fantastic winter date. Between mid-November and mid-January, Christmas markets, Christmas trees and Christmas lights transform central London into a dazzling light display and where better to enjoy it all from than the London Eye. The best part is that the queues are considerably shorter due to the merciful lack of tourists willing to brave the cold.
THE PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA/INDEPENDENT CINEMAS
When it gets too cold to be outdoors, the cinema presents a cosy option. The best independent cinemas like the Prince Charles Cinema will have an array of Christmas film options and events that are terrific fun to go to with a date. Classic Christmas films like Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life and Die Hard are screened as ‘quote along’, meaning you can talk and indeed quote along to the films, adding to the camaraderie of Christmas.
ICE SKATING
Ice skating in London might be overpriced and way too busy – but it’s also surprisingly fun. There are several skating rinks around London ranging from the famous; Somerset House, Natural History Museum to the more obscure; Ice Skate Vauxhall, Broadgate. Skating is easy to get the hang of and makes for the perfect date. Be sure to research the rinks as thoroughly as you can and then choose the one that works best for you and your lady.
THE CHRISTMAS PANTO
The tradition of the Christmas pantomime is as English as warm beer and is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to spend an afternoon or evening in London. If you’ve never been to a Christmas panto before, it is a highly recommended experience and, although technically for children, the script is peppered with jokes for the adults. In recent years acting royalty Ian McKellen and American bombshell Pamela Anderson have appeared in Christmas pantos in London.
THE CHRISTMAS MARKET
London, following in the great Mitteleuropean tradition of the Christmas market, has now got many of its own. These pop-up fairs have appeared everywhere from Southbank to Rotherhithe and vary in size. Some even charge entry but these ones tend to have something worth paying for included in the price. The lights, smells and festive hubbub of the markets provide a wonderful atmosphere for a casual date.
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