Best gift guide and activities for Valentine’s Day 2023

“>
Explore

With Christmas and New Year out of the way, it’s time to look at the next important date in the calendar, no not Easter, Valentine’s Day! The day of romance, love and all things heart-shaped. If you’re in the city for the weekend, there is so much to see and do to celebrate. If you want to get some ideas and impress the one you’re with, then you’re in the right place.

Why not make a weekend of it, staying in The Belgrave and planning a couple of romantic date days with your significant other? There are plenty of places to go in the area, so you can take it nice and easy. Throw in a few surprises to make it extra memorable! We’ve picked five date ideas and some great gift ideas to help you out this Valentine’s Day 2023.

No. 11 Pimlico Road (image credit: www.no11pimlicoroad.co.uk/)

Bottomless Brunch at No.11 Pimlico Road

For a day date to remember, why not try a bottomless brunch? It’s a great way of having a lovely couple of hours to relax, eat and enjoy a few drinks with your partner, whether you’re a new couple getting to know each other better or reconnecting as a couple who have been together for years. Take your pick from mimosas, mojitos, and prosecco and some genuinely incredible little light bites to get your romantic day off to a winning start.

The brunch lasts for 90 minutes, and you can order as many drinks as you like in that time. Order some of the delicious items off the menu and enjoy the specially picked music, romantic atmosphere and the company you’re with.

If a bottomless brunch isn’t for you, why not book a table for a meal, grab a coffee as you’re heading into London or have a few drinks before going to the theatre.

Book online to grab your table on Valentine’s Day.

Our first date gift (image credit: www.positiveprints.com )

Gift guide: Print of your first date

Why not head down memory lane this Valentine’s Day and get them a map of where your first date was, perfect if you’re going there for Valentine’s day! There are plenty of sellers out there who do this, but we like this one by Positive Prints.

TOZI restaurant (credit: www.tozirestaurant.co.uk)

TOZI

An authentic Italian restaurant that knows how to draw the crowds in. With a show-stopping pre-theatre menu, the chefs create some truly mouth-watering dishes that will have your taste buds tingling. Relax and soak up the atmosphere as you enjoy a night to remember with your date.

TOZI has taken the very best of Venetian casual dining, including cicchetti which are small plates of traditional dishes. Head chef Maurilio Molteni sources the absolute best organic ingredients that are either found locally or come over from Italy from the very best of his suppliers.

Being able to enjoy a lovely meal and a bottle of wine with your partner is the classic Valentine’s Day date, and at TOZI, you’ll be well looked after making your date night even more special.

Make sure you’ve booked for this popular spot.

Tate Britain(credit: Samuel Regan-Asante, www.unsplash.com)

Tate Britain

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of London and want to do something a little bit different, why not head over to Tate Britain. With some truly stunning artwork, sculptures, installations and even short films, this is a great idea for doing something non-traditional for Valentine’s Day.

There are always some fantastic exhibitions, which you may have to pay for, so make sure you keep an eye out for those and book tickets in advance if you can. There may be some darker spaces due to the installation in the gallery, so watch your step!

Entry to Tate Britain is free, and donations are always welcome. There is a café so you can sit and catch your breath as you walk around. Grab a little souvenir from the gift shop so you can never forget your day out.

Exploring with green London (image credit: www.thesecret.city)

Gift guide: London Treasure Hunts

Take a little tour of London and go on a treasure hunt – some of these popular tours takes your adventure through nearby boroughs. You’ll need to find clues and discover the mystery. A great gift idea that you can plan as a surprise whilst on your London trip.

Apollo Victoria (image credit: www.theapollovictoria.com)

Apollo Victoria

After a day around London, exploring and doing some sightseeing, why not book a surprise theatre trip. The Apollo Victoria is home to the incredible musical WICKED and is one of our favourite places in Pimlico.

The theatre itself opened in 1930 as a cinema and variety theatre, putting on various different productions until it became a venue for musical theatre in 1981, starting with ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Starlight Express’ running from 1984 to 2002.

The Apollo Theatre also sometimes runs venue tours on a Saturday, giving you an exclusive backstage look at how a theatre runs and operates. This a perfect date idea if your partner loves the theatre and has always wanted to see what happens behind the scenes.

Book tickets for WICKED or the venue tour and have a magical night out.

Aire Ancient Baths (image credit: www.beaire.com)

Aire Ancient Baths

Located close to Covent Garden, these ancient baths are a wonderful addition to your Valentine’s Day weekend plans. Relax and unwind with your partner with a couples spa package that will have you feeling completely refreshed and ready for whatever the rest of the day has in store. 

You can book relaxing massages, soak in the various thermal pools, or opt for a combo package involving the baths, a massage and a fantastic lunch in the beautiful, historic building. You will take a tour of the baths, taking in a total of 7 different baths varying in temperature. You can go at your own pace, the experience lasts 90 minutes. Any massages you book will typically take place during the second hour of your tour. 

Take a look at their limited edition Love Constellation packages specially designed for the Valentine’s Day weekend and have a romantic time reconnecting with your partner.

Gift guide: Personalised football shirts print

If your other half is a huge football fan, why not get one of these cute prints for Valentine’s Day. Fully customisable and a great way to show your love for football and your partner!

Barbara Wright (image credit: londonguidedwalks.co.uk)

Tachbrook Street Market

Pimlico is an ideal place to go if you want something a little slower-paced and somewhere to wander around and enjoy the company you’re with. If taking a little walk is more up your street and seeing all Pimlico has to offer, we recommend Tachbrook Street Market.

A mixture of fresh produce, from meat, fish and vegetables to hot food stalls and homemade wares, is a great place to spend a couple of hours. There are also some good vegan and vegetarian stalls, so why not discover your new favourite food? The hot food stalls change often, so there’s always something new to try.

After having a stroll around the market, why not take a walk down the Thames, or hop on one of the many open-top buses for a tour around London to rest those legs.

The market is open from 8am to 6pm every Monday to Saturday.

Book a romantic trip to London and stay at The Belgrave to have all these places on your doorstep and have a weekend to remember.