London is jam packed with exciting museums and galleries that have free entry. Choose between the V&A, British Museum, Natural History Museum and Science Museum for a fact filled date. Alternatively become a tourist for the day and watch the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace or view a trial where Oscar Wilde and the Kray twins were sentenced at The Old Bailey, probably the most famous criminal court in the world, perfect if your partner happens to be a lawyer. 

 

 

If you want to avoid the multiplex nightmare of Leicester Square, head to your nearest independent movie theatre for films both new and classic. The Genesis in Whitechapel is an East End gem and shows the latest releases with adult tickets set at £4 from Monday – Thursday. Notting Hill’s Electric Cinema, with it’s leather seats, footstools and tables for your cinema snacks, has Sunday tickets for just £7.50 showing a range of classic, independent and world film. The Prince Charles Cinema is situated in the heart of the West End and is the only non-subsidised repertory cinema in the UK. It shows a variety of films from the latest blockbusters to 1970s Italian horror flicks. Membership for the Prince Charles for £10 a year entitles you to film screenings for as little as £1.50.

 

At over £16 a pop, London Zoo is pretty expensive. Save your pennies for an apple or two for the donkeys at Hackney City Farm. This is one of the best in the country, and boasts an organic café. Afterwards, head to Stoke Newington, where you will find arthritic goats and doe-eyed deer in the animal enclosure. Check out all botanical gardens and farms near you, sometimes a stroll in the country can be the most magical and humorous thing, charged by rams anybody?!

 

For £7 you can join the most eminent authorities on a walking tour of historic London. Chiconomise suggests the Jack the Ripper, The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour and Sherlock Holmes’ London tours. They last about two hours, and come rain or shine the walks always go ahead. Major cities such as Manchester also do great walking tours and there's nothing more fun than sneaking off halfway through - go on relive your childish urges.

 

 

Some of the best dates are the ones that are a little different. How about a picnic? No girl or guy can resist homemade sandwiches and strawberries on a hot summers day. Or if you fancy going on a little trip, may we suggest catching a train to the seaside for a spot of fish and chips on the pebbles. A well thought out date is so much better than some flashy trip to Venice... well almost.