The best things to do on Valentine’s Day in London 2026

This wildly maximalist staging of Baz Luhrmann’s smash 2001 film is endlessly romantic, from the red heart shaped set design to its sexy burlesque-inspired costumes to the love ballads that fill its yearning-fuelled story. It's a fantastic excuse to get all dressed up on Valentine's Day and shed a little tear and Christian and Satine's tragically doomed romance.

Peter Wright’s evergreen production of 19th century Romantic ballet ‘Giselle’ is a gorgeous take on a classic, with its lavish scenic design and emotive rendition of this tale of plighted love between a lowly peasant girl and a Count. Pair it with a pre-show drink in the Royal Opera House’s gilded, candelabra-lit Crush Room for a date that’s full of 19th century grandeur. 

Get cosy this Valentine’s Day at the Prince Charles and explore their rotating programme of cult, arthouse and classic films, alongside recent Hollywood blockbusters. Veering away from the typical romcoms, the Prince Charles Cinema is offering a line-up of more obscure Valentine’s friendly films, from Wong Kar Wai’s paean to the agony’n’ecstasy of buttoned-up emotions In the Mood for Love, romantic classics True Romance and Brief Encounter, Céline Sciamma’s glorious queer period romance Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a marathon of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy and rom-com faves like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, When Harry Met Sally. 

This Valentine's Day, the Natural History Museum is once again bringing back its special evening exploring love and relationships in the natural world. There's something for everyone, whether you're coupled up or not, with dance classes, science stations, a photobooth, and live music serenading you as you move around the museum. The ticket price also includes admission to the world-famous Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, so you can fall in love with some stunning imagery of the animal kingdom if humans let you down. 

From seduction, courtship and marriage to voyeurism, adultery and unrequited love; with over 2,000 paintings on display at the National Gallery, it’s no surprise that just about every kind of love story can be found on its walls. Led by award-winning tour guide Muriel Carré, this 90-minute tour takes in a whole bunch of romance-themed masterpieces by the likes of Van Eyck, Gainsborough, Rembrandt, Rubens and Velázquez. It’s a popular event and tickets are only available to members of the National Gallery – if you are one be sure to book tickets online in advance. 

There's no denying it: screenwriter Nora Ephron is the queen of movie romcoms. And Sleepless in Seattle is her most sophisticated masterpiece, with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan starring in a story that's soaked in yearning and dreamy romance. Its jazzy, moody score is a big part of the film's appeal, so its first concert screening is not before time. A full band will soundtrack an HD screening of the film, playing Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole numbers as well as its original songs that composer Marc Shaiman. It should make for an atmospheric serenade for this pair of very grown-up lovers. 

We're not saying you can't bring a date to this kitschy Bridget Jones screening. But it sounds like it'll be a lot more fun with an assembled gang of single pals, who are primed to caterwaul along to 'All By Myself', drink wine through a straw, and shed a little tear when Mark Darcy says 'I like you very much as you are'. Interactive fun on offer here includes a Big Pants Dance Off, blue soup cocktails, novelty costume contests, and a dancefloor after with DJs spinning noughties classics. Popcorn, hot dogs and nachos are served throughout, to soak up all that vino.

One of the most bewitching and fascinating buildings in London, Sir John Soane’s House is a beautiful townhouse turned time capsule that holds the architect’s fabulous and extensive collection of art, furniture and architectural ornamentation. This Twilight Tour lets you tour the museum after dark when it’s at its most atmospheric and romantic. An expert guide will lead a fascinating tour through the building bringing the ornate objects to life. 

Ready to splash out this Valentine's Day? At JOIA, the rooftop restaurant at Battersea’s Art’otel, this Valentine’s Day, you’ll find an elevated version of a date night classic: dinner and a movie. Over three days, the Iberian restaurant will be serving up a romantic spread for an early 5.30pm dinner before screening classic romantic movies for you to swoon over, including ‘The Notebook’, ‘Dirty Dancing’ and ‘Bridget Jones's Diary’. Blankets and hot water bottles will be on every seat to stave off the cold, while there’ll be popcorn to snack on if you still have room for more food.

If gift-giving is your love language, you’ll find plenty of presents to show your affection at the DIY Valentine’s Day Art Market. Taking over a unit of Copeland Park on February 14, it will play host to over 100 national and international artists and publishers, all bringing with them stalls’ worth of unique buys. Expect ceramics, zines, artwork, t-shirts, tote bags, jewellery and more to be battling for your attention (and your wallet) in this treasure trove of creativity.

The late, legendary choreographer Pina Bausch makes work that's soaked in passion and desire, so the contemporary dance head in your life will be delighted with a Valentines date to the UK premiere of her work Sweet Mambo, an expressionist dance work which explores human emotion in its many forms. 

They say a trip to Ikea can make or break a relationship: navigating the labyrinthine rooms of furniture, battling it out over the right colour of Billy bookcase and then assembling said bookcase without coming to blows. Now the homeware giant is trying to bring out its romantic side with a one-of-a-kind, high-glamour three-course dining experience in Livat’s IKEA Hammersmith restaurant. Grab your date and have a paparazzi-style arrival on the red carpet serenaded by singing black-tie waiters and live opera, before tucking into your meal, which, of course, can include a meatball main and the shop cafe’s famous Daim cake. There’ll also be professional photographers on hand to capture your night. 

Bookings are available on February 12, with sittings at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. Pre-booking is strongly encouraged – here.

Give mind, body and soul a bit of a v-day reset (with or without a date in tow) at wellness festival Equanimity. Slomo's pop-up spa in King's Cross has two wood-fired saunas, three icy cold plunge pools and a roaring fire, offering a corner of Scandinavia in Lewis Cubitt Square. Perfect for getting your pulse-racing in the cleanest possible way.

Is true love just around the corner? Or is your romantic life about to hit the rocks? Have your cards read by artist and astrologer Manuka Honey at Selfridges this Valentine’s to find out. Hosted in the The Cloakroom, Selfridges’ new bar behind The Cinema, this night is perfect for attending solo, with mates or with your boo. Bookings can be made for singles (£30) or couples (£40) and include a tarot reading plus a martini of your choice. Those not wanting to have a reaching can purchase a £10 ticket. 

A highlight of Kew Gardens’ annual orchid festival, this series of late openings invites visitors into the vibrant tropical environs of the Princess of Wales Conservatory after dark for a special evening of entertainment celebrating China, the subject country of the 2026 festival. Guests will be able to enjoy live music by Chinese artists mui zyu and Yijia, witness a fashion walk featuring traditional clothing, and take part in a woodblock printing workshop. There’ll also be an opportunity to hear from some of Kew’s resident scientists about the Gardens’ pioneering scientific research projects in China, and of course, a chance to get up close to the colourful orchid displays. 

Since the dawn of time, humans have been writing soppy poems about the ones they love: or twisted, vengeful poems about potential suitors who turned them down. Cupid’s intervention is an open mic poetry night at St Peter’s Church in De Beauvoir Town that's perfect for anyone who's got some romantic verses scrawled in a notebook, or in the notes section of their phone, and is brave enough to give them an airing in sympathetic surroundings. Beginners and skilled wordsmiths alike are invited to read for two to three minutes, or simply to listen to everyone else's emotionally-charged words.

Sure, you're into your date. Hopefully. But would you go to literal hell and back for them? Consider that question at indie-folk musician Anaïs Mitchell’s musical retelling of the Orpheus myth. This determinedly leftfield and darkly romantic show is a moody, atmospheric, gig-style meditation on love and the things we do for the object of our obsession.

London’s legendary 1950s Rivoli Ballroom is bringing back its pop-up cinema once again for Valentine’s Day for atmospheric screenings Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, an irreverant take on Shakespeare’s tale of star cross’d lovers, and John Hughes’s 80s teen rom com classic Pretty in Pink. Famed for its original red velvet flock decor, sparkling chandeliers and gilt Chinese lanterns, there really is nowhere more romantic for V-Day.

Have a laugh this Valentine’s at this one-off evening of improvised comedy. Guest actors will join forces with leading comedians for a series of performances where each actor shares a real-life dating story before handing it over to the improvisers, who will reimagine the moment through a series of alternative ‘Sliding Doors’ scenarios, exploring what might have happened instead. Performers include Asim Chaudhry, Sian Gibson, Robert Gilbert, Naomi Petersen, Steen Rasko, Meera Syal and Alison Thea-Skot. It’ll all be joyfully tied together by host Joe Lycett, and all proceeds will go towards Open Door’s charity work supporting young people’s mental health. 

Forget the Valentine’s blues, because drag artist and DJ Fancy Shews! is hosting a night of self-lovin’ at the Selfridges Cinema, with DJs, drinks, live entertainment and a panel talk all about self-love. A soon-to-be-announced very special guest will also join the line-up, with more details to come. 

It’s a Valentine’s Day classic: dinner and a film. This year, The Bush, the European cafe in the art’otel London Hoxton, is giving this traditional date idea a new look. Grab your favourite person and tuck into a delicious two-course meal at the cafe, before cuddling up in its cosy cinema room to watch one of its curated line-up of rom-coms, including 10 Things I Hate About You, Dirty Dancing, When Harry Met Sally and The Notebook. 

️Friday 13 February films: 6pm, 10 Things I Hate About You. 8.30pm, Dirty Dancing
Saturday 14 February films: 6pm, When Harry Met Sally. 8.30pm, The Notebook

Tooting’s turning up the heat for 2026’s Valentine’s weekend with the launch of the Tooting Food Festival, a two-day celebration of global flavours, local legends and proper community vibes. Taking over Tooting Market and Broadway Market, the festival brings together the neighbourhood’s best traders for tasters, street eats and stories behind the dishes. Expect live music from afternoon to evening, guided tours exploring Tooting’s rich food heritage and plenty of chances to graze your way around the world. Entry’s free – just grab food tokens and follow your nose. A tasty new highlight of Wandsworth’s Borough of Culture year.

If you’re of the opinion that they just don’t make love songs like they used to, then Walthamstow Trades Hall’s Valentine’s night party is the perfect place for you and your boo to celebrate. Local acts Simon Lawrence ands the Sunnymoon Jazz Band will be headlining the evening, covering Rat Pack classics like ‘Sway’, ‘Mack the Knife’ and ‘That’s Amore!’ with support from ‘lounge folk’ duo Weaver Line. And after the live acts have finished, resident DJ Lord Darkwave will be upping the tempo with a set of disco bangers that’ll keep you dancing til the early hours with E17’s older funsters, cheap pint in hand. 

While the RMS Titanic proved to be all too sinkable, this titanically this camp cabaret-style parody that marries the considerable kitsch appeal of the 1997 film with that of its true star – My Heart Will Go On singer Celine Dion – should sail on for some time. 

As a laugh-filled send-up of one of the highest-grossing love stories of all time, it’d make a good date night activity for anyone who finds Valentine’s Day a bit too saccharine. Particularly if they have a high tolerance for the music of Celine Dion and love a good joke about twinks.

Embrace the spirit of après-sk this Valentine’s Day in London. Think less uni ski trip and more luxury holiday in Courchevel, because the Chalet at Rosewood will be embracing the finer elements of slopes this V Day, serving up oysters, wine-braised short ribs, cheese fondue and tartiflette charlotte. Rosewood has also paired up with Singleton Single Malt Scotch Whisky for the event and will be slinging out the finest whisky cocktails and an exclusive Singleton 21-year-old serve ritual.