Non drinking date ideas London

A few weeks ago my husband and I had a spa weekend away... I'm talking hydrotherapy pools, walking green acres, good food and croquet. Now, I'm pregnant, meaning our date night ideas are pretty limited, plus my husband is not a big drinker so there's that too.

We're always look for places that don't rely heavily on alcohol. Where you can have fun with your date or friends without loud, banging music, unsolicited visitors, or someone screaming "shots!". On the other hand, we also don't want awkward silences, forced 'fun' or expensive activities that we don't really enjoy, like the London Eye or random arcades.

Since we've already been scoping them out, I thought I'd write down a few good places you can trust as a worthwhile date where alcohol isn't needed. Enjoy!

1. Get Creative Together at Art Play

If there’s one thing I’ve realised, it’s that doing something with your hands instantly makes a date feel more relaxed. You’ve got something to focus on, something to laugh about and usually something to take home at the end of it.

Art Play London absolutely nails this. Their workshops are cosy, well guided and genuinely fun even if you’re not particularly artistic.

• The standout has to be the Paint your Partner Challenge. It’s exactly what it sounds like. You sit opposite each other and attempt to paint the other person. It sounds cute and it is, but it’s also hilarious. Expect wildly questionable portraits, a few accidental insults disguised as “artistic interpretation”, and a lot of laughing the whole way through. What makes it fun is that it’s low pressure and a bit chaotic, so no one’s worried about being good, it’s more about the reactions when you finally reveal your paintings. It’s one of those activities that breaks any awkwardness straight away and gives you something funny to look back on, especially if you keep the paintings as a reminder of how it turned out.

Book the "Paint Your Partner Challenge"

• If painting isn’t your thing, the candle making workshop is a calmer option. It feels a bit more mindful and you leave with something that actually smells amazing. Imagine learning something new together and then taking your candles home with you. You can compare scents and choose something that warms up your rooms. Scents can be smooth, fruity, spicy, whatever it is that speaks to you both. And then you end the class by decorating them together with flowers and beads and other bits - it's really cute!

Book Candle Making

• Or, if you want something a bit more special, the silver ring making workshop is a good idea. This workshop is timeless. You design and create your own rings, which makes it feel like a proper keepsake rather than just an activity. By the end, you leave with something you’ve both made from scratch, which gives it so much meaning and makes it feel memorable long after the day itself.

Book Silver Ring Making

These are the kind of dates that work whether it’s your first or your fiftieth. No pressure, no noise, just a genuinely good time.

late night date at the v&a

late night date at the natural history museum

2. Wander a Museum Late Opening

London museums are criminally underrated for dates. Especially the late openings when things feel a bit quieter and more grown up. Once a month a select few ideas open their doors until 10PM, usually complete with a DJ and somewhere to have a tea or lemonade.

Victoria and Albert Museum is always a good idea. There’s something about walking through beautiful exhibits together that naturally sparks conversation without it feeling forced, with al the fabulous outfits and period pieces on show. You can dip in and out of rooms, sit down when you want, and there’s no pressure to constantly be “doing” something. It just flows.

Another fun option is the Natural History Museum. There's something surreal about exploring planets and extinct creatures, coming face to face with the furocious T-Rex, when you're typically not supposed to be there. Think Night at the Museum.

Late openings also tend to have a slightly different atmosphere. A bit more relaxed, sometimes with talks or small events going on, but still calm enough to actually enjoy each other’s company.

FlightClub Darts Date in London

3. Play Darts Without the Chaos

This one surprised me. Darts sounds like it belongs in a loud pub, but done right, it’s actually a brilliant date.

Flight Club turns it into something much more fun and interactive. It’s still darts, but with games built in, automatic scoring and a more relaxed setup that doesn’t feel intimidating if you’ve never played before.

The best part is that it gives you something to do without completely taking over the evening. You can chat, play, laugh at each other’s terrible aim and keep things light.

It’s also great if you want a bit of energy without committing to something overly intense. Just enough structure to avoid awkward silences, but still plenty of room to actually talk.

Final Thoughts

Non drinking dates don’t have to feel like a compromise. If anything, they’re often better. You remember them more, you actually talk to each other and you leave feeling like you’ve done something rather than just sat somewhere.

Whether it’s painting slightly questionable portraits at Art Play London, wandering through a museum or getting competitive over darts, there’s plenty in London that doesn’t revolve around alcohol.

And honestly, once you start looking for these kinds of dates, you probably won’t miss the “shots!” nights at all.