What To Do For Valentines Day in London 2026?
London on Valentine’s Day is chaotic in the best and worst ways. The city goes full rom-com mode: pink lights, themed cocktails, prix fixe menus, and every couple trying to out-romance each other by booking the same three restaurants.
But here’s the thing - by 2026, we’re all a bit wiser. We don’t just want “romantic”, we want connection. We want to do something together. Something that gives you memories, inside jokes, maybe even a slightly wonky ceramic bowl that lives on your shelf forever.
That’s why experiences - especially creative ones - are absolutely winning Valentine’s Day now. And London is unbeatable for them.
So let’s get into it.
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR LOVER 💘
(Three genuinely brilliant options)
OPTION 1: Get Creative Together at Art Play Workshops (Elite Tier Valentine’s Plan)
If you do one thing this Valentine’s Day, make it this.
Art Play workshops are basically the antidote to awkward dinner dates and overhyped experiences. You’re laughing, touching, creating, and doing something a bit naughtynice - all without needing to be “good at art”.
Here’s why this works so well for couples:
You’re side-by-side, not face-to-face interrogation style
You get playful physical closeness
You leave with something tangible
You see your partner in a new light (sometimes literally, covered in paint)
🎨 Paint Your Partner Challenge
This one is iconic for a reason. You sit opposite each other and attempt to paint each other—no mirrors, no perfection, just vibes. It’s hilarious, intimate, and surprisingly revealing.
Expect:
Flirty eye contact
Accidental paint splashes
Laughing so hard your face hurts
A painting that becomes either wall art or blackmail material
Perfect for couples who want something playful, memorable, and a little chaotic in the best way.
🧩 Cute Mosaic Class
This is slower, calmer, and incredibly romantic. You’re working with tiny pieces, choosing colours together, and creating something that actually lasts.
It’s ideal if:
You like thoughtful conversation
You want something beautiful for your home
You prefer “soft romance” over loud chaos
There’s something quietly intimate about sitting close, concentrating together, and watching a design come together piece by piece.
🕯️ Sensual Candle Making
Let’s be honest - this one’s sexy without being cringe.
You’re choosing scents, warming wax, talking about memories and moods. Smell is deeply emotional, and making a candle together that later burns in your bedroom? That’s main-character energy.
Bonus points if you:
Choose a scent that reminds you of your first holiday
Light it later during a cosy night in
Accidentally associate it with making out forever
🍷 Sexy Sip & Paint
Wine. Paint. Dim lights. Enough said.
This is the flirtiest option - great if you want something social but still intimate. You’re painting, sipping, loosening up, and probably whispering nonsense to each other by the end.
It’s especially good if:
You want pre-drinks and an activity
You’re celebrating early in the evening
You like a slightly party-romantic vibe
🏺 Romantic Pottery (Hand-Building)
If you’ve ever watched Ghost and thought, “Yeah, I get it,” this is your moment.
Pottery is tactile, grounding, and quietly intimate. You’re shaping clay with your hands, helping each other, laughing when things go wrong.
You might make:
A mug you fight over
A bowl for keys or jewellery
Something weird but meaningful
It’s slow love. And slow love hits different.
OPTION 2: A Proper London Romantic Day (Classic but Elevated)
If creativity isn’t your thing (or you want to combine it with something else), go full London romance - but do it intentionally.
The Ideal Flow:
Morning walk along the South Bank or Hampstead Heath
Coffee and pastries somewhere independent
A matinee show or immersive exhibition
Dinner after the rush, not during it
Think:
West End theatre (book early)
Jazz bar in Soho
Candlelit restaurant off the main Valentine’s hype list
The key is pacing. Don’t cram it all in. Let the day breathe.
OPTION 3: Stay In, But Make It Intentional
Sometimes the most romantic thing is opting out.
Create a Valentine’s Day at home that still feels special:
Cook something together (not for each other)
Dress up anyway
Put phones away
Light candles (especially if you made them 👀)
Add a shared activity - painting at home, a film theme, or a playlist you both contribute to.
It’s not about spending less - it’s about choosing each other.
GAL-ENTINE’S DAY IN LONDON 2026 💕
(For the girls, the gays, and the emotionally intelligent)
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples anymore, and Gal-entine’s Day has officially earned main-event status. London does this so well - especially when you ditch basic brunch and go for something creative and bonding.
OPTION 1: Art Play Workshops with Your Besties (Unmatched Energy)
Yes, again. Because it works just as well - if not better - with friends.
You’re laughing, hyping each other up, creating things, and leaving with memories that aren’t just photos.
🍷 Sip & Paint Class
This is the loudest, funniest option. Ideal if your group loves:
Wine
Chaos
Hyping each other’s terrible art
It’s joyful, messy, and a proper bonding experience.
Galentines Sip n Paint in London >>
🏺 Hand-Building Pottery
Great if your group loves tactile, grounding activities. It’s calming but still social - and everyone gets something meaningful at the end.
Pottery Class at Art Play in London >>
🎨 Paint Your Partner Challenge (With a Twist)
Instead of partners, you paint:
Each other
A celebrity crush
Your “toxic ex” (therapeutic)
Your future self
Unhinged? Yes. Incredible? Also yes. Paint Your Partner at Art Play London >>
🧩 Mosaic Class
Perfect for a chill, chatty Gal-entine’s. You can talk the whole time, catch up properly, and still feel like you did something.
🕯️ Candle Making Workshop
This one is elite for self-care energy. Think:
Cozy vibes
Personal scents
Deep chats
“I’m so glad we did this” energy
Everyone leaves with their own candle, which honestly feels symbolic. Candle Making at Art Play >>
OPTION 2: Gal-entine’s Day Out in the City
Make it a full experience:
Late brunch
A walk and chat
An activity (escape room, comedy show, drag brunch)
Cocktails somewhere cosy
The goal is time - not rushing from place to place.
OPTION 3: Cozy Gal-entine’s Night In
Sometimes you just want:
Matching pyjamas
Pizza
Wine
Films you’ve already seen 12 times
Add structure:
Theme (pink everything, rom-coms, self-love)
Activity (painting, vision boards, baking)
No phones rule
It’s low effort, high emotional return.
Final Thoughts, Mate 💌
Valentine’s Day in London 2026 doesn’t need to be stressful, expensive, or cliché. The best plans - whether romantic or platonic - are the ones where you actually connect.
If you take anything from this guide, let it be this:
Do something together
Make something
Laugh a bit
Leave with a memory, not just a receipt
And honestly? Those Art Play workshops are doing something right. Creative, intimate, fun, and memorable - whether you’re in love with your partner or your people.
Now go forth. Book early. And have the best Valentine’s Day yet. 💖
