This guide is for 2014, for a new guide to what’s on in London this Valentine’s Day 2016, click here.

City of romance: Forget Paris or Venice, there’s plenty of places in London to bring your love

Valentine’s Day – the one day of the year when couples feel pressure to make a big song and dance about their loved one. While many couples may keep things simple with their favourite takeaway or a table at their local restaurant, some men and women will be looking to pull out all the stops to make the night special. Here’s some ideas and listings of things on in London during Valentine’s. Most events are on 14 February unless otherwise specified.

• Love Nest Valentine’s Ball @ Old Vic Tunnels (14, 15 and 16 February)

The Artful Badger is hosting the Love Nest Valentine’s Ball over three consecutive days at the Old Vic Tunnels underneath Waterloo station. Featuring live bands, DJs, performers, interactive theatre and kissograms. Couples and singles welcome. Fancy dress encouraged. 14 Feb 8pm-2am, 15-16 Feb 8pm-4am. Tickets: £25. Old Vic Tunnels, Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 8SW. Nearest tube/overland Waterloo. For more information and tickets, visit the Old Vic website.

• Night Safari Valentine’s Special @ Natural History Museum

Choose one of the two tours – the beautiful or the ugly – to see the stunning side of nature, or the world’s most gruesome creatures. 7-10pm. Tickets: Non-members £28, Members £25. Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, SW7 5BD. Nearest tube: South Kensington. For more information and booking, visit the NHM website.

• Valentine’s Day Late @ Churchill War Rooms

Celebrate Valentine’s Day vintage-style under the streets of Whitehall. Featuring dance workshops with the London Swing Dance Society, 1940s-style letter writing, champagne and other drinks at the pop-up bar. Tickets £17.50. Churchill War Rooms, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, Whitehall, SW1A 2AQ. Nearest tube: Westminster. For more information and tickets, visit the IWM website.

• The Georgian Valentine’s Ball @ British Library

A Georgian-inspired banquet in the grand entrance hall of the British Library, featuring historical feasts, interactive performance, baroque musicians and Quadrilles. Tickets: £35. 7.30-10.30pm. British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB. Nearest tube: Euston or King’s Cross St Pancras. For more information and tickets, visit the British Library website.

• Friday Lates: London Stories @ London Transport Museum

This month’s Friday Lates coincides with the opening of The Serco Prize for Illustration 2014 – London Stories. Featuring DJ, bar, storytelling on board the heritage vehicles, illustration workshops, fun photobooth and a chance to see the exhibition. Tickets: £10. 6.45pm onwards. London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 7BB. Nearest tube: Covent Garden. For more information and tickets, visit the LTM website.

• Nomad Cinema comes to Hyde Park

Pop-up cinema company The Nomad Cinema screens two films on Valentine’s Day – an earlier showing of The Princess Bride @ 6.45pm or Breakfast At Tiffany’s @ 9.30pm. The secluded spot has underfloor heating, dance space under a glitterball, firepits for toasting marshmallows and a silhouette portrait workshop. Tickets £20 (includes glass of Prosecco and bar of Devine chocolate). The Lookout, Hyde Park, London W2 2UH. Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner or Marble Arch. For more information and tickets, visit the Nomad Cinema website.

•  Ride the big wheel of love on the London Eye

There is a range of packages available on Valentine’s Day for couples, starting from £22.50 to £375. The ‘Valentine’s Chocolate Treat package (£22.50pp online price) features a 30 minute ride and Hotel Chocolat chocolates. The ‘Valentine’s Champagne Experience’ package (£31.54pp online price) features a 30 minute ride, Hotel Chocolat chocolates and a glass each of Pommery Brut Royal. The ‘Valentine’s Cupid’s Capsule’ package (£375) for use of a private capsule, including a bottle of Pommery Brut Royal, a red rose, a luxury box of Hotel Chocolat pink champagne truffles and a private host. London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB. Nearest tube: Waterloo, Westminster or Embankment. For information and booking, visit the official London Eye website. For Metro Girl’s review of the London Eye, click here.

• Late Night Keats – Valentine’s

An unusual Valentine’s Day evening at the former London home of romantic poet John Keats. A Regency-style party featuring risqué games and fashion, readings, workshops and torch-lit tour of the poet’s loves. Tickets: £8 (includes a glass of bubbly). Keats’ House, 10 Keats Grove, Hampstead, NW3 2RR. Nearest tube: Hampstead Heath. For more information and tickets, visit the City of London website.

• Late London – City Of Seduction @ Museum Of London

Journey through London exploring the art of seduction from the Romans to Georgians. Includes life drawing, bar, dancing, make your own love tokens and after hours tour of The Cheapside Horde exhibition. Tickets: £10/£15. 7-10pm. Museum Of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN. Nearest tube: Barbican or St Paul’s. For more information and tickets, visit the MoL website.

• Terry O’Neill Talk @ Victoria & Albert Museum

Award-winning photographer Terry O’Neill discusses his work with broadcaster Paul Allen at the Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre. 6.30pm. Tickets: £9 adults, £6 concessions. Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL. Nearest tube: South Kensington. For more information, visit the Victoria & Albert Museum website.

• Valentine’s Week @ Vinopolis (12-16 February)

Vinopolis are hosting a range of events over the week including Afternoon Tea Cocktail Masterclass (12 Feb, £50pp), Valentine’s Sparkling Wine Masterclass (13 Feb, £55pp), Wine Tasting & Comedy Night (14 Feb, £35pp). Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, SE1 9BU. Nearest tube/overland: London Bridge. For information and booking, visit the Vinopolis website.

Check out some comedy… or enjoy a cocktail at Kensington Roof Gardens

• Laughing The Roof Off @ Kensington Roof Gardens

Comedy night hosted by Chris Fitchew, featuring Barbara Nice, Brendon Burns, Julian Deane and David Mills. Doors 7pm, show starts 7.30pm. Earlybird tickets £10. Kensington Roof Gardens, 99 Kensington High Street (entrance on Derry Street), Kensington, W8 5SA. Nearest tube: High Street Kensington. For more information and booking, visit the Roof Gardens website.

• Poetry from Jeremy Reed & The Ginger Light @ National Portrait Gallery

Alternative love poetry from British poet Jeremy Reed in collaboration with Itchy Ear. Late Shift bar open. Free. 6.30pm. Gallery open until 9pm. St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE. Nearest tube: Charing Cross or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the National Portrait Gallery website.

• Late Night Jazz – Valentine’s Jazz: Oh La La! @ Royal Albert Hall

Listen to Parisian folk music, jazz standards and a few pop classics. Tickets include a sharing platter and bottle of champagne for two. 9.45pm. Tickets: £62.20. Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, SW7 2AP. Nearest tube: South Kensington. For more information, visit the Royal Albert Hall website.

• A Cinderella’s Valentine @ Medieval Banquet

Celebrate Valentine Medieval style, featuring food, drink, champagne and entertainment from aerialists, jugglers, contortionists and singers. Tickets £65pp. Ivory House, St Katherine Docks, E1W 1BP. Nearest tube: Tower Hill. For more information and booking, visit the Medieval Banquet website.

• Vauxhall Village Presents Tunnel Of Love (13-16 February)

Pop-up cinema in a disused tunnel with comfy chairs, wireless headphones, blankets. Also including a flower stall, bar serving champagne and chocolate fondue. Screenings include Annie Hall, Romeo + Juliet, Moonrise Kingdom, Lost In Translation, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Casablanca and Brief Encounter. Tickets £7.50. Arch 50, South Lambeth Place Vauxhall, SW8 1SP. Nearest tube: Vauxhall. For more information and tickets, visit the Vauxhall Village website.

• Ealing Music & Film Valentine Festival (12-16 February)

Five day festival at Ealing Studios featuring musical performances, film screenings, tours of the studios, talks and exhibitions. Ticket prices vary. Ealing Film Studios, Ealing Green, W5 5EP. Nearest tube: Ealing Broadway or South Ealing. For more information, visit the Ealing Music & Film website.

• My African Valentines (15 February)

African cooking sauce and condiments company Pepper & Stew are hosting their first ever pop-up restaurant in Maida Hill. Tickets are £30 for a five course meal and complimentary cocktail. BYOB. 7.3pm-midnight. Maida Hill Place, 4 Fernhead Rd, Maida Hill, W9 3ET. Nearest tube: Westbourne Park. To book, visit Eventbrite.co.uk. Check out Metro Girl’s blog post on Pepper & Stew.

• Valentine’s Fireworks Display

Fantastic Fireworks will be staging a four minute display of heart-shaped fireworks on a barge between Canary Wharf and the O2 Arena. Free. 8.30pm. Nearest tube: Canary Wharf, Canada Water or North Greenwich.

• Dinner cruise on the Thames

– ThamesDinnerCruise.co.uk are offering four Valentine’s Day packages, ranging from £37.50pp for a party cruise with buffet to the Barracuda Valentine’s Dinner Cruise to £180pp.

– Bateaux London includes food, drink and entertainment, with their Valentine’s Day and Night packages ranging from £125-£150pp.

– City Cruises are offering a Valentine’s Cruise with three-course meal, wine and live band, ranging from £105-£115pp on the 14 and 15 February.

• Ice Skating

For an extra bit of romance, head to one of the two open air ice rinks still open. Or visit one of the permanent all year rinks.

– Ice Rink Canary Wharf – Open until 16 February. Open 9.45am/10.45am until 11pm. Adults £13.50, Children £9. Canada Square, E14 5AB. Nearest tube Canary Wharf. To book, visit the Ice Rink Canary Wharf website.

– Broadgate Ice – Open until 27 February. Open 10am-10pm. Adults £12.50, Children £8.50. Broadgate Circle, EC2M 2QS. Nearest tube: Liverpool Street. For more information, visit Broadgate’s website.

– Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY. Nearest train: Alexandra Palace.

– Lea Valley Ice Centre, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, E10 7QL. Nearest train: Clapton.

– Queens Ice And Bowl, 17 Queensway, Bayswater, W2 4QP. Nearest tube: Queensway or Bayswater.

– Streatham Ice And Leisure Centre, 390 Streatham High Road, Streatham, SW16 6HX. Nearest train: Streatham.

For a guide to what else is on in London this month, click here.

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