Valentine’s Day 2017: Guide to what’s on in London for lovers and singles
Is it that time already? Christmas feels like yesterday, and now it’s time to splash the cash again on that special person in your life. Or perhaps you’re single and dread this time of year? With Valentine’s Day taking place midweek this year, there’s a host of themed events taking place on both weekends either side of the date. If you’re happily single or looking for love, then there’s also plenty of anti-Valentine’s events on around town too.
For a guide what else is on in London in February, click here.
- Valentine’s Masked Ball of the Full Moon (10 February)
A masked ball featuring four stages, three immersive realms and a huge cast of performers. Including walzer-meister Troylus Searll, London Gay Symphony Orchestra, Electric Swing Circus, DJ Rockit Riyad, Chivaree Circus, Morpheus’ Masseuses, the Blue Moon Cabaret featuring Benjamin Louche, Ungewinster, Syban V, Lolo Brow, Cynth Icon and Sacha Dieu, hot tub movies, and food. Dress code: Surrealist, fairy tale, futurist, lace, Mardi Gras, Venice Carnival, tribal and animals. Masks optional. 9pm-4am. Tickets: From £15. Coronet Theatre, 28 New Kent Road, SE1 6TJ. Nearest station: Elephant & Castle. For more information and tickets, visit A Curious Invitation website.
- Valentine’s Candlelit Late @ Sir John Soane’s Museum (10 February)
Late-night opening of the Sir John Soane’s Museum, the former home of the 19th century architect, which is full of his sculptures, painting and antiquities. Also including two complimentary cocktails and some more surprises. 6.30-9.30pm. £30. Sir John’s Soane Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Holborn, WC2A 3BP. Nearest station: Holborn. For more information, visit the Sir John’s Soane Museum website.
- Galactic Love (10 and 11 February)
Feral (aka The Artful Badger) are hosting another amorous adventure in The Vaults below Waterloo station for both singles and couples. As part of The Vault Festival, there will be live bands, DJs, FERAL performers, dating games, face painting, stalls, games, treats and more across the tunnels. Fancy dress code: ‘Tron Toads, Rocket Man Racoon, Binary Star Bear, Moon Monkey, Planetary Pet, Spaceflight Fox, Intergalactic Insect, Frisky Fighter Pilot, El-Wire Weasel, Pluto Pop Star, Astronaut Aardvark, Amorous Alien, Starfleet Stork, Interspecies couple, Barbarella Bear, or any galactic creature.’ From 10.30pm-3am. Tickets start from £16 (early bird) or £22 (advance). The Vaults, Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN. Nearest station: Waterloo. For more information, visit The Vault Festival website. For Metro Girl’s blog post on The Vault Festival’s highlights, click here.
- Valentine’s Day @ Aquum (10 – 14 February)
Enjoy a romantic foodie feast for two at Clapham bar and restaurant Aquum. Featuring eight meze sharing plates, a starry-eyed sharing dessert, and a complimentary bottle of Prosecco. Dishes include Pork Rib Eye Steak, Lemon-Oregano Chicken, and Greek-style Fries (veggie option also available). £27.50pp. Aquum, 68-70 Clapham High Street, Clapham, SW4 7UL. Nearest stations: Clapham North, Clapham High Street or Clapham Common. For more information, visit the Aquum website. For Metro Girl’s review of Aquum, click here.
- Shaggers: Valentine’s Special (11 February)
For those with a naughty sense of humour, head for some stand-up comedy on the subject of sex. 7-9pm. Tickets: £15. Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, Chinatown, WC2H 7BX. Nearest station: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus. For booking, visit the Leicester Square Theatre website.
- Valentine’s Events @ Keats’ House (11 – 12 February)
A series of Valentine’s events at the stunning house where poet John Keats fell in love with Fanny Brawne, who inspired his most romantic verses. Late night opening on Sat 11 Feb from 6.30pm-9pm, Afternoon Poems: Love Is… on Sun 12 Feb from 2-3pm and Valentine’s Guided Tour: ‘Love is my religion’ on Sun 12 Feb at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Ticket prices vary. Keats’ House, 10 Keats Grove, Hampstead, NW3 2RR. Nearest station: Hampstead Heath or Hampstead. For more information, visit the City of London website.
- Film & Fizz at One Aldwych (12 and 14 February)
Enjoy a three-course dinner at Indigo, a glass of Champagne Lallier and watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s in the hotel’s private screening room. Sun 12 screening @ 4.30pm, Tues 14 @ 6.30pm. Tickets: Dinner, drinks & film: £55pp. One Aldwych Hotel, 1 Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ. Nearest station: Charing Cross or Temple. For more information, visit the One Aldwych website.
- Making Love in the Queen’s House (14 February)
Enjoy a Prosecco afternoon tea while listening to the love stories of the royals who lived in the stunning 17th century Queen’s House in Greenwich. 2-4.30pm. Tickets: £25 (£22 members). Queen’s House, Romney Road, Greenwich, SE10 9NF. Nearest station: Maze Hill, Cutty Sark (DLR) or Greenwich. For booking, visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website.
- Black Cat Cabaret / Joey Arias at Live @ Zedel (14 February)
Live At Zedel at the Crazy Coqs are presenting two shows for lovers. The Black Cat Cabaret will be performing their Salon des Artistes show at 7pm, featuring comic song, live music, showmanship and burlesque. Tickets: £35 (show only), £52.75 (show and three-course meal at Brasserie Zedel). The second show of the night will be New York based cabaret singer and drag artist Joey Arias with his Valentine’s special Love Bites at 9pm. Tickets: £18. Crazy Coqs, 20 Sherwood Street, Soho, W1F 7ED. Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the Brasserie Zedel website. For a review of a show at Zedel, click here.
- Sing-a-long Moulin Rouge! (14 February)
Watch and sing-a-long at a screening of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! 8.30pm. Tickets: £16. Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, Chinatown, WC2H 7BY. Nearest station: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus. For more information and booking, visit the Prince Charles Cinema website.
- Movie Classics @ Barbican (14 February)
The London Concert Orchestra will be performing some of the most romantic film scores of all time, including Gone with the Wind, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Out of Africa, The English Patient, Ghost, Brief Encounter, Doctor Zhivago and more. 7.30pm. Tickets: £16.50-£42.50. Barbican Centre, Silk Street, City of London, EC2Y 8DS. Nearest station: Barbican or Moorgate. For booking, visit the Barbican website.
- A Night Of Marvin Gaye – Valentine’s Special (14 February)
A tribute to the tragic Prince of Soul with a full live band playing his greatest hits. 7pm-11pm. Tickets: £10-£15. Jazz Café, 5 Parkway, Camden Town, NW1 7PG. Nearest station: Camden Town. For more information, visit the Jazz Café website.
- Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind screening (14 February)
Roaming cinema club Nomad sets up camp at The Hoxton in Shoreditch for a Valentine’s screening of the 2004 movie starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. Doors open @ 6.30pm. Tickets: £12.50 (includes a drink and popcorn). The Hoxton, 81 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3HU. Nearest station: Old Street. For booking, visit the Nomad website.

Go back to the 1920s at The Candlelight Club
- A Valentine’s Evening With The Stars (14 February)
Late night opening at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, including a planetarium show, opportunity to look through the Victorian telescope and a glass of bubbly in the Meridian courtyard. Two hour slots at 5.30pm, 6.45pm and 6.50pm. Tickets: £30. Royal Observatory Greenwich, Blackheath Avenue, Greenwich, SE10 8XJ. Nearest station: Maze Hill, Greenwich or Cutty Sark (DLR). For more information, visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website.
- Pickling Masterclass @ KuPP (14 February)
Get pickled with your partner in Scandi-style with a ‘pickling in pairs’ masterclass at KuPP. Enjoy a 20 minute masterclass with a chef-led demonstration plus a recipe card to fill in as you make your own creation. Following the session, couples can then enjoy a sharing Smörgåsbord dinner and two glasses of fizz. From 6pm. £20pp. To book, email paddington_events@kupp.co, or phone 020 7262 8618. KuPP, 5 Merchant Square, Paddington Basin, W2 1AS. Nearest station: Paddington. For more information, visit the KuPP website.
- The Twisted Valentine @ City Zebrano (14 February)
A twisted Valentine’s cabaret show featuring artistes and performers. Supper club options also available. 7pm-3am. Tickets: £15-£50. City Zebrano, 18 – 22 Houndsditch, City of London, EC3A 7DB. Nearest station: Aldgate. For booking, visit City Zebrano’s website.
- Valentine’s Special @ Regent Street Cinema (14 February)
Watch classic romance movies Casablanca or Breakfast At Tiffany’s and enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz at Britain’s oldest cinema. Screenings at 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Tickets: £15. Regent Street Cinema, 309 Regent Street, W1B 2UW. Nearest station: Oxford Circus or Regents Park. For booking, visit the Regent Street Cinema website. For a blog post on the cinema, click here.
- Sea Life After Dark (14 February)
Enjoy a late-night opening of the London Aquarium. You can get up close to sharks, rays and jellyfish while sipping on Prosecco. Over 18s only. 6.45-10.30pm. Tickets: £29 (includes one glass of Prosecco). Sea Life London Aquarium, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, South Bank, SE1 7PB. Nearest station: Waterloo or Westminster. For booking, visit the Sea Life website.
- Valentine’s Day with Don Luigi @ Pop Brixton (14 February)
Italian street food company are hosting an Italian feast for couples, featuring a six-course meal, Prosecco and music against a backdrop of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso. 7-11pm. Tickets: £90 per couple (includes six courses and a bottle of Prosecco). Pop Brixton, 49 Brixton Station Road, Brixton, SW9 8PQ. Nearest station: Brixton. For more information, visit the Pop Brixton website.
- Valentine’s Movie Screening @ View From The Shard (15 February)
Watch a screening of a classic, romantic movie at 800ft high. Guests will get vote for either Casablanca, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Dirty Dancing or True Romance. Starts at 8.30pm. Tickets: £45, includes glass of Taittinger Champagne and chance to check out the view. The View From The Shard, Joiner Street, London Bridge, SE1 9SP. Nearest station: London Bridge. For more information, visit the View From The Shard website. For Metro Girl’s review of a late night event at The Shard, click here.

Gaze out over London at View From The Shard
- The Art Of The Valentine @ Guildhall Library (16 February)
Explore the history of the images and words of 19th century Valentine’s cards with a talk by John Scott. Includes wine reception. 6-8pm. Tickets £5.90. Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, City of London, EC2V 7HH. Nearest station: St Paul’s, Moorgate or Bank. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.
- Pop-Up Cinema @ Rivoli Ballroom (16 and 17 February)
Watch classic movies Breakfast At Tiffany’s or Pulp Fiction in the striking 1950s surrounds of the Rivoli Ballroom. 8pm. Tickets: £12. Rivoli Ballroom, 350 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2BY. Nearest station: Crofton Park. For more information, visit the Rivoli Ballroom website.
- St Valentine’s Day Massacre by The Candlelight Club (17 and 18 February)
Pop-up vintage roaming nightclub The Candlelight Club combine love and gangland slaying at their two-night Valentine’s parties. Featuring guns and roses (seriously!) and live music from Benoit Viellefon and his band. Tickets from £25pp. Tables also available. At a secret London location. For tickets, visit the Candelight Club website. For Metro Girl’s review of TCC, click here.
- Valentine’s @ The London Eye (daily)
Celebrate Valentine’s while enjoying one of the best views in London and some extra features. Packages include the Champagne Experience, Hotel Chocolat Tasting Experience, Eye Lounge Experience, and Champagne or Wine Tasting Experiences. Tickets range £31.95-£50. London Eye, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road, South Bank, SE1 7PB. Nearest station: Waterloo, Westminster or Embankment. For more information and tickets, visit the London Eye website. For Metro Girl’s review of the London Eye, click here.
- Thames dinner cruises
– ThamesDinnerCruise.co.uk are offering the Symphony Valentine’s Dinner Cruise (four-course meal, champagne reception, drinks and live entertainment and a red rose for the lady). Tickets £165-£175pp. Depart from Embankment Pier at 7.45pm.
– Bateaux London includes food, drink and entertainment, with their Valentine’s Day and Night packages ranging from £145-£175pp. Depart from Embankment Pier.
– City Cruises are offering various Valentine’s packages, including dinner cruise (From £125pp), riverlights cruise (£39pp), afternoon tea champagne cruise (From £49pp) or Thamesjet love rush (£155 per couple). Departs from Westminster Pier.
- Ice Skating
For an extra bit of romance, head to one of London’s open-air pop-up or permanent ice rinks, some of which are hosting special Valentine’s events.
– Ice Rink Canary Wharf
Skate over ice filled with 8km of LED lights in the middle of the soaring skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. Non-skaters can watch the action from the bar or street food stalls. Session times last 1 hour. Opening times vary. Adults £9.95-£16.95, Children £9.95-£10.95. Canada Square Park, E14 5AB. Nearest station: Canary Wharf. To book, visit the Ice Rink Canary Wharf website.
Or Valentine’s events for everyone (single and unattached)
- Silent Disco @ Cutty Sark (10 February)
Time Out’s Silent Disco returns to the Cutty Sark. You can enjoy a late night visit to the museum, before dancing under the ship’s hull and drinking from the licensed bar. 8.30pm-12am. Tickets: £29.99. Cutty Sark, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9HT. Nearest station: Cutty Sark (DLR) or Greenwich. For booking, visit the Time Out London website.
- I Love The ’80s Vs ’90s (11 February)
Retro party celebrates the best of the ’80s and ’90s with dancing, drinking, bowling, karaoke booths, pool tables, ping pong and pizza. 9pm-3am. Tickets: £4.50 advance, more on the door. Bloomsbury Bowling, Tavistock Hotel, Bedford Way, Bloomsbury, WC1H 9EU. Nearest station: Russell Square or Euston. For booking, visit the Bloomsbury Bowling site.
- The Wedding Reception (11 and 17 – 18 February)
An immersive theatre dining experience at the wedding reception of Will and Kate. Has already wowed audiences at the Edinburgh Festival and Australia. Includes Three-course dinner and two-hour interactive show. From 7.30pm. Tickets: £43pp, Concs £38pp. Kingsway Hall Hotel, 66 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BX. Nearest station: Holborn or Covent Garden. For tickets, visit the Interactive Theatre website.

Fancy a late night visit to the Tower Of London?
- The Tower Of Love : Romance Is Dead (13 February)
Anti-Valentine sketching special dedicated to people who died at the Tower Of London in the name of love. Enjoy an after-hours visit to the tower where you will get the chance to sketched costumed models. 6.30pm-9pm. Tickets: £24. Tower Of London, St Katharine’s & Wapping, EC3N 4AB. Nearest station: Tower Hill or Fenchurch Street. For more information, visit the Tower Of London website.
- Down With Dating (14 February)
An anti-dating event with a difference. Featuring Speed Hating, Blind Hate, drinks and fun. 7pm-10pm. Tickets: £10 in advance. The Albany, Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 5QU. Nearest station: Great Portland Street or Regents’ Park. For booking, visit the Feeling Gloomy website.
- Valentine’s Singles Party (14 February)
Singles are invited to drink, dance, sing and flirt the night away. Start the night with a Valentine’s Cocktail Special ‘Don’t Phunk With My Heart’, before taking part in free salsa lessons (6-8pm). The Archer Street staff will be belting out classic love ballads. 4pm until late. Archer Street, 3-4 Archer Street, Soho, W1D 7AP. Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the Archer Street website.
- Anti-Valentine’s Party @ Bounce (14 February)
If you can’t stomach Valentine’s Day, head to Bounce to forget it all. Featuring Unlimited UV Ping Pong all night with free play, UV face paint artists, DJs and a live art installation and cocktails from the team behind alternative dating app Bumble. 6pm-12am. Tickets: £5. Bounce, 121 Holborn, EC1N 2TD. Nearest station: Chancery Lane. For information, visit the Bounce website. For Metro Girl’s review of Bounce, click here.
- Madame Tussauds After Dark (14 February)
Late night opening of Madame Tussauds so you can check out the waxworks without the crowds or kids! Enjoy a complimentary glass of Prosecco before checking out the waxworks, the Star Wars exhibition and the 4D Marvel show. 7.30-10.30pm. Tickets: £25-£29. Madame Tussauds, Marylebone Road, Marylebone, NW1 5LR. Nearest station: Baker Street. For booking, visit DesignMyNight.
- Speed Dating Event in Richmond (14 February)
Singles up for some fun can enjoy a night of speed dating in an event by Date In A Dash. For 32-44 years. 7.30pm-12am. Tickets: £20. One Kew Road, 1 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2NQ. Nearest station: Richmond. For booking, visit the Date In A Dash website.
Posted on 25 Jan 2017, in Activities, Entertainment, Film, Grub, London, music, Nightlife and tagged dating, Things to do in London, Valentine's Day, What's On Guide. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
Pingback: Guide to what’s on in London in January 2017 | Memoirs Of A Metro Girl
Pingback: London Dating - Montreal Dating
Pingback: Guide to what’s on in London in February 2017 | Memoirs Of A Metro Girl