Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

If you are in London around Christmas time, there is no way you can miss out on Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

Winter Wonderland is a magical event that gets put up in Hyde Park every year at the end of November. It brings the Christmas spirit to London and is such a fun place to go for a date! There are a variety of things you can do there: ice skating, go on rides, play games, drink beer or mulled wine, shop at all of the stalls, eat yummy food, listen to music, and more!

The Christmas Market stalls resemble a German Christmas market. They are always packed with interesting things to look at and shop for.

They even have a variety of shows you can book ahead to attend.

Winter Wonderland is not to be missed! It’s free to walk in, so head on over and enjoy! It’s a great opportunity for you and your partner to spend some sweet time together while on holiday!

When you are done at Winter Wonderland, be sure to head down Oxford Street and Harrods to see all of the lights and window displays!

Relationship Tip: When you are out on a date with your partner, allow yourselves time for good conversation. Dating is about spending quality time together and continuing to get to know each other.

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Spend a Day in Greenwich

When in London, make time in your schedule for a day in Greenwich! It’s where I went on my first date with my now husband. I thought it was the perfect date, so I decided to write about it!

There are loads of things you can do in Greenwich. There is a museum, an observatory, a ship, a market and more! Whatever your interests are, you will find something fun to do in Greenwich!

Before you even get to Greenwich, there are a couple of different ways to get there from London that are an experience in themselves. You could go on a Thames River Cruise on the Transport for London River Cruise or the Thames River Services from Parliament all of the way up the Thames to Greenwich. Or you can take the underground to the Island Gardens station and walk through the underground Greenwich Foot Tunnel! I’ve gotten to Greenwich both ways and both are great fun! If it’s your first time in London, I would suggest a river cruise so you can do a bit of touring on the way!

You could begin your day in Greenwich at the National Maritime Museum and then make your way up to the Royal Observatory and the Prime Meridian, where East meets West. Up on the hill is a perfect place to have an afternoon picnic with an incredible view of London! 

 

After a picnic in the park, you could make your way down to the Cutty Sark and tour a really cool old ship. And we can’t forget the Queen’s House! After all of this, head on down to the Greenwich Market which would be a great way to end the day beautiful and historic Greenwich!

So many of these activities are free and all are so fun! They appeal to all sorts of interests and are really the perfect way to spend a day together in London.

Relationship Tip: When you have a day out together, it’s important for you to plan out your day so you have fun things to do, but also be willing to be flexible and go with the flow. A good balance of planned activities and spontaneity make for the perfect day together!

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A Meal in the Crypt

For an unusual and a once in a lifetime dining experience, head down to the crypt at St. Martin in the Fields.

Just across the street from Trafalgar Square, there is a nice cafe in the Crypt under the church that serves the most delicious classic British dishes and desserts! Don’t worry, the crypt is not creepy at all, it’s been beautifully re-done and provides a great space to have a meal!

Not only would you get the chance to enjoy a meal in a crypt, you could have dinner and a show as Wednesday nights are Jazz nights. As you sit back and relax in this unique setting, enjoy some live jazz! You could even get up and dance if you feel so inclined!

Dinner in the crypt at St. Martin in the Fields is not an experience to be missed. It’s the perfect date night!

If you’d rather just pop into the beautiful church, they often host free concerts. The Church itself is a wonder to behold and has incredible history!

Head over to St. Martin in the Fields with your significant other the next time in London, you will not regret it!

Relationship Tip: Do some research for your vacation date night and pick somewhere that will be memorable!

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Shakespeare at the Globe

If you find yourself in London in the Summer, there is no better thing to do for a date than seeing a Shakespeare play at the Globe Theatre! This summer is the “Summer of Love” at the Globe.

They will be showing Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Tristan and Yseult, Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear and more! Check here for the Globe calendar to see what is playing when.

Going to the globe is such an incredible experience! You can buy seats ahead of time between 20 - 45 pounds ($26 - $58.50) or you can standing tickets for only 5 pounds ($6.50).

I’ve had the chance to go to a few shows at the Globe and it was an incredible experience! Although you have to stand the whole time if you get the cheaper tickets, you get to be much closer to the stage. You feel as though you are part of the story!

There are day shows as well as evening shows. You could go for lunch or dinner and then enjoy a show at Shakespeare’s Globe!

Relationship Tip: Experience culture and make a great memory together at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre! Such sweet memories made together will never be forgotten.

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Kachka

Kachka

If you and your spouse are looking for a new place to try consider Kachka. Kachka is a Russian restaurant with a great cuisine. It is run by a couple, Bonnie and Israel, who from Belarus and Russia. They have many authentic Russian and Eastern European meals for you to try!

Kachka

The unique menu provides a vast amount of options for you two to choose from. Most, if not all, are meals that you have never tried before. So perfect for getting out of your comfort zones!

Chicken Kiev

Kachka offer a full dinner and dessert menus for a complete meal! You can start out with an appetizer like Duck Olivier. Some of their dinners include buckwheat blinis, Borscht, Tabaka, and Pelmeni. They also have some desserts too including Plombri! They have great options for you two to share.

Bird's Milk Cake

Make sure that you make a reservation to ensure your table of date night! They take reservations starting at 4 pm.

Ruskie Zakuski

This is a great restaurant that people love. It is so different and you won’t experience this in a lot of places.. Unless you go to Russia!

Rabbit in a Clay Pot

They have one location and it’s said that there is going to be another one soon, if not already. It is located here.

Hours

Daily 4pm – Midnight

Dinner 4pm – 10pm

Happy Hour 4pm – 6pm & 10pm – 12pm

Relationship Tip! Trying new things with your spouse can really help you two bond. Finding new favorites helps you experience different thing and gain and share experiences!

Cycle Through the London Parks!

When in London, pay two pounds for a day of fun cycling through all of the gorgeous parks of London with Santander Cycle Hire Bikes. You could enjoy Regent’s Park, St. James’ Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park, Hampstead Heath and more!

Cycling is a great way to see London, and if you go through the parks you will stay safe and just be able to enjoy the view! You could even stop to have a rest and enjoy a nice picnic together near Buckingham Palace or in front of the Prince Albert statue in Hyde Park!

All you have to do to rent the bikes is follow the instructions show on the video here and below:

Step 1: Hire

• Go to the nearest docking station terminal with your debit or credit card and touch the screen to begin
• Choose 'Hire a cycle', follow the on-screen instructions and take the printed release code
• You can hire up to four bikes at the same time (you'll need a separate release code for each bike)

Tip: Santander Cycles is for short trips so, once you have paid the £2 bike access fee for the day, the first 30 minutes of each journey is free. Longer journeys cost £2 for each extra 30 minutes.

Tip: Each bike release code is valid for 10 minutes and only at that docking station. Bikes are valuable so don't let anyone see your code before you use it.

Step 2: Ride

• Take a moment to read our tips for safer cycling at the terminal
• Choose your bike and check the tyres, brakes and bell
• Type your five-digit release code into the docking point's keypad and pull the bike out when the green light appears
• Adjust the saddle height and you're good to go!

Tip: The bikes have lights that come on automatically when you start pedalling.

Step 3: Return

• Push the bike firmly into any empty docking point
• You must wait for the green light, which will show that the bike is securely docked (otherwise we will continue to charge you for your journey). If you don't get a green light, call the Contact Centre immediately on 0343 222 6666 (TfL call charges)
• If the docking station is full, choose 'No docking point free' at the terminal and follow the on-screen directions to get an extra 15 minutes free
• To find a nearby space if the docking station is full, choose 'Status of nearest docking station' at the terminal.
• Remember, if you're not using the bike, dock it back!

Tip: If the bike is unsafe to ride, please let us know it needs repairing by pressing the 'Fault' button on the docking point within 10 seconds of docking it. Turn the saddle backwards to show others that it needs repairing.

Tip: You will need to wait five minutes before hiring another bike.

My husband and I love to go on bike rides, it's one of our favorite things to do together! It’s great exercise and great fun! It’s also the perfect way to see the city in a cheap and unique way! I have lots of my own memories cycling through London and they are certain to never be forgotten!

Relationship Tip: Doing exercise doesn’t always have to be boring or miserable. Make a date out of it! You will feel great and have great fun with your significant other!

Image Source for all images except for my personal images.

Elk Rock Garden

Elk Rock Garden

If you and your spouse are looking for a nice and quiet place Elk Rock Garden is a place to consider. This large garden gives you two plenty to look at and space to roam. It is the perfect place to go for some good quality time with your love!

Elk Rock Garden

You and your spouse will have plenty of opportunities to identify the different flowers, shrubs, trees, and more! The garden offers different types of ferns, perennials, tress, grass, and flowers. So there is a lot to look at! Make sure to visit all 13 areas to see all that they have!

Elk Rock Garden

This garden is free, but they do encourage donations. These donations are to help the volunteers maintain the grounds so it’s nice and pretty for visitors like you two! Although this might be an ideal picnic spot, it is prohibited on the garden’s grounds. Also, make sure to use the bathroom before going as they do not offer any at the site.

Elk Rock Garden

Walk around and talk to your spouse in the quiet and sweet garden. The garden typically isn’t busy so it’s a great place to get away from the stress from work and home without distractions from others.

Elk Rock Garden

This little gem is a great spot for you two to check out. Not a ton of people know about it so it’s a great secret!

Elk Rock Garden

Parking is limited there and guests are asked to park in the designated areas only. Guests have said that this wasn’t a problem when they visited.

Hours

Daily 8:00 am – 5: pm

Here are a couple reviews from people who have visited the garden from Yelp:

“This place is an undiscovered gem.  One of the entire purposes of going to a garden is to be able to walk around and appreciate its beauty.”

“It's beautiful and peaceful, and feels like a secret garden.”

Relationship Tip! This garden is a great romantic spot for you and your spouse to go! Bring some romance back and spend some one on one time with the one you love! Reflect on your marriage and relationship during your walk together. What’s something that you can do or sacrifice for the betterment of your marriage?

Lost Lake

Lost Lake

Get out in the sun this summer! Lost Lake is a great place to go with your spouse to be outside whether it’s camping, canoeing, hiking or exploring. They offer a lot of fun things to do while on vacation.

Lost Lake

If you just want to go for a day, they have a day use entrance fee of $8 dollars. Make sure to go to the correct side because there are two areas. The north and south sides of the lake offer different things to do. However, if you have your own boat the south side has the public boat launch. When you get in you can rent some things for the lake, go hiking, and more.

Lost Lake

There are quite a few things that you can rent while at Lost Lake. They have canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and stand up paddle boards. They also have life vests and fishing poles and more! June through September they have 2 hour minimum rentals so be mindful of that. It’ll be such a fun time with your spouse, just don’t forget the sunscreen!

Lost Lake

During your visit there are many options of lodging that you and your spouse can choose from. They have campgrounds that you can rent out. Bring your tent or rent one while you're there. They also have cabins, lodges, and yurt rooms that you can rent. You can also buy shower tokens to freshen up after a long day.

Lost Lake

Lost Lake

Lost Lake also has a General Store if you forget anything at home. Even if you didn’t forget anything you can head over there to pick up a souvenir or two!

Here are some maps for you to see. It shows the layout of the lake and where things are located. Here are the directions to the Lake!

Lost Lake 

Relationship Tip! This is a great place to go for a getaway with your spouse! Being outside working together will help you strengthen your bond and trust.