70 Date Night Ideas to Elevate Your Next Date Night

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been together, planning a date night can feel like a lot of pressure. They’re fun and a much-needed way to keep the romance alive but coming up with new and exciting date night ideas can be tricky at times.

But that’s where we come in. We’ve rounded up a brilliant selection of cute date night ideas for couples all over the UK to enjoy, no matter what your budget or preferences.

From home date night ideas and budget date night ideas to date night ideas in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol, Edinburgh and beyond, we’ve done the hard work to ensure you don’t have to come up with fun things to do with your partner alone.

Fancy a game of date night lottery? Get your partner to pick a number between 1 and 70 and that’s your next date!

Date Night Ideas: 70 Activities to Elevate Your Next Date Night

Call off the search for ‘date night ideas near me’ – our guide includes at-home, cheap and even free date night ideas, as well as date night meal ideas and activities for hosting a couples’ night with your friends. Yep, we’ve really thought of everything!

Plus, we caught up with coach, therapist and presenter Anna Williamson, founder of The Relationship Place and one third of the expert panel on Celebs Go Dating, to share her take on what the best date night ideas are, and why they’re so important. If there’s anyone we trust on this topic, it’s her…

• Unique & Fun Date Night Ideas
• Cheap Date Night Ideas
• Free Date Night Ideas
• At Home Date Night Ideas
• Couples’ Date Night Ideas
• London Date Night Ideas
• Meal Ideas For Date Night

Unique & Fun Date Night Ideas

If you’re after out of the box date night ideas at home or away, these more unusual picks are a vibe

1. Take a Painting or Life Drawing Class

If you're looking for unique date night ideas, why not consider getting creative together at an art class?

Many cafés host late-night painting classes that are relaxed and fun – no experience needed. Alternatively, if you want to push the boat out, you could try a life drawing class together.

2. Go Horse Riding

If you and your date love animals, we love the idea of horse riding as an unusual date idea.

Find a stables near you and head out on horseback for a date with a difference. It might be cheaper than you think, and lots of fun too.

3. Watch a Film Under the Stars

Outdoor cinemas are in abundance during the summer months and there's so many cool kinds – from floating cinemas and stately home gardens to skyscraper rooftops. Let your date pick the film or go for something random neither of you have seen before.

Love the idea but want to recreate it as an at home date night? Borrow a projector and set up your very own cinema in your garden with cushions and snacks. All you need is a white wall or sheet to hang, and you're good to go.

4. Go for a Hike

Outdoorsy couples will never fall short of date ideas in the UK – we're blessed when it comes to nature! Wherever you reside, it's likely you'll have some wonderful hiking routes not far from your front door.

Pack a picnic in your backpack (wine optional, of course) and get walking, We'd highly recommend a pub stop for refreshments at the end or in the middle. A hike can be adjusted for every kind of couple, too – it can be a leisurely trail rather than a huge hill if that's more your vibe.

5. Sign Up for a Fun Run

Hear us out... Absolutely don't suggest a run for a first date, but if the two of you share a passion for fitness, regularly enjoy jogging a cheeky 5k together or love to partake in a park run, then a charity fun run is a great bonding experience and you'll get some cute pics of you both at the finish line.

And to reward yourselves, you could continue onto a date night in the evening. Perfect day if you ask us!

6. Go Fruit Picking 

Whatever the season, there'll be something delicious at your local pick-your-own, and we love this as a cute date idea.

Strawberries, raspberries, apples, blackberries, plums, pears – there's so much choice and it's the perfect outdoor activity for a sunny day. You could go a step further and turn your fruit into jam or pick some fresh vegetables and challenge each other to a Ready, Steady, Cook-style chef off.

7. Head to a Farm

From llamas and alpacas to rabbits and guinea pigs, there's nothing cuter than hanging with some new furry pals for an inexpensive date activity. Even in the heart of the capital, you'll find city farms and petting zoos.

What to win extra date day brownie points? Call ahead and see if there are any feeding experiences you can book.

8. Go Wild Swimming

If you're after fun and low cost date ideas that'll get you out and about, try wild swimming as an activity.

A quick Google will tell you the best and nearest spots, such as a local river or lake, and it's even better at golden hour as the sun is going down.

If that doesn't take your fancy, how about a nearby lido? You'll get all the joy of outdoor swimming without the weeds between your toes. We recommend you don't spring wild swimming on your date though – unless they're especially spontaneous, give them a heads up so they can bring a swimsuit or some trunks.

9. Go Ice Skating

Come winter, you'll find open-air ice rinks across the UK that are calling out for you to show off a few tricks on a romantic date night.

Newbies to the ice will love ‘falling’ romantically in their partner's arms, while aficionados can race each other round the rink. A hot chocolate or mulled wine at the end will end this date night perfectly. 

10. Have a Photoshoot

Admittedly, this isn't an idea for your first few date nights. But if you're firmly a couple, then it could be a wonderful idea to hire a photographer for an hour or so to get some beautiful photos of the two of you.

Feel self-conscious? Channel the energy of your favourite influencer and you might find a photoshoot is a great confidence booster.

11. Book a Random Hotel Stay

If you've got the budget, why not book a night or weekend away in a cool hotel? From treehouses and shepherds' huts to castle keeps and beachfront cottages, there's no end to the cute and cosy places you can book in the UK.

We've rounded up the best mini-moon hotels in the UK perfect for romantic date night ideas away from home – whether you're recently married or not! 

12. See a Drag Show

You'll never forget your first drag brunch. Featuring performances from famous drag queens, delicious food and loads of laughs, it's one of the most perfect date night ideas for couples who love watching reruns of RuPaul's Drag Race as much as we do!

13. Go to the Zoo

Lots of zoos have late-night evenings if you're looking for date night ideas that involve cooing over animals, but if your local one doesn't, hit up a zoo or safari park during the day to meet and greet your favourite furry friends. You'll get extra brownie points if you book a 1-1 session with one of the animals as a surprise. Cute!

14. Get Tattoos

Again, maybe not the best first date idea, but for couples who have been together a little while, for those who want to mark an anniversary or something special, or couples who are just super spontaneous, will love the idea getting tattoos.

It's such a good date night idea and it'll be even cuter if you get matching ink – we’ve even got cute couples' tattoo ideas to inspire you!

15. Have Fun at the Fair

With everything from rides and games to street food and cocktails, you’ll never be short of conversation starters at a fairground – whether it’s your first date or your 30th.

Enjoy a romantic spin on the Ferris wheel, get competitive at the hook-a-duck or tin-can alley stations and have fun targeting each other on the dodgems. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up a bag of warm doughnuts or churros to share on the way home. 

Cheap Date Night Ideas

Spoiler alert: dating doesn't have to cost the earth! There are so many affordable date night ideas in the UK for couples to enjoy, and they're not boring either – trust us. These date night activities are cheap as chips but will provide memories that'll last a lifetime.

16. Hire City Bikes

Every big city has its own cycle hire system, from Lime's scooters and pedal bikes to the capital's Santander Cycles. Lime charges per minute, but Santander bikes are only £1.65 per 30 minutes, so get them for an hour to scoot around some of your city's famous landmarks.

17. Find a Park Concert

In the summer months, local parks will often offer free music concerts or theatre, perfect evening date ideas that'll keep you occupied for hours.

Bring a picnic blanket and a bottle of your favourite tipple and listen to some lovely tunes as the sun sets. Your local council website or park Instagram account should have all the details.

18. Stand Up for Shakespeare

Standing tickets in The Yard at London's Globe Theatre are only £5. Yes, it does require some stamina, but it's worth it to catch some famous names in a Shakespeare production for a bargain price. 

It's an inexpensive date night that offers bags of culture and entertainment at the same time – a win-win. 

19. Go to a Second-Hand Bookshop

Charity shop dates are good fun and, if you're a literary pair, the next step is second-hand book hunting. Choose a book for each other and turn a date day into a cheap date night in by spending time reading to each other in the evening. 

20. Recreate Your Favourite Restaurant Meal

Where was the best meal you've ever had? From Chinese to Italian, many cuisines are straightforward enough to recreate at home, and you'll have a blast putting on music and dancing round the kitchen, with yummy food guaranteed at the end.

With date night cooking ideas like this, the fun is in the fact that you get to create something together – from shopping for all the ingredients to following the recipe – there's so much enjoyment to be had before you even sit down to eat. 

21. Play at a Board Game Café

Board game cafés charge about £6 per person to play and have a huge range of games to pick from. You can discover a new favourite, and even bring along another couple for a sweet double date idea. If you want something even cheaper, most pubs have a selection of games, too. Find one near you and you'll only need for fork out for your drinks.

22. Go to an Arcade

One of the best date night ideas for couples who love a bit of nostalgia is a visit to your local arcade – and it can be pretty cheap, too.

Arcades are so much fun and bring out your competitive side. Set yourself a budget and see who can win the most tickets or claw back the most money on the 2p machines.

23. See an Open Mic

Local pubs and art centres often have open mic nights, ranging from comedy to singing. Why not pop along and see what's on offer? You never know, you might find a new favourite artist.

Feeling extra? Sign yourself up to be in the open mic night if you want to really surprise your love during the date. Even more daring is signing them up without them knowing – but do so at your own risk!

24. Pack Up a Picnic

Whether it’s in your local park, on the beach or somewhere further afield, there’s something oh-so inherently charming about a picnic for two – and you can spend as much or as little as you like on it, too.

All you need are the basics: a cosy blanket, some utensils and cups – maybe even a couple of cushions and a pack of cards – then stock up on snacks to fuel your date night. Pizza, sandwiches, fresh fruit, crisps, veggies and dip, antipasti and popcorn are all good, non-messy options for nibbles. Oh, and don’t forget the fizz!

25. Get Ice Cream

One of the simplest and cheapest date ideas out there, why not go get an ice cream and have a wander or sit in a park? You can cheat the system by getting a few tasters before you choose a cone, so it feels like you've got your money's worth.

26. Go Bargain Hunting

Put your best antiquing hat on and get searching for some gems at a local antiques store or flea market. You could find a hidden treasure... or (most likely) something that should never see the light of day again. Sell it on to actually make money on your date and thank us later. 

27. Take on a Pub Quiz

At around £2 per person (plus a drink), a pub quiz is one of the most fun low cost date night ideas for married couples that'll have you racking your brains and feeling super smug when you get the right answer. If you're both competitive, this will show your true colours. Good luck...

28. Eat Dessert Out

Tight budgets call for creative thinking, and while you might not have enough money left at the end of the month for a full-blown meal out, we reckon dessert alone is a great option.

Whether it's waffles, pancakes, ice cream, pie, or more, make sure you choose somewhere special for dessert and go all out with your toppings. Lots of cool street food vans do out-of-this-world dessert options so don't limit yourself to only restaurants.

29. Go Bowling

It's literally impossible to tire of going bowling, it's just so much fun. One of the best date night ideas for a first or early-on date, there's plenty to talk and tease each other about, and it's not too loud that you can't have a conversation.

30. Play Mini Golf

Whether that's at an indoor venue like Swingers or a mini golf course by the seaside, pitch and putt is a great date night activity, and many now have their own bars so you can sip as you swing (which always makes it more fun, IOHO). 

Free Date Night Ideas

If you want to spend some quality time together without spending loads of money, you'll love these free date night ideas. There's so much you can do as a couple without spending a penny, and we've got all the ideas you need for budget date nights now and forever.

31. Check Out a Free Museum

When it comes to free date night ideas in Manchester, London, Glasgow, Newcastle and more, we're so lucky that many of our museums and art galleries offer exhibitions and entry completely free of charge. You only have to get onto Google to find dozens of free places to visit and things to do – what's stopping you?

32. Find a Local Lecture

Similarly to the UK’s museums, libraries, universities and art galleries will often offer free or very cheap lectures that you can go and watch. If the two of you love learning about a new subject or want to brush up on your local history, take an hour or two to listen to an expert.

33. Build a Bucket List

If you're a pair of dreamers, we bet this'll be one of your favourite date night ideas indoors yet.

Grab some refreshments and have a Friday night date night making plans for your future. From the countries you want to visit to activities like skydiving that you want to tick off, writing a bucket list is a fab bonding idea.

34. Write Love Letters

This is a cute date night idea for a chilled and romantic night in. Pour a glass of wine and write each other a love letter. When you're both finished, you can either swap them there and then or save them to be read another time. 

35. Create a Cupboard Dinner

Hear us out – how about challenging one another to cooking a three course meal with only what you can find in your kitchen cupboard? One of you take the starter, the other does the main and you can pair up at the end to make dessert. 

This is a fun challenge you can do in the comfort of your own home, and it's completely free!

And if you fancy taking your free date night out the house, grab a blanket and some Tupperware and turn your three course meal into a picnic. Sweet!

36. Learn a Dance

Imagine going viral with your take on the next big TikTok dance. There are so many online dance classes and videos to help you learn, with something for everyone, from break dancing and hip hop to salsa and jive. It's one of those indoor date night ideas that'll give you plenty to do, and you get to learn a new skill at the same time.

37. Go Stargazing

Anyone who doesn't live in the city only needs to go outside their back door on a clear night to do this. If you're city dwellers, hop in the car and find a spot to park up, wrap yourselves in a blanket and get gazing. There are some great apps to help you out, including SkyView – just download it and follow the stars for a fun date night idea that won't cost a penny. 

38. Visit a Garden Centre

Garden centres are not the preserve of old married couples, you know; in fact, we reckon they make a really cute free date idea.

You could make it extra fun with a few little challenges, like finding the tallest plant or the one that reminds you most of the other, and then end by buying each other a plant to keep alive (herbs are ideal – and cheap!).

If your local garden centre is anything like ours, it also does an amazing breakfast or tea and cake in the café, if you want to spend a little. 

39. Volunteer Together

Volunteering is a free date idea with a difference that will make you both feel great. Is there a charity that means a lot to one of you? Or a local litter drive?

You can learn a lot about someone from their approach to volunteering, and we predict it'll be one of those free date ideas you'll end up doing again and again, and again!

40. Visit an Animal Shelter 

Dog and cat lovers, this one’s for you. Whether you’ve been together a while and are genuinely considering adopting an animal, or you just want to take the opportunity to bond over petting puppies and cuddling cats, many animal shelters – including the iconic Battersea Cats & Dogs Home in London – are free to visit and you can do so without booking.

If this is an early or first date, perhaps just double check your partner’s not allergic!

At Home Date Night Ideas

What would you say if we told you that you didn't even have to leave your house to have the dreamiest date together? That's where these cute date night at home ideas come in...

41. Make Cocktails Together

There's nothing more swish than enjoying a few fancy cocktails on a date, but if you want cheap date night in ideas, or you're trying to keep costs down (cocktails out can be spenny!), grab some bottles and enjoy shaking and stirring some of your own from kitchen.

42. Or Sober Cocktails!

On the topic of cocktails – not all of them have to be alcoholic. If you're non-drinkers, or just prefer to enjoy an alcohol-free date night here and there, try CleanCo's selection of alcohol free spirits. The full range includes whisky, rum and tequila alternatives, as well as a selection of alcohol-free gins. 

Hitched Editor Zoe Burke says, "I'm partial to a gin and tonic of an evening, and was so pleasantly surprised when I tried the Clean G Rhubarb tipple with a fresh tonic mixer. It was refreshing and I enjoyed it even more knowing how good I'd feel the next day!"

43. Create Pizza From Scratch

The best date night in ideas always include pizza – and did you know, fresh pizza dough is surprisingly easy to make? What's more, it'll seriously impress your date.

You'll love working on the recipe together and then moving onto the best part: the toppings. It's cheaper and tastier (we promise) than that takeaway pizza you were going to order.

44. Have a Spa Night

Most of us already have everything we need to host a spa night at home so it's a really inexpensive but perfectly pampering date night idea! A face mask, foot bath and some massage oils are all you need.

Set the scene with some scented candles and mood music, and you're good to go. 

45. Arrange a Treasure Hunt

One of those cheap yet fun date night ideas at home that no one else would have thought of, why not host a date night treasure hunt?

Write clues that relate to your relationship and lead your partner on a scavenger hunt around your house. Clues could direct your loved one to the seat where you had your first kiss, or the jar of chilli powder that nearly spelt disaster for your sixth date. It should end in something special, which can be as lovely (and budget-friendly) as a bath with candles and rose petals.

46. Piece Together a Puzzle

Rediscover the simplistic joy of completing a puzzle – we bet it’s been a while, right? This therapeutic activity requires just the right level of brain power to entertain and relax you. Buy a new jigsaw (or even a Lego set) and get sorting.

47. Watch a Play

Many of the country's best theatres put recordings of their finest performances online during the Covid lockdown, and the trend has continued – thankfully!

You can rent a play to watch from the likes of the National Theatre, Sadler's Wells, The Globe, Soho Theatre, the Royal Opera House and from festivals like the Edinburgh International Festival. 

Settle down to some of the greatest stars of stage and screen right in your living room. Bonus: you don't have to watch until the interval if you need the loo.

48. Create Your Own Cinema

Sure, Netflix and chill may have been on the agenda many a night already, but there are so many ways to elevate your next film night together to make it date-worthy.

Make the room extra cosy with mood lighting and blankets, set up a snack station with bowls overflowing with popcorn and other nibbles (just make sure they’re easy to eat in the dark) or maybe order in a pizza to go with your bottle of wine.

Looking to surprise them? Create your own cinema-style ticket invitation and sneak it in their pocket to give them a preview (pun fully intended) of what they’ve got to look forward to when they get home…

49. Order in Breakfast

Few things are more romantic than coffee and breakfast in bed, but there’s always someone who’s got to get up to make it – which is why we highly recommend treating yourselves to a long, lazy lie-in every once in a while, and ordering in breakfast instead.

Obviously, we’ll let you decide who’s going to get up to answer the door… (rock, paper, scissors, GO)

50. Host a Wine Tasting For Two

Happiest when drinking vino? Why not treat yourselves to an intimate wine tasting for two at home. Pick up tasting and experience kits from the likes of Virgin Wines, Brixton Wine Club, KASK Wine and more, all of which come complete with tasting notes and varietal information. Just add water and snacks to cleanse the palette – cheese, anyone?

Couples’ Date Night Ideas

Are you a pair who loves sharing date night ideas with your couple friends? If you're lucky enough to have found a duo who love all the same things you do, try out some of these cool date night couple activities together for double dates everyone will love.

51. Do a Brewery or Vineyard Tour

Getting tipsy at a brewery or wine tasting tour is great with your partner, but it's even more fun with your best couple friends. You'll have an amazing date night out, discover some new favourite drinks, and then all be able to grab a taxi home for a takeaway or meal out to soak up the tasters.

52. Be Karaoke Queens

Mutual embarrassment is the basis for many a great relationship. This fun date night idea is even better in a group so grab a few fellow couples and do a big night out with your own room and a strict no Instagramming policy.

53. Host a Casino Night

A casino night with all your best couple friends is made for memories. Whether you're playing poker, blackjack or something a little simpler for card shark newbies, you'll feel on top of the world when Lady Luck chooses you.

If you don't want to gamble for money, how about do it to see which couple will pay for the takeaway for everyone? Now that's a bet we wouldn't want to lose...

54. Throw a Come Dine With Me Dinner

Do your pals live nearby? You can do a Come Dine With Me-style dinner crawl where one couple makes the starter, the next hosts the main at their house, and the final couple do the dessert. If your arrangements are a bit more complicated, the starter and dessert couple can bring theirs to the couple doing the main.

If you're really dedicated, you could do it exactly like the TV show and have each couple host a dinner party across the week.

55. Survive an Escape Room

Grab another couple (it's more fun if there's a few of you to work through the clues) and head to a themed escape room for a fun, head-scratching, bonkers date night. Can you all get out within the hour?

London Date Night Ideas

The capital is alive and well with love: if you're looking for cool and fun date night ideas in London, you've certainly come to the right place. The city is bursting with date night ideas and opportunities for you to explore – how much time do you have? 

56. Explore a Unique Museum

London is home to a wealth of cool museums to see, but why not skip the tourist traps and check out some of the lesser-known ones instead, including The Postal Museum, the Museum of Brands in Notting Hill, or The Cinema Museum in Kennington.

Want to delve into something gorier? Check out the Jack the Ripper Museum in Aldgate or one of the country’s oldest medieval prisons at the Clink.

57. Go Tube Hopping

If you're a couple who love adventure, but like to stay in the city, tube hopping is a London date night idea that's ideal. The same can be done with buses and trains too if you'd prefer.

The idea is you get to a tube station and take it in turns to choose how many stops to stay on for. Every time you change, hop off and do something – anything – buy a matcha, go into a shop, walk around exploring – and when you're done, hop back on the tube for another few stops. Who knows where you might end up!

58. Do a Walking Tour

You'll be surprised what you can learn on a walking tour in the City of London. Grab a coffee and enjoy a stroll as you discover city secrets and hidden gems. There's often walking tours for specific interests too, including ghost tours and Harry Potter tours.

59. Drink in an Unusual Bar

Vintage speakeasies, hidden underground bars, James Bond themed drinking dens, Cuban cabanas, molecular cocktail labs, ping pong haunts and much more – London is filled with unique places to drink. Find the wild and wackiest bar in town and book yourselves in for a drink if the local pub just isn't cutting it these days.

60. Cackle at a Comedy Night

London is known for its legendary comedy clubs, and for good reason. Many well-known comedians frequent the comedy bars in town and laughing makes for one of the best Friday night date ideas, don't you think?

61. Visit London's Food Markets

You don’t just have to rely on the capital’s best restaurants to keep you well fed. London’s food markets are the perfect place for a fun date – whether you want excellent coffee, sweet treats, craft beer or a tasty kerbside lunch.

Enjoy everything from lobster frites to sea-salt caramel doughnuts and confit duck sandwiches in Borough Market or head to Maltby Street in nearby Bermondsey for gyoza and craft beer from independent distilleries.

62. Do a Rooftop Drinking Tour

If there’s one thing London isn’t short of, it’s stunning views – and where better to soak them up than from the city’s rooftop bars?

From the cosy communal benches of Pergola Paddington Central to the staggering city sights from the Radio rooftop at ME London, enjoy ice-cold drinks and snacks in each spot before moving on to the next. Want to finish with a dance? We highly recommend ending your night at Queen of Hoxton.

63. Play Zookeeper For the Day

If you or your date are animal lovers, we couldn’t think of anything wilder than spending a day with some of the residents of London Zoo. From giraffes to penguins, check out some of the experience options available online, prepare to muck in (quite literally) and find out exactly what it takes to be a keeper for the day.

64. Dine in the Dark

Famed for its appearance in the Richard Curtis rom-com About Time, Dans Le Noir is a restaurant promising a unique dining experience and London date night idea like no other, as you’re left to eat, drink and chat in complete darkness.

Not only is it a great way to rediscover flavours and ingredients relying solely on your other senses, but we guarantee it’ll be a lot of fun as you both try to guess what it is you're eating.  

65. Discover the Secret Cinema

Been on one too many cinema dates? How about something a bit more immersive (and original) instead? Secret Cinema allows you to not only see the film in a top-secret location, but the transformative experience includes immersive performers, sets, costumes and more. Seriously fun stuff. 

Meal Ideas For Date Night

Some of the best date night ideas and activities revolve around food, but rather than just picking a restaurant and going – or cooking your usual Friday night dinner at home – why not opt for something different with these fun date night food ideas?

66. Recreate Your First Date Dinner

This is one of the most romantic date night dinner ideas out there – to recreate your very first dinner date. Whether you revisit the restaurant you first went to or cook the meal at home in your own rendition of the food you ate, it's a sweet way to reminisce the first time you dined together.

67. Do a Food Tasting

This is another of our easy date night dinner ideas that can be done in the comfort of your living room as an at home date, or out at a fancy restaurant – whichever way you do it, it'll be amazing!

Tasting menus are a great way to try new things and experience them together. Make it extra fancy by pairing it with wines or your favourite tipple.

68. Go On a Street Food Crawl

Food ideas for date night don’t get easier than this. If your town or city has a big street food scene, then you'll want to try as many amazing dishes as you can. Decide who is going to choose the starter, main, side and dessert and go on a crawl around your favourite stalls and vendors.

The best thing about street food is it's usually served in small portions, so you can try plenty of dishes without getting too full.

69. Three Courses, Three Restaurants

Having tried this ourselves, we can recommend this date night highly. So here's how it works. You go out for a three course meal, but (here's the twist) you visit a different restaurant for each course. Perhaps a tapas place to start (small plates all round), a romantic candle-lit Italian restaurant for your mains (pasta, please), and finish off with some French profiteroles. 

The best thing about this foodie date night idea is you can choose wherever you want, and even add a few more courses, too. There's no rules here.

70. Dine Under the Stars

Want to elevate your next date night dinner? Why not try taking it outside to make it feel even more special.

Set the scene with mood lighting (fairy lights and lanterns are an atmospheric and romantic touch), soft blankets and throws to beat the evening chill, or go for a pillow-covered picnic setting. You could even set up a gazebo to protect you from the elements – we couldn’t think of anything more romantic than listening to the rain while you dine.

Date Night FAQs & Expert Advice

Want to make sure you have the best date night ever? Heed our expert advice!

Are free date night ideas just as good as paid ones?

Date nights are hugely important, no matter how much money you spend on them. Not only are they an opportunity for couples to reconnect, but – as you've seen from our list of fun date ideas above – they don't have to be extravagant or expensive to be special. 

"Date nights and date days are so very important," agrees Anna Williamson, relationship expert and founder of The Relationship Place.

"Carving out properly scheduled time for each other is a key component in keeping your relationship prioritised, happy and healthy, and you don’t need to spend money to do that.

“The biggest mistake couples often make is doing nothing and letting the relationship get stagnant," she adds.

What’s a good date night idea for married couples?

Now we've established just how important date nights are, let's talk some more about ideas.

If you're wondering, what are fun date night ideas for you and your partner to do together, Anna advises couples not to overcomplicate things. "I’m a big fan of keeping it simple and sometimes turning a date night into a date day can be super fun," she explains.

"A picnic, a street food market, visiting a museum or National Trust attraction, or getting coffee and cake are all good date night (and day!) ideas. I also love keeping dates cost effective, active, and ensuring the main focus is on each other."

If you’ve been married a while, reminiscing about old times together, whether that’s by recreating your first date or the meal you ate on your wedding day, can also be a really fun thing to do.

How do you make a date night special at home?

We’ve got plenty of home date night ideas to keep your evenings in brimming with romance – no Netflix required!

Whatever you end up doing, your date nights, days or weekends at home should be focused on spending quality time together. Make sure you stay present and really block that time out, to avoid getting distracted by other things.  

What are the best date night dinner ideas?

If you want out of the box date night dinner ideas, try restaurant-hopping, dining outdoors or treating yourselves to a menu tasting with wine pairings.

If you’re cooking for your partner or you both enjoy cooking together, easy food ideas for a date night include sizzling steak and frites, fajitas, risotto, carbonara and more. Don’t forget dessert too – we can’t resist a homemade tiramisu or chocolate mousse!

Are Friday nights the best time for a date night?

Friday nights are a popular day of the week for date nights, for many couples. If neither of you work on Saturday or Sunday, Friday signals the start of the weekend when we finally get to unwind and spend some much-needed time with the ones we love. Many couples see it as a celebratory night, so it’s perfect for date night.

That said, date night can be any night of the week. It’s about choosing a time that works with your schedule and for you as a couple.

Recently married? You'll love these newlywed date night ideas!