Monday to
Saturday
8AM – 8PM
Sunday
9AM – 7PM
The Sidings,
Waterloo Station,
London SE1 7BH
After 00:00, enter via the Curve, next to the Leeke Street arches, off York Road.
It’s supposed to be one of the most romantic days of the year. Still, so many people feel pressure to get their Valentine’s Day perfect and that’s just taking away a lot of the enjoyment for us here at The Sidings, so because we are kind people, here is a list of romantic ideas for things to do in the South Bank this Valentine’s Day.
Important note – we’ve intentionally steered clear of restaurant recommendations, as the area has literally hundreds of great options and they all do special menus for the night, so if you want to eat locally we’ll leave you with that.
If you are fortunate enough to have the day off, then why not make the most of the amazing art galleries and exhibitions on the South Bank. The variety on offer means you’ll find an option that fits your style, from contemporary art at The Hayward Gallery through to the great Tate Modern, but not forgetting one of the best independent galleries for artists, Skylark Galleries, based in Gabriel’s Wharf.
If you are a theatre lover (or your partner is!), then we are lucky to have a lot of great options in South Bank, including the iconic set of The Old Vic, the National Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe. If you are not able to find something to your tastes across one of those historical options, we’d wager that maybe the theatre is the wrong option for you (don’t worry, we have loads of other options for you on this list!)
One example of a show with a difference is at the Royal Festival Hall where the Royal Philharmonia Orchestra, are performing a one-off night of romantic evening of seductive sounds of Latin America.
Or how about this as an alternative – comedy gig? It might seem mad but Valentine’s doesn’t have to be candlelit dinners and expensive bottles of wine, for some couples, having a fun evening together is the perfect way to celebrate. The Big Belly comedy club are running a special Valentine’s evening that will be worth checking out.
If the theatre isn’t your cup of tea but you still like getting lost in an imaginary world, then might we suggest a trip to the cinema to be an excellent choice. Going to the movies is a classic romantic date, so for Valentine’s Day why not supercharge that idea and head to the British Film Institute.
It’s a great setting for a movie and with 4 screens open, you’ll find both modern and classic films to choose from – we’ve heard they are showing Casablanca this year, an absolute classic. Maybe pop into the bar for a drink beforehand and even grab a bite to eat on your way out.
Have you considered the London Eye for Valentine’s Day? I bet you think we’ve gone mad, but let us explain! Cupid’s Pod is a unique experience where you have a private pod on the world’s most popular observational wheel.
You’ll get a bottle of Champagne and luxury chocolates to go with your private pod journey. Your host will ensure you have everything you need and for 30 minutes it will just be the two of you making the most of the amazing views. They even have the option of a special ride for you to propose in style, not that we are suggesting anything!
If you love the aquarium (and you should, it’s amazing) then how about a romantic night evening under the sea but with no children in sight! Once a month, the good folks at the London Aquarium run an evening for adults only and they are putting on one of those nights on 13th February, so I think we can agree that still counts!
Experience the aquarium in a different light, with no queues and most importantly, no excitable kids running around. Sip on a complimentary drink upon arrival as you glide alongside green sea turtles, trek through the Amazon Rainforest and waddle past the colony of Gentoo penguins.
I know we said no talk of expensive restaurants but we didn’t promise we wouldn’t direct you to a couple of great places for a romantic drink before (or after) you’ve had a lovely evening.
The independent Italian wine bar and restaurant known as Forza Wine has a concept at the National Theatre and with some of the best views over the Thames, it’s a slightly different place to grab a drink and comes with incredible natural wines.
Alternatively, if you fancy a romantic atmosphere fuelled with creative cocktails, then head to the Lost Property Office at The Sidings. I know lost property at a train station doesn’t sound like the cosiest night you’ll have, but it’s actually a 1920s style speakeasy cocktail hideaway, hidden inside BrewDog Waterloo (the world’s largest), featuring some of London’s finest mixologists.
You have to find and go through a secret entrance to reach the bar…. The cocktails have been designed by award-winning mixologist Rich Woods and we recommend the signature cocktail experience, Martini Roulette.
We’ve given you a lot of lovely things to do but why not tie them together with a romantic stroll? Queen’s Walk is one of the best places to walk in the whole of London and we don’t say that lightly.
However busy it might seem, and Valentine’s night will certainly be busy, it never feels like that whilst walking along the river in South Bank. You’ll hear the sound of buskers serenading you, the backdrop of lights flickering on the river Thames and views of some iconic buildings.
We couldn’t end without a quick reminder that you’ll need to bring a gift on your Valentine’s date night, so if you are going through The Sidings on the way, we’d recommend a couple of places to get the ultimate gift for your partner.
If you want to treat them to some luxury cosmetics, we’d love to point you toward Kiehl’s. All their products are nature-inspired and award-winning, they cannot help but impress!
Finally, let’s go back to basics – who doesn’t want chocolates for Valentine’s Day? Neuhaus quite literally invented the praline – I’m not sure we can think of a better recommendation for where to buy your sweet treats.
Whatever you decide to do, enjoy yourself and if you’ve got some other great local recommendations, please let us know in the comments.
