Roses are red, violets are blue; love is right around the corner, it’s almost Valentine’s Day!
The most romantic day of the year is swiftly approaching and if you’re planning on staying at the Montcalm Hotel over the weekend of 14th February you will find that there are plenty of things to do, see and eat in London to make the occasion memorable – as well as special offers.
Valentine Day doesn’t need to be constrained to romantic love or be an overly mushy affair. Use the occasion to tell everyone who is important in your life how much they mean to you, whether that’s your partner, you mum, your best friend or your great aunt once removed. If you and your nearest and dearest aren’t too keen on over-sentimentality and would rather not make too much fuss, there is a host of alternative things you can do.
Check out guide to find something for everyone this Valentine’s Day in London.
Something for… literally, anyone!
Feast on sugary treats and delectable cakes. Something you will love about Valentine’s Day is all the delicious cakes, baked goods and chocolates that crop up all over the city. Embrace the sugar and the carbs by tucking into a cream tea in London. Pile your plate with the traditional scones with jam and cream, dainty finger sandwiches and sumptuous cakes and add a glass of bubbly to mark the occasion. A cream tea can be enjoyed with your other half, your family or friends, anyone!
Something for… the love of your life
Get closer at a Latin dance class
If you and your partner want to look more coordinated on the dance floor or learn some flash new moves, you can book a private dance class for two with Caramelo Latin Dance at the Paddington Academy. They offer personalised tuition in salsa, mambo, cha cha cha, bachata and pachanga as well as first dance choreographies for weddings. Drop them an email to let them know what you want to try!
Spend a night in a boutique hotel
Staying in a hotel always feels exciting. Fresh, soft linens to crawl into, immaculate bathrooms with a tub and a rain shower and a basket of fresh fruits will greet you in your room at the Montcalm Hotel. You can even order an exotic fragrance ‘scent’ in your room! Staying for a night or even the full Valentine’s Day weekend means you can spend lazy days winding down at the accommodation tucking into a cream tea, experiencing spa treatments or streaming films in your room. Or, you can use it as a base to get out and explore the city.
Shower them with flowers
If you’re staying at the Montcalm Hotel for the weekend, hop on the tube to east London on Sunday morning and pick up a bunch of flowers from Columbia Road Flower Market. You’ll find a vast array of colourful blooms, succulent plants and cute shrubs to choose from which will make the perfect take-home souvenir from your Valentine’s Day in London, and it’s much more special than picking up a bunch in rush from the local garage. Once you’ve picked your bouquet, you can pick up food from one of the stalls or in a cafe or pub around the market.
Serenade them at The Poetry Cafe
Instead of buying them a card this year, why not take your loved one to the Poetry Cafe in Convent Garden. Take a notebook, order an artisanal coffee or loose-leaf tea from the cafe and muster up the inspiration to write a verse for each other in this welcoming and creative space. If you struggle to find the words, you can browse their stock of books to give you a literary boost.
Something for… the party animal
Party like it’s the roaring 20’s
If you think they’d enjoy a night of opulent dining, potent cocktails and footloose dancing, check out the Great Gatsby party hosted by the London Cabaret Club on Friday 14 February. Lovable songs from the blockbuster film starring Leonardo Di Caprio will be performed against the glamorous backdrop of the 1920’s Art Deco Bloomsbury Ballroom whilst you dine. After your meal, it’s over to the dance floor for the night. Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment.
Something for… the one who needs a pick me up
If your loved one doesn’t get much time to unwind and you think they’re in need of some pampering then surprise them with a few hours of peace and serenity in the spa. Available spa treatments in London include soothing massages, replenishing facials and luxurious body scrubs. At the Montcalm, booking into one of our spa packages also includes access to our sauna, steam room, monsoon shower and pool. This is perfect for catching up and relaxing with your loved one over Valentine’s Day, and ideal for couples, friends or family.
Something for… the shopaholic in your life
Shop the London look
The centre of London is a hotspot for shopping. Browse antiques at one of the thriving markets such as Portobello Road, Camden or Spitalfields. Shop in the quirky Carnaby Street and pick up springtime fashion and mooch around unique jewellery boutiques and beauty shops. Head east to rummage around edgy vintage hoards in Shoreditch and Hoxton, or hit the luxurious designer brands on Knightsbridge.
Go on a shopping spree
If you want to give your shopaholic the ultimate shopping experience, consider booking a club room at the Montcalm Hotel and take advantage of the incredible Bicester Village Discount. This exciting package provides a return journey to and from the outlet shopping centre either by train or chauffeur driven luxury car. You can find some remarkable bargains of up to 60% off recommended retail prices covering all manner of goods from clothing, accessories, sportswear, jewellery watches, homeware and children’s products.
Something for… culture vultures
Museum or gallery
We don’t mean to gloat, but London really is home to some of the best museums and galleries in the world. Treating yourselves to one of the current exhibitions is a sure-fire way to have a marvellous day out. Choose one that appeals to you both, and this is the ideal way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with someone you care about. It doesn’t need to be romantic – pick one that goes against the grain! The Pollock’s Toy Museum in Fitzrovia is a shrine to playtime, and is home to an Ancient Egyptian toy mouse made out of Nile clay. Or, if you’re not too squeamish you can step into the world of 19th-century medicine at the Old Operating Theatre Museum by London Bridge.
Watch a film
A golden oldie when it comes to romance or enjoying an evening with friends, is the classic trip to the cinema. There are plenty of independent cinema chains in London which offer a boutique, sophisticated experience such as the Everyman and Curzon. In time for Valentine’s Day, the Grand Cinema in Clapham are hosting a special evening devoted to the Bridget Jones’s Diary trilogy (Sat 15 Feb). Join them and relive these cult rom-coms with unlimited popcorn for £2, plenty of wine and a live host to warm you up! The Rivoli Ballroom are following the success of their Christmas pop-up cinema with a series of screenings around the big day including Romeo + Juliet.
Take your literature lover to a book signing
If you want to treat your favourite book lover in London, find out what book signings are taking place. Usually you can just turn up and queue for a signing, although you should plan ahead if there is a talk taking place which may require advance booking. As well as being inspired, you can get them a dedicated book at the event which they will treasure forever. Check out what’s on at the big players, Waterstones, Foyles and Daunts.
Something for… nature lovers
Invoke their senses at the Orchid Festival
If your loved one adores flowers and travel, let the sensory Kew Garden Orchid Festival whisk them away to Indonesia. The annual festival begins in February just in time for Valentine’s Day. The South East Asian archipelago has 5,000 native species of orchids and Kew Gardens plan to bring the essence of them to London. The greenhouses of the legendary botanical garden will be filled with the sights, smells and sights of the Indonesian islands. Highlights include lush rainforests, and displays of orangutans and an erupting volcano made up of hundreds of stunning orchid blossoms.
Give them the garden they wish they had
London Terrariums host regular workshops on how to build a terrarium whilst you learn their exciting history which dates back to Victorian London. A terrarium is essentially an aquarium for plants, so if someone you love wants to get green fingered during 2020 but doesn’t have a garden of their own – this is the perfect alternative. After the workshop you can take your own little glass rainforest home. London Terrariums have a variety of workshops available in the dates around Valentine’s Day.
Take them for a long walk
London has plenty of green spaces poking out behind the skyscrapers and historic townhouses, so if you’re loved one enjoys being out in the fresh air you’ve come to the right place. Share an adventure to the wild parklands of Hampstead Heath, and then cosy up by a crackling fire in a nearby pub afterwards. Or, explore the Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens of Regent’s Park. Battersea Park in south London has a beautiful pagoda and boating lake which is charming to see on a clear February day. After all the walking, round off the experience with one of the finest cream teas in London to rest your feet.
Something for… the Valentine’s Day cynic
Make your own cheese
If you’re looking for something cheesy this Valentine’s Day, what about having a go at making your own. Wildes Cheese’s (The Urban Cheesemaker) offers a range of workshops during the day at weekends or short classes on weekday evenings in their Micro Dairy in north London, Tottenham. You can have a go at making halloumi or stretching cheese.
Sip a cocktail in a loo
Before you raise your eyebrows, the bars in London that were formerly washrooms have been given a thorough makeover and these are some of the best bars in London now. Most have innovative cocktails and classy jazz crooning in the background. Decide between Ladies and Gentlemen in Kentish Town, the Bermondsey Art Club in Bermondsey and The Attendant in Fitzrovia. WC in Clapham Common is the place for wine and charcuterie. For a truly sensual night, catch a cabaret or open mic show at Cellar Door in Aldwych over a vintage cocktail. If you want to ‘spend a penny’ on the cynic, this is the right place!
Catch some comedy
London is brimming with excellent comedy clubs, and so if you want to get away from the love overload – you can rely on the witty comedians to keep you on track. Leicester Square and Covent Garden are where you’ll find the lions share of wit. Check out Comedy Carnival Covent Garden, the Top Secret Comedy Club or the Comedy Club. The Boat Show Comedy Club is a floating venture you can find outside Whitehall Gardens on the the embankment.
Something for… children
We haven’t forgotten about the little ones! Remember that the Montcalm provide comfortable lodging for families and if you plan to be in London over Valentine’s Day with your children, there are plenty of kid-friendly activities in London all year round. If they love animals, take them to ZSL London Zoo and let them pick a Meet the Animal experience or get a taste of life in animal welfare with the Junior Keeper for a Day programme. They will love posing with the waxworks at Madame Tussauds London. Alternatively take them to Hamley’s on Regent Street where they can explore and play in the world’s greatest toyshop!
