London
Rainy day date ideas in Notting Hill and Kensington
Updated
When it rains in west London, there’s no shortage of places to duck into. The V&A, the Natural History Museum and the Design Museum are free and fill an afternoon, and Leighton House’s Arab Hall feels like another world. Watch a film from a sofa at the Electric on Portobello Road, have a pint and Thai food at the Churchill Arms, or share Bombay-style small plates at Permit Room. For a big evening, there’s a concert or a Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, then cocktails at Trailer Happiness or Viajante87 under the Gate cinema. And for an anniversary, Clarke’s has been cooking a daily-changing seasonal menu on Kensington Church Street since 1984.
Our picks
Clarke's
Kensington Church Street, Kensington
Address: 124 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BH- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book dinner at Sally Clarke's restaurant, open since 1984, where the seasonal menu changes daily with what's best at market.
Why it's a good date: Simple food done beautifully in a calm, art-filled room, the kind of place you keep for an anniversary. Book ahead for a weekend evening.
Electric Cinema Portobello
Portobello Road, Notting Hill
Address: 191 Portobello Road, London W11 2ED- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Cosy
Watch a film from a leather armchair, a two-person sofa or one of the beds in the front row of one of Britain's oldest cinemas.
Why it's a good date: Order food and drinks to your seat and settle in together. The sofas and beds go first, so book them ahead.
Photo: Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Trailer Happiness
Portobello Road, Notting Hill
Address: 177 Portobello Road, London W11 2DY- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
Head down to a low-lit basement bar on Portobello Road for rum cocktails with a tiki twist, in a room styled like a 1960s California lounge.
Why it's a good date: It's fun and a bit kitsch, with a long rum list to work through together. Book at weekends, when the DJs are on and it fills up.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road, South Kensington
Address: Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Get lost in the V&A's galleries of fashion, jewellery, sculpture and design, then sit out in the garden courtyard.
Why it's a good date: The collections are free and huge, so pick a couple of galleries each and swap. Keep an eye out for its free Friday Late evenings.
Photo: Enchufla Con Clave, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
The Churchill Arms
Kensington Church Street, Notting Hill
Address: 119 Kensington Church Street, London W8 7LN- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Dog friendly
- Cosy
Have a pint at the pub famous for the flowers that cover its front in summer and the Christmas trees in winter, with a Thai kitchen at the back.
Why it's a good date: A proper London pub with a cheerful, cluttered inside, and the Thai food makes it an easy dinner too. It's popular, so go early in the evening for a table.
Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Permit Room Portobello
Portobello Road, Notting Hill
Address: 186 Portobello Road, London W11 1LA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Dog friendly
- Foodie
- Cosy
Share curries, bar snacks and small plates at the Dishoom team's all-day Bombay-style café and bar, in a restored corner building.
Why it's a good date: Relaxed and lively, and it works for breakfast after the market as well as dinner and cocktails. Some nights there's a DJ playing vinyl if you fancy staying on.
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road, South Kensington
Address: Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Explore the dinosaurs, gems and the blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall, inside Alfred Waterhouse's great terracotta building.
Why it's a good date: The building alone is worth the trip, and it's free to get in. Go on a weekday or later in the afternoon to miss the busiest family crowds.
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Viajante87
Notting Hill Gate, Notting Hill
Address: Basement, 87 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JZ- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
- Cosy
Order agave cocktails with Latin American flavours in a basement bar underneath the Gate cinema.
Why it's a good date: Low lights and inventive drinks make it a good second stop after dinner or a film. On some nights a DJ spins vinyl as well.
Leighton House
Holland Park Road, Kensington
Address: 12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Look round the Victorian painter Frederic Leighton's home and studio, and stand under the gold dome of the Arab Hall, lined with patterned tiles.
Why it's a good date: It's small enough to see in an hour and feels like stepping into another world. Pair it with a walk in Holland Park, a few minutes away.
Photo: Mark Percy, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Design Museum
Kensington High Street, Kensington
Address: 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
See the free display of everyday objects and the latest exhibition, under the sweeping roof of the old Commonwealth Institute.
Why it's a good date: Easy to enjoy even if design isn't your thing, and good for a debate about what you'd own. Holland Park is just behind it for a walk afterwards.
Photo: Paul the Archivist, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Science Museum Lates
Exhibition Road, South Kensington
Address: Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD- Event
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
- Big night
- Culture
Explore the Science Museum after hours at an adults-only evening, with themed talks, activities and bars among the galleries.
Why it's a good date: A playful night out that gives you plenty to talk about. They don't run every month, so watch for the next date and book as soon as it's announced.
Photo: Shadowssettle, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, South Kensington
Address: Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
- Romantic
See a concert, a film with a live orchestra or a summer Prom inside the great round Victorian hall.
Why it's a good date: Few rooms make a night feel bigger. Look at what's on months ahead, and walk across Kensington Gardens to get there.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Tavernaki
Portobello Road, Notting Hill
Address: Tavernaki, 222 Portobello Road, London W11 1LJ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Share Greek taverna classics and a carafe of wine at a family-run spot halfway along Portobello Road.
Why it's a good date: It's homely and good value for this part of town, and there's live Greek music some nights. A natural stop after a wander round the market.
Tonkotsu Notting Hill
Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill
Address: Tonkotsu, 7 Blenheim Crescent, London W11 2EE- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Perch at the counter for bowls of ramen made with house noodles, watching the kitchen at work, just off Portobello Road.
Why it's a good date: It's quick and warming, which makes it a good cheap dinner on a cold night in one of London's priciest neighbourhoods. No bookings, so expect a short wait at peak times.
Four Seasons Queensway
Queensway, Bayswater
Address: Four Seasons, 84 Queensway, London W2 3RL- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share Cantonese roast meats and rice at the Bayswater restaurant that has been famous for its roast duck since 1990.
Why it's a good date: It's plain and noisy, and nobody minds, because the roast meats are the whole point. Walk it off afterwards in Kensington Gardens, a few minutes away.
Core by Clare Smyth
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill
Address: Core by Clare Smyth, 92 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2PN- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Book Clare Smyth's tasting menu of refined British cooking at her Michelin-starred restaurant on Kensington Park Road.
Why it's a good date: It's one of the very best restaurants in the country, but the room is warm and the service makes you feel looked after rather than on show. Book well ahead for an anniversary.
The Ledbury
Ledbury Road, Notting Hill
Address: The Ledbury, 127 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Celebrate with Brett Graham's tasting menu at the Michelin-starred restaurant on a leafy Notting Hill corner.
Why it's a good date: It's London's big-occasion restaurant, with seasonal British produce at the heart of the cooking and a calm, elegant room. Tables go fast, so book the moment reservations open.
Kitchen W8
Abingdon Road, Kensington
Address: Kitchen W8, 11-13 Abingdon Road, London W8 6AH- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Have a polished, Michelin-starred dinner of modern British cooking on a quiet street off Kensington High Street.
Why it's a good date: It's a neighbourhood restaurant with serious cooking, so it feels special without being stuffy. Pair it with an evening walk through Holland Park.
Caractère
Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill
Address: Caractère, 209 Westbourne Park Road, London W11 1EA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Book a romantic dinner of French and Italian cooking at Emily Roux and Diego Ferrari's Michelin-starred restaurant.
Why it's a good date: The dining room is soft and pretty, and the cooking is personal and generous. A lovely choice for an anniversary.
Dorian
Talbot Road, Notting Hill
Address: Dorian, 105-107 Talbot Road, London W11 2AT- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Book a celebratory dinner of modern British cooking at a Michelin-starred bistro on Talbot Road.
Why it's a good date: It's lively and glamorous rather than hushed, so it suits a celebration that should feel fun. Book ahead for weekends.
Akira at Japan House
Kensington High Street, Kensington
Address: Akira, Japan House, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Book a refined Japanese dinner in the calm first-floor restaurant at Japan House on Kensington High Street.
Why it's a good date: It's quiet and beautifully done, with careful service and lovely tableware. Look round the free Japan House gallery downstairs before you eat.
Six Portland Road
Portland Road, Holland Park
Address: Six Portland Road, 6 Portland Road, London W11 4LA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book a small, seasonal British dinner and something good from the wine list at an intimate restaurant behind Holland Park.
Why it's a good date: There are only a handful of tables on a quiet residential street, so it feels like a secret you're in on together. Book ahead, especially at weekends.
Min Jiang
Kensington High Street, Kensington
Address: Min Jiang, Royal Garden Hotel, 2-24 Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Big night
Have a Chinese dinner high above Kensington Gardens at the tenth-floor restaurant of the Royal Garden Hotel, known for its wood-fired duck.
Why it's a good date: The floor-to-ceiling windows look across the park to the London skyline, and it's especially lovely at sunset. Ask for a window table when you book.
Quick answers
Can we book the sofas at the Electric Cinema?
Yes, and it's worth it: the two-person sofas and the front-row beds go first. You can order food and drinks to your seat.
What's free in Kensington on a wet day?
The V&A, the Natural History Museum and the Design Museum's display are all free. The Science Museum's adults-only Lates are free too, when they're on.
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