London
Cheap date ideas in Soho and Covent Garden
Updated
The West End doesn’t have to be expensive. The National Gallery is free, Foyles has six floors of books to browse, and Neal’s Yard and Seven Dials cost nothing to wander. Phoenix Garden, on an old bombsite behind the theatre, is a quiet bench a few steps from the crowds, and Waterloo Bridge at sunset has one of the best views in London. For a few pounds, there’s a sing-along or a cult classic at the Prince Charles Cinema, the Photographers’ Gallery, dumplings and custard buns along Gerrard Street in Chinatown, and an espresso at Bar Italia on Frith Street, open since 1949.
Our picks
National Gallery
Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Wander the free national collection on Trafalgar Square, from Renaissance altarpieces to Van Gogh's Sunflowers, then step out onto the steps for the view down Whitehall.
Why it's a good date: It's free, so you can drop in for one room rather than trying to see everything. Each of you picks a favourite painting and makes the case for it over a drink afterwards.
Photo: Christine Matthews, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Prince Charles Cinema
Leicester Place, off Leicester Square
Address: 7 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BY- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Catch a cult classic, a late-night film marathon or a sing-along screening at the independent cinema just off Leicester Square.
Why it's a good date: The crowd joins in, which makes even a film you've both seen feel new. Look at the programme together and pick something neither of you would choose alone.
Photo: LavaLampBamboo, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Neal's Yard and Seven Dials
Monmouth Street and Shorts Gardens, Seven Dials
Address: Neal's Yard, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9DP- Activity
- Free
- Outdoors
Wander the seven little streets that meet at the Seven Dials sundial pillar, then duck into Neal's Yard, a tiny courtyard of brightly painted shopfronts, window boxes and cafés.
Why it's a good date: It costs nothing to wander, and there's a café or a cheese shop to stop at whenever you like. Go in the morning or early evening, when the courtyard's at its calmest.
Photo: Anthony Webb, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
The Photographers' Gallery
Ramillies Street, Soho
Address: 16-18 Ramillies Street, London W1F 7LW- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
See what's on across the floors of London's gallery devoted to photography, a short walk from Oxford Circus, with a café and a bookshop.
Why it's a good date: Photographs are easy to talk about, so it suits a first date. It's small enough to see in an hour, which leaves plenty of evening for a drink in Soho afterwards.
Phoenix Garden
Stacey Street, off Charing Cross Road
Address: 21 Stacey Street, London WC2H 8DG- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
Find a bench in a small community wildlife garden, planted on an old bombsite behind the Phoenix Theatre and run by a local charity.
Why it's a good date: A few steps from the crowds and it's suddenly quiet. Bring a coffee and sit among the plants, then carry on into Soho or Seven Dials.
Photo: Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Chinatown
Gerrard Street, Chinatown
Address: Gerrard Street, Chinatown, London WC2H 7BE- Restaurant
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Graze your way down Gerrard Street under the red lanterns, from dumplings and roast duck to bubble tea and custard buns from the bakeries.
Why it's a good date: Lots of small stops means lots of chances to try something new together. Take turns choosing the next place, and go a little before the dinner rush to skip the queues.
Photo: Robert Lamb, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Foyles
Charing Cross Road, Soho
Address: 107 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DT- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Browse six floors of books around the bright central atrium of the big bookshop on Charing Cross Road, then stop at the café.
Why it's a good date: Split up for ten minutes, each choose a book for the other, then swap over coffee. It's free to browse, and dry when the weather isn't.
Photo: DiscoA340, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge, off the Strand
Address: Waterloo Bridge, Strand, London WC2R 0AA- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Walk out onto Waterloo Bridge from the Strand around sunset for one of the best views in London, with Westminster and the London Eye one way and St Paul's and the City the other.
Why it's a good date: It costs nothing and it's properly romantic when the light goes. Carry on to the South Bank for a drink, or turn back towards Covent Garden for dinner.
Photo: Jwslubbock, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Perch at the counter or grab a pavement table for an espresso at the Soho café that has been open on Frith Street since 1949.
Why it's a good date: The place to end up after a show or the jazz across the road, when you're not ready for the night to end. Look up for the plaque: John Logie Baird first showed off television in this building.
Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Bao Soho
Lexington Street, Soho
Address: Bao Soho, 53 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AS- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Squeeze into the tiny original Bao on Lexington Street for soft Taiwanese steamed buns and small plates to share.
Why it's a good date: It's held a Michelin Bib Gourmand for years and still feels like a little neighbourhood spot. It's walk-in only, so go early or late to keep the queue short.
Bancone Covent Garden
William IV Street, Covent Garden
Address: Bancone, 39 William IV Street, London WC2N 4DD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share bowls of fresh handmade pasta at the long marble counter of this smart little pasta bar off Trafalgar Square.
Why it's a good date: It feels far posher than the bill suggests, which makes it a great pre-theatre pick. Sit at the counter to watch the pasta being made.
Imad's Syrian Kitchen
Kingly Court, Soho
Address: Imad's Syrian Kitchen, Top Floor, Kingly Court, London W1B 5PW- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Climb to the top floor of Kingly Court for warm, home-style Syrian cooking from chef Imad Alarnab, with mezze to share.
Why it's a good date: Generous, comforting food with a lovely story behind it, and a Michelin Bib Gourmand to its name. Have a nose round the courtyard's other spots after.
Brasserie Zédel
Sherwood Street, Soho
Address: Brasserie Zédel, 20 Sherwood Street, London W1F 7ED- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Romantic
Walk down the stairs off Piccadilly into a vast gilded Art Deco dining room for classic French brasserie cooking.
Why it's a good date: It looks like a big night out but the set menu is one of the best-value meals in the West End. Stay for a drink in the Art Deco bar next door.
Kanada-Ya St Giles
St Giles High Street, St Giles
Address: Kanada-Ya, 64 St Giles High Street, London WC2H 8LE- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Slurp rich tonkotsu ramen at the busy little noodle bar by Tottenham Court Road, where the noodles are made in house.
Why it's a good date: A warming bowl each on a cold evening, and quick enough to fit before a gig or a show. There's often a queue at peak times, so go a bit early.
Koya Soho
Frith Street, Soho
Address: Koya, 50 Frith Street, London W1D 4SQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Grab a seat at the Frith Street udon bar for thick, springy noodles made fresh every day, hot or cold.
Why it's a good date: Simple, calm and very good, a nice change from Soho's busier spots. It doesn't take bookings, so expect a short wait at busy times.
Poppies Soho
Old Compton Street, Soho
Address: Poppies, 55-59 Old Compton Street, London W1D 6HW- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Share fish and chips the proper way at the retro chippy on Old Compton Street, all vintage signs and old-school charm.
Why it's a good date: A fun, unfussy sit-down chippy right in the middle of Soho, handy before a film at the Prince Charles or a show.
Seven Dials Market
Earlham Street, Seven Dials
Address: Seven Dials Market, Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LX- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Wander the food hall in an old banana warehouse off Seven Dials, pick a street-food counter each and meet back at a shared table.
Why it's a good date: Lots of choice under one roof, so nobody has to compromise. It's a good warm, dry spot on a rainy day in the West End.
Quick answers
Is the National Gallery free?
Yes. It's the free national collection on Trafalgar Square, so you can drop in for one room rather than trying to see everything.
Where's a free view in central London at sunset?
Waterloo Bridge, a short walk from the Strand, with Westminster and the London Eye one way and St Paul's and the City the other.
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