Date spot in Notting Hill and Kensington
Trailer Happiness
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.
Portobello Road, Notting Hill
Address: 177 Portobello Road, London W11 2DY- Bar
- Rain-proof โ
- Mid-price
- Big night
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.
More from our Notting Hill and Kensington guide

Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road, South Kensington
Address: Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL- Culture
- Rain-proof โ
- 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 โ
- 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)

Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens, between Kensington and Bayswater
Address: Kensington Gardens, The Broad Walk, London W8 4PX- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Walk along the Long Water to the Italian Gardens' fountains, look in at the free Serpentine galleries, and hire a boat on the Serpentine next door in Hyde Park.
Why it's a good date: A long, easy walk with plenty to stop for, and it joins up the museums with Notting Hill. The boats are a warmer-months treat, so check the boathouse is open before you set your heart on one.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)