January was a very long month and if, like me, you’ve been living on a diet of jacket potatoes and fish fingers (mmm... frugal staples) then taking that special someone out for a slap-up meal might be a bit too much for the overdraft to bear. But, as the queen of the music-screen proclaims so convincingly, love don’t cost a thing – there are tons of great things you can do in the nation’s capital without spending a penny (not that kind of penny, you can do that as much as you like).
And, as a girl who hates all things corny and floral-scented, not going to the usual bars and restaurants also means you’re guaranteed not to be accosted by some old hag with a bucketful of cheap, cellophane-coned roses (guys, we hate having to carry those around all night). So what cool things can you do with your guy or girl this Wednesday night?
1. Go for an quiet Thamesside walk from London Bridge to Tower Bridge. It’s always amazing how much calmer London seems by the river at night and, if you think you’ll need a conversation piece, they’re lighting up the buildings round there in all sorts of spectacular ways this week. Check it out here.
2. While we're on the subject of romantic strolls, there are tons of great spots in London to wander with a picnic and watch the sun disappear behind the skyscrapers. Try Alexandra Palace or Primrose Hill, (though if you choose the latter make sure you've got your trainers on for legging it to the gates before they close the park).
3. If you’re lucky enough not to have to work in the daytime on Wednesday, why not Head to the Horniman Museum (not quite as risqué as the name might suggest) to check out the beautiful aquarium and take a stroll until dusk in the gardens.
4. Avoid the cringe-factor altogether by heading out for a night of comedy – ok you might have to buy a couple of drinks, but Wednesday is a free open mic night at the comedy café.
5. Or, if you’re looking for something totally gratis, why not head to the BBC studios to be part of the audience for Danny Wallace’s School’s Out it might not be the most romantic thing you’ve ever done but at least it’s original.
Failing all that, if you’re really stuck for something to do and you haven’t two fivers to rub together, you could always attempt the school-kid classic of dumping your boy/girlfriend days before a present-buying event and then just asking them back out again afterwards. (It’s best to leave a cooling off period of at least a week I find – especially if you used one of the old "emigrating to Australia"/"think I might be gay" excuses.) It might seem a bit extreme, but at least you’ll get the chance to dance the night away at lastminute.com’s FREE Anti-Valentine’s singles party.
Step aside, Cupid. We're sorted.
Sara Sha'ath
Let's have some ideas for those of us who don't live in London
Posted by: | 10/02/2007 at 02:34 PM
yeah, not everyone lives in London!!
Posted by: elmo | 10/02/2007 at 03:32 PM
Did we really have to have the ageist 'some old hag'?
Posted by: | 11/02/2007 at 09:44 AM