Date nights are always fun but at the end of the day, they can prove to be quite costly. All those fancy dinners and cinema/theatre tickets do add up, especially when you're a uni student! Lately, my boyfriend and I have been trying to save our pennies.
If you're worried about money, that doesn't mean you have to stop going on dates. In fact, I've found that some of the best dates are the inexpensive ones. Here's my guide to dating on a budget in London:
1. THE LONDON SKY GARDEN
This may look like an expensive venue, but entry into the London Sky Garden is completely free! Booking is, however, required to enter the venue and it's best to try and book as far in advance as possible. Booking opens two weeks in advance.
Located 37 stories above Fenchurch street, the Sky Garden offers a breathtaking 360 degree view of London. My favourite time to go is just as the sun sets. As well as the stunning view on the outside, the gardens themselves will have you in awe.
The cocktails are slightly pricy, ranging from £10-15, although many people visit the Sky Garden just to enjoy the view.
2. SANTANDER BIKES
Why not hire a Santander bike and go for a scenic ride around London?
You can hire the bikes for as little as £2 for 24 hours. This means you can make as many journeys as you want within that time frame and the first 30 minutes of each ride is included. Longer journeys cost £2 for each extra 30 minutes or less.
Docking stations are located all around London, so it's not difficult to find one. Although if you are having trouble, you can visit TFL's website and find the nearest docking station to your location.
3. MUSEUMS
London hosts a number of free museums. Why not go for a cultured (and completely free) day out with your date at the Natural History Museum, the Tate Modern or the Tate Britain? London has a number of other completely free museums, but these are arguably the most popular.
4. HYDE PARK
Hyde Park is the perfect place to go for a stroll on a summers (or even winter) day. What's more, is there's plenty of things to do and see within the 350 acre park including horse riding, boating and tennis.
One of my favourite things to do is boating on Serpentine lake. Open from April until the end of October, you can take either a paddle or row boat out on the lake and enjoy the scenic views of hyde park for as long as you want. Adults pay £12 to ride for an hour or £10 for half an hour. Children under 15 go for £5 an hour.
5. JUNKYARD GOLF
One of my all time favourite places in London is the Junkyard Golf Club. Whilst you'd assume this would make one very expensive night, it's actually very inexpensive! Entry is £9.50 each or £11.50 during peak times and cocktails and food are very reasonably priced.
There are four themed crazy golf courses to choose from: Bozo (circus), Pablo (jungle), Gary (scrapyard) and Bruce (legendary movies). The buzzing atmosphere and unique courses will make you want to come back time and time again!
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