Exploration
Forget the cinema or a meal, check out our roundup of top date spots if you really want to impress.
Cancel that dinner reservation! We want adrenalin to flow on the first date. Make it a night, or day, to remember with our pick of the most adventurous date ideas in the UK. A small disclaimer - we may have found you the locations but we can’t guarantee you’ll get a second date!
Get spooked
Looking for the perfect excuse to get close? Forget holding hands at the back of the cinema - we’ve found the perfect solution, in the form of a ghost walk. Find out about the ghouls that inhabit the capital with Ghost Walks London (adults £10) or the similarly-named London Ghost Walks (from £9). If sinister and bloodcurdling tales of the deceased don’t bring you together (in terror) then we honestly don’t know what will.
For a night of paranormal activity UK-wide, try Fright Nights (from £25) who operate at 150 of the UK’s most haunted sites.
Paddle boarding
Admittedly, a first date involving water may not catch you looking at your best. However, we reckon that stand-up paddleboarding, SUP for short, is worth the risk. It’s fun, easier than surfing, and you even get a bit of a workout while on your date. The good news is you can do it on most bodies of water in the UK; from the beach, to the Thames. London-dwellers could try Active360 (a 1.5 hour beginners’ taster session at various locations costs £45 including all kit, wetsuit and lifejacket). The British Stand Up Paddleboarding Association has a list of clubs around the UK, too.
Dine in the dark
Having a bad hair day? Huge spot on your face? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. How about dining in the pitch black? Test your tastebuds as well as your conversation skills on this culinary adventure at Dans le Noir in Clerkenwell, London. If your date is dull you can always just slip out unnoticed - if you can find the door, that is.
A surprise menu starts from £44 for a two-course meal.
Rock climbing
With literally thousands of indoor climbing walls around the UK, there’s no excuse not to harness up. Hopefully you’ll be scaling the heady heights of love together, rather than climbing the walls to get away. Playful, trust building and a chance to show each other what you’re made of. What’s not to love? Unless you have a fear of heights...
UK climbing has a great directory of walls in the UK, or check out climbing site ilooove.it to get yourself in the mood for taking on a wall or two.
Zombie apocalypse
Escaping from realistic-looking zombies may not be everyone’s cup of tea, so we offer up the Zombie Apocalypse date with a side of caution. This is definitely not for the faint-hearted and you and your date may risk turning into zombies if you’re not quick enough. Run for your life...
Zombie Experiences run events in London, Reading, Droitwich, Manchester, Warrington and Swindon. From £99, including props and professional makeup.
Other options include The Last Survivors (£90 for 2-2.5 hours), near Brentwood, Essex, and ZED events (£139, including a “movie experience”) in Reading, Berkshire.
Drive a tank
Let battle commence! Cynics would say that preparing for armed combat is a sensible way to approach any potential long term relationship. But even if you’re just looking for a bit of fun, these mini tanks deliver. Tank Driving offers a range of vehicles to experience around the country. Prices vary, but taking out two mini tanks for 90 minutes in Surrey will cost you £230. If you’re not put off by the price, you might like to shell out a bit more; for £445 they’ll let you crush a car. If you’re based in Yorkshire you may also want to check out Tank Heroes who operate in the area.
Skydive
Want to experience a skydive without actually jumping out a plane? Try an indoor skydive. AirKix have wind tunnels in Milton Keynes, Manchester and Basingstoke. You can try a Kix-Start package (two flights for under £25 per person). Or, if your idea of romance is covering yourself in slobber courtesy of a 165mph wind, try their Shairkix package (from £104.99), which offers the chance for two people to fly at once.
Have you been more daring on a date? Have we missed anything? Let us know where you’d go, using the comments below.
Phillippa Stewart is our Adventure Editor. Find out more about her at www.PhillippaStewart.com and follow her on Twitter @PStewart_