Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day on a romantic date or celebrating with friends, here’s our top pick of what’s happening in London that, critically, won’t cost a full day’s wage.
Between the gushing posts on Instagram and the far-fetched ‘Palentine’s’ plans, organising Valentine’s Day can often feel overwhelming.
But the day’s agenda needn’t be cause for distress. There are plenty of events that are simple to book and won’t cost an arm and a leg — so you can celebrate your love in a way that feels authentic to you. Here, we round up the best of the bunch in London.
Love In Full Swing concert Kings Place Jazz Orchestra with Claire Martin
If music be the food of love, play on, we say. And if that music be live orchestral jazz, then play it louder. Live jazz performances are a genuinely wonderful way to spend time side-by-side with others, sharing the comfort of a quiet audience listening intently.
The Love In Full Swing concert by King’s Place Jazz Orchestra, with guest vocalist Claire Martin OBE, is sure to be an evening of appropriately rich and moving music. Expect classic and contemporary numbers from the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Richard Rodney Bennett, all centred on themes of romance, heartbreak and love, of course.
Tickets cost as low as £10, depending on your seat, plus there’s a limited number of £10 tickets available for attendees aged under 30, so it’s worth booking early.
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Valentine’s Day DIY Art Market
If you’re set on finding something cheap and cheerful, the Valentine’s Day DIY Market is ideal for meandering through stalls, flirting over trinkets and, inevitably, questioning your partner’s (or friend’s) ‘interesting’ taste.
Hosted by Hackney Flea Market from 11am to 5pm, the market will see a selection of affordable artwork from independent artists and publishers, including comics, T-shirts, tote bags, art prints and jewellery.
Entry costs just £3.20 per person, so a ticket is an easy low-budget gesture for a loved one — or perhaps yourself, so that you can find something suitably gift-worthy.
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Singles Run in Regent’s Park
Every month, singles sports community Two Halves hosts The London Singles Run — a relaxed, social 5K where attendees are encouraged to chat and meet new people. This month’s run is on Valentine’s Day itself, consisting of three laps of a 1.5-2K circuit.
It’s not all about the running, though. After each lap the group will have a short break to grab a drink and, perhaps, find someone new to run the next lap with (no pressure). Tickets cost £7.50, or you can join as a Two Halves member to access runs and other events for free.
Lucky Pig’s Valentine’s Day party
Cocktail experiences are a go-to for date nights and friend catch-ups, so it’s little wonder that Fitzrovia cocktail bar the Lucky Pig has rolled out a special Valentine’s Day-themed party.
For £20 per person (£10 for Lucky Pig email subscribers), Londoners can celebrate the day by sharing cocktails and dancing to live music alongside funk, soul, hip hop and R&B favourites. Entry includes a welcome drink, two Valentine’s cocktails and canapes.
Plus, if you’re looking to splash out on a gift for someone especially lucky, head down earlier at 3pm for a Valentine’s cocktail-making masterclass and fully lean in to the cocktail spirit.
Cocktail-making at Archive & Myth
If you’d rather cocktail-making be the focus of your evening, venture beneath Leicester Square’s bustling streets to Archive & Myth for its For You experience: an intimate, hands-on evening concocting original cocktails.
Instead of ordering drinks from the bar, pairs create bespoke cocktails for each other, choosing style, spirit and flavour inspired by their partners’ palate and personality. There are no predetermined recipes or rules, the idea is simply to arrive curious and get creating. And at £35 per couple, it’s an affordable and alternative way to celebrate together.
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Heated Rivalry club night
Nodding to the steamy gay hockey show that’s taken the UK — and our algorithms — by storm, Clapham Grand’s Valentine’s Day night, Heated Rivalry: The Club Night will be a Heated Rivalry-themed bonanza.
While an unofficial fan event, the event celebrates the show’s impact on queer culture with a high-energy party backdropped by on-screen montage edits, Heated Rivalry-inspired DJ sets, photobooths and custom cocktails.
Whether you’re already a fan, yet to watch it or simply want to celebrate queer joy with anthems and an irresistible dancefloor energy, this is a fun high-octane way to spend V-day. Tickets start at £20 and the night runs from 10:30pm to 3am.
Tarot reading and energy healing
For those approaching the day as a moment to reflect on life and love — or look ahead to the future — a tarot reading and energy class could be the perfect soul-searching alternative. Add a glass of wine and it becomes a memorable date night.
At Sacred Tones in Parsons Green, you’ll receive a two-card energetic reading from class leader Tor, who’ll also guide you through an energy-healing practice including visualisation, vibrational singing and hands-on energy healing.
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