Valentine’s Day: The Best Ways To Woo Your Lover In The UK

Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching.

If the thought of planning something romantic for that special someone brings you out in a cold sweat, fear not - we have a guide to help.

From underground tunnels to treetop hotels, here’s our selection of the best things to do up and down the country when February 14th rolls around.

LONDON: COCKTAILS WITH A VIEW

Drink in incredible views of London’s skyline - with a cocktail in hand. The London Eye is offering a range of romantic experiences from February 12-14, including the Only Have Eyes for You Cocktail Experience. The one-hour session includes two love-themed cocktails per person, such as the gin-based ‘Love Potion No. 9’ and the rhubarb and Prosecco concoction ‘Poetry In Motion’, plus nibbles. You get two rotations on the wheel, as well as priority boarding, a complimentary mini guide and entry to the 4D Cinema Experience. Price: From £45pp.

BRISTOL: HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE

Take your love to new heights - on a private hot air balloon ride over Bristol. Get a birds-eye-view of the beautiful West Country landscape as you float peacefully in the direction of the wind, before celebrating with a glass of Champers as you return to solid ground. Bailey Balloons is currently offering a special Valentine’s Day package. Price: £275pp including a bottle of Champagne. (Photo: The B’s)

CAMBRIDGE: GO PUNTING

Watch the world drift past as you and your lover glide along the River Cam on a romantic punt. Hotel Felix in the historic city of Cambridge is offering a chauffeured private punt tour - complete with chilled Champagne and red roses - as part of its Propose In Style package. The deal also includes one night in a Premier Room, breakfast, a three-course dinner with a cocktail, homemade truffles and a return taxi fare to the city centre. Price: From £499, based on two sharing.

LONDON: HAVE THE RIDE OF YOUR LIVES

Buckle up for a Valentine’s that will get your pulse racing - as you soar above the skyline in a helicopter. The London Helicopter has a number of romantic trips this Valentine’s weekend, such as a Couple’s Flight, which includes a glass of bubbles. There’s even a dedicated Proposal Flight if you’re planning to pop the question. Price: From £150pp.

GLASGOW: FALL HEAD OVER HEELS

Take a leap of faith with your loved one at Air Space, an urban playground for adults, comprising over 100 interconnected trampolines. You can do everything from freestyle jumping to taking part in spring-loaded team sports. Trampoline football, wall running, dodgeball, basketball and football are also all on offer. Price: From £10.95pp for an hour. You can also book for 90 minutes (£13.95) and 120 minutes (£15.95).

BIRMINGHAM: BETTER THAN A BOX OF CHOCOLATES

Forget a mere box of chocolates to woo your lover. This year, raise the bar by taking them to Cadbury World for your sweetest Valentine’s Day yet, with a special Valentine’s tour on February 13 and 14. During your visit, chocolate will melt from a Cupid statue as you learn about the history and the making of Britain’s best loved choc. And of course you’ll be able to indulge in some Valentine’s-themed treats that are almost too good to share. Price: £16.75pp (£15.91 when booked online) (Photo: Brett Jordan)

NEWCASTLE: TAKE YOUR LOVE UNDERGROUND

Did you know that there’s a 4km-long tunnel hidden beneath Newcastle’s streets? Built between 1839 and 1842 as a thoroughfare for coal wagons, the Victoria Tunnel was used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War. Take advantage of a special Valentine’s Day Tunnel Tour, running on February 14 at 1pm. The volunteer-led, two-hour experience takes you through an atmospheric 700m-long level section of the tunnel - and there’ll be light at the end if your date goes well. Price: £6pp. (Photo: Phil Thirkell)

LONDON: CHANGE THE COLOUR OF FLOWERS

Little can match the thrill of being given a bouquet on Valentine’s Day - and this year those flowers will be able to change colour. The world’s first colour-changing floral workshop, run by Bompas and Parr, will see guests sip champagne while creating their own chameleon bloom, guided by scientists and using everything from thermochromatic ink to fire. The workshops take place at The London EDITION, last 45 minutes and run between 6-9pm from February 11-14, with additional afternoon slots on Saturday and Sunday. Price: £65, including three glasses of Champagne.

HAMPSHIRE: WINE TASTING

Toast your love on a wine tasting and vineyard tour at the oldest commercial vineyard in England. Hambledon Vineyard in Hampshire is one of the UK’s top sparkling wine producers, and a tour here includes a romantic stroll through the vines and a behind-the-scenes peek into how the wines are made onsite. The tours, which run from 2-5pm on February 14, include a full VIP tour, tasting of five English sparkling wines and a box of Classic Cuvee chocolates. Price: £50pp.

LEEDS: PEDAL POWER

Take a ride through the countryside on two wheels this Valentine’s. Sky Ride has a gentle, guided Waterways and Woodland route running on February 14. The five-mile trail - led by a Ride Leader - uses part of a National Cycle Network, so you can always continue on your own if your legs still have energy - and ride into the sunset. Price: Free (but book online). (Picture: Hakan Dahlstrom)

CARDIFF: MUSICAL ROMEO AND JULIET

What could be more romantic than hearing the story of Romeo and Juliet through music? On February 14 at 3pm, the tale of Shakespeare’s two star-crossed lovers will unfold in a concert at St David’s Hall in Cardiff. The music - by Russian composers Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev - will be performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Price: From £15pp. (Photo: Sofi)

MANCHESTER: LOBSTER AND BOWLING

Bowl your lover over with your skills on the lanes - then treat them to a lobster and steak dinner. All Star Lanes is offering a Lobster Surf and Turf for two in its restaurant this Valentine’s - a sharing plate of whole fresh lobster, fillet steak, spinach and parmesan salad and spiced fries. Thirsty after all that bowling? There will also be a selection of his ‘n’ hers cocktails. Price: £30pp for Lobster Surf and Turf. £8.50 per cocktail. Bowling costs from £6.95pp. (Photo: Hubert Yu)

SHEFFIELD: DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

Dust off your dancing shoes and show your loved one your best moves at the Vintage Valentine Dance Night on Saturday February 13. The evening runs from 8pm-12.30am and includes a free introduction to jive workshop. The music will range from the ‘40s through to disco and pop - and make sure you take part in one of the group dances. Don’t forget to dress up in ‘40s and ‘50s gear. Price: £8pp.

LIVERPOOL: A PLAY ABOUT LOVE

If your ideal date involves you losing yourself in mesmeric love scenes played out by a cast of four and directed by Gemma Bodinet, this is just the ticket. Emma Fielding stars in Madame Bovary, the romantic masterpiece by Gustave Flaubert that’s been updated and crafted into a comedy at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre. The show runs until February 27 (no Sunday performances) at 7.30pm. Matinee times vary. Price: From £12. (Photo: Dave Wood)

EDINBURGH: UNCOVER THE CITY’S SPOOKIEST AREA

Hidden beneath the Royal Mile, lies one of Edinburgh’s deepest secrets – The Real Mary King’s Close. Thought to be one of Scotland’s most haunted places, this warren of narrow streets lay forgotten until 2003, when it opened to visitors. For the Valentine’s weekend, the attraction is extending its opening hours until 9pm - so you and your loved one can have a nighttime visit. Cling to each other as you join a costumed character guide and navigate the fascinating twists and turns of the remains of original townhouses and rooms spanning five centuries of history, discovering some of the most dramatic episodes from Edinburgh’s past. Price: From £14.50pp. (Photo: The Real Mary King’s Close)

EXETER: CURL UP WITH CASABLANCA

Cuddle up with a Valentine’s screening of one of the most romantic films of all time, Casablanca. The Picture House in Exeter is showing the 1942 classic - starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman as old flames caught in a love triangle and political intrigue during the Second World War. Ideal for a Sunday afternoon, it starts at 1pm on February 14. Price: £10.50pp (£8.50pp for Picturehouse members). (Photo: Picturehouse)

DURHAM: A BYRONIC BOLTHOLE

If it’s good enough for Lord Byron, it’s good enough for us. The romantic poet married Annabella Milbanke at Seaham Hall in 1815 - and you can spend the Valentine’s weekend there. Set upon a clifftop, the Georgian manor is the perfect location for romantic beach strolls and has its own spa for relaxing in afterwards. A one-night break includes champagne on arrival, a three-course dinner in the elegant Byron’s restaurant, artisan chocolates, a 60-minute spa treatment each and full English breakfast. Price: From £325pp.

KENT: FALL IN LOVE IN THE TREETOPS

Love the romance of spending a night in the treetops, but don’t want to get leaves in your hair? Then The Treehouse Hotel at Port Lympne Reserve might be just the place. The luxury pad sits high up in the tree canopy overlooking a 600 acre wild animal reserve - so you can sip bubbly on your private terrace as the sun­ sets before drifting off to sleep to nothing but the sound of nature. Price: Treehouse suites from £300. The Mansion Hotel is offering a Valentine’s dinner for £65.

OXFORD: GET IMPRISONED TOGETHER

Get locked in with your loved one at a 1,000-year-old castle. This Valentine’s, Oxford Castle Unlocked is hosting a lock-in for couples. Sit down to a three-course meal - served in the intimate and very unique surroundings of your very own prison cell. After your candlelit dinner, explore the castle with its Saxon stone tower, preserved prison wing and man-made mound offering panoramic views of Oxford. The Valentines Lock-In is running on February 14 at 6.30pm and 9pm. Price: £80 per couple. £110 for exclusive use of the crypt, including a bottle of bubbly.

DEVON: UNWIND IN A HOT TUB

Soak up each other’s company from the comfort of your own hot tub. Check in to King’s Lodge on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park, where you can spend the day walking and llama trekking. The open-plan lodge, offered by Blue Chip Holidays, has a private terrace that’s furnished with everything you need - including the hot tub - to watch the sun slip beneath the trees. Price: Three nights’ self-catering is from £585, based on a February 12 arrival.

AND IF YOU DON’T WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE…

Escape the crowded restaurants with a Valentine’s feast at home. If you don’t have time to shop or fear you’ll ruin the romance with a bad meal, there are plenty of Valentine’s dining boxes that you can order straight to your door. The Mindful Chef kit focuses on healthy and organic recipes with a starter of hot smoked salmon and rocket salad with pomegranate, sliced avocado and rose petal vinaigrette, followed by seared rump steak with salsa verde, roasted vine tomatoes, sautéed tenderstem and sweet potato fries. They even throw in a rose and chocolate bars. Top the evening off by kicking back to watch a film. Fifty Shades of Grey is handily released on February 13… Price: £29 for a box for two. Order by noon on February 11. (Photo: Mindful Chef)