3 Different Ways to spend your Valentine’s day in London

Lacking out of ideas for Valentine’s day? Want to do something different? Cliché still needs to be present? 

Here are 3 different ways of spending tomorrow’s day with your Valentine.

1. Notting Hill and Portobello Market

I was just turning 10 years old when Notting Hill movie was released and I think I can say I’m not the only one thinking about romance when we talk about this place. Notting Hill will always remind us of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant love story, back in 1999. 

Full of colorful buildings and eclectic stores, Notting Hill is just the right place to get lost with your half, especially on Portobello Road, the most famous street here. Portobello is known for its market, where you can find food from all over the world, street artists that I’m sure would sing something for your sweetheart, some delicious street creperies that would just add some extra sugar to your day or beautiful vintage shops with furniture, clothes, records and old cameras for the ones already taking the next step of living together.

Last but not least, you can just walk around and take some cool pictures to add to your love album that you would be proud of showing to your grandchildren. Around these streets, there’s always a few walls with graffiti that will make the difference.

More info:

Portobello Road
London
Greater London
W10 5TA

Tube station: Notting Hill Gate

Buses that stop near the market: 7,12, 23, 27, 28, 31, 52, 70, 94, 328 & 452

Friday and Saturday are the busiest days. The market disposition is Southern Portobello Road – antiques; Middle of the market – food, new fashion, accessories, household goods; Portobello Green and North Portobello – vintage clothing & accessories, collectibles, bric-a-brac; Golborne Road – bric-a-brac, furniture, food

Opening times: Monday to Wednesday from 9 am to 6 pm; Thursday 9 am to 1 pm; Friday to Saturday 9 am to 7 pm.

http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/travel-information/

2. V&A Museum

Are you an art and design lover? Do you have a strong alliance with your love? Do you want to get inspired by the love story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert? Go to the V&A Museum. Take your muse and get lost. There’s plenty rooms in this museum and sometimes a full day visit doesn’t seem enough when a museum leaves you the taste that you need to come back for more.

Photo from here

 

We usually say “save the best for last” but this museum will not give you that chance, as you are welcomed with the most beautiful and majestic chandelier from the American Glass Blower Artist Chihuly.

Photo from here

 

If that’s not enough to take her/his breath away, continue exploring. The collection is over 4.5 million objects, covering ceramics, glass, jewelry, furniture, sculptures, drawings and photographs among others.

I have to be honest, my favorite part is the sculpture room, where you have a taste of the Italian Renaissance.

You can take photos everywhere or even loose an afternoon drawing your Goddess in that scene.

Photo from here

 

If you want to spice things up a little bit, join the “Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear” Exhibition. Discover the evolution of underwear design from the 18th century to the present day and get some ideas for the dress code later on. Tickets are £12.

More info: 

The entrance is free and the museum is open every day from 10 am to 5.45 pm, except on Fridays, that closes at 10 pm.

https://www.vam.ac.uk/

3. Emirates Air Line Cable Car

What about a different perspective of the city with the person you love next to you? If you like clichés, this one may be a good option for you. Grab your bouquet of red roses, the chocolate box, the big teddy bear and take you cutie pie here.

Travel from Royal Victoria to Emirates Greenwich Peninsula in a half an hour trip with the Emirates Air Line Cable Car. The tickets are £4,5 and you can use your Oyster Travel card. Yes, the journey is not very long, but the forecast for tomorrow seems nice and hey!, you have the O2 Arena as a destination, with plenty of plans for the rest of the day. A variety of Restaurants and Bars, Cinema, Bowling and Live concerts awaits, or for the geek ones like me, there’s even the Star Wars Identities Exhibition.

The choice is big, but you don’t have to do everything in a day just because you want to impress your half.

More info:

The cable car is open on weekdays from 7 am to 8 pm, on Saturdays from 8 am to 8 pm and on Sundays from 9 am to 8 pm during winter. During summer opens at the same time but it remains open for one more hour.

http://www.emiratesairline.co.uk/

Wherever is love, there are things to do.

Beatrice.