Hot Dates

Luckily London has no end of choice for romantic places you can take a date on or around 14th February. Seek out special love themed art exhibitions, classical music nights and theatre shows from the shortlist below.

Romeo And Juliet

Royal Opera House, WC2E 9DD
12th January 2010 - 16th March 2010

Shakespeare is a tough act to follow but putting the story of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, to music is always a crowd-pleaser and Sergey Prokofiev's score remains the most evocative and enduring version. The ballet has become one of the most popular works in the Royal Ballet's repertoire since Kenneth MacMillan's brilliant choreography burst onto the stage in 1965 with Margaret Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev in the title roles. Set against the background of Renaissance Verona, the tragedy is given poignancy by the fragile beauty of the movement. This is a classic ballet, beautifully staged with rich period costumes and designs - you'll be captivated from the first sparks of love through the heart-rending misunderstanding to Juliet's fateful last moments.

More info: Romeo And Juliet Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

National Gallery Valentine's Day Tour

National Gallery, WC2N 5DN
14th February 2010

Dominating Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery's imposing presence is a wonderfully romantic place to admire some of the world's most important art treasures. Just for Valentine's Day, the gallery offers a Guided Tour to take you to the heart of some of the most romantically significant paintings in the permanent collection. The tour begins at 4pm and lasts about an hour and, like all of the gallery's guided tours, these romantically led annual Valentine's Day Tours are free. Simply turn up at the Sainsbury Wing Information Desk to join in. Your guide will encourage you to look at the way love is depicted in the five or six chosen paintings - inviting you to appreciate the sumptuous pink fleshy tones and explore the theme of lurve.

More info: National Gallery Valentine's Day Tour Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Julian Jacobson: My Funny Valentine

St James's Church Piccadilly, W1J 9LL
14th February 2010

Pull out all the stops and treat your partner to an intimate, candlelit and romantic recital with champagne at the stunning St James's Piccadilly. Julian Jacobson, one of Britain's most talented and entertaining pianists, returns to Wren's architectural wonder for the eighth successive year on Valentine's Day. This "stylish and enchanting" (The Guardian) sell-out concert will also showcase prize-winning Chinese guest artist Meng Yang Pan since Chinese New Year also falls on February 14th. Featuring a beautiful programme of piano music - including Rachmaninov, Mozart, Chopin, Brahms, Schubert, Schumann and Gershwin - this is the event for Valentine's evening right in the heart of London. An early finish leaves you time for dinner out in Mayfair or the West End - or you can take advantage of a special dinner package with the nearby Italian restaurant Getti or the Cavendish Hotel.

COMPETITION: We have two pairs of tickets to give out to a couple of lucky lovebirds for this event. Just tell us who composed A Foggy Day In London Town. Email your answer to competitions@londontown.com by midday on Friday 5th February with "My Funny Valentine" in the subject line. Good luck!

Programme:
Rachmaninov Elegie op 3 no 1 in E flat minor
Three Preludes
Mozart Sonata in A, K 331 ("Rondo alla Turca")
Chopin Ballade no.3 in A flat op 47
Schubert Marche Militaire no 1 in D
Brahms Four Hungarian Dances
- with guest artist Meng Yang Pan (piano)
Schumann Romance pp 29 n 2 in F Sharp
Julian Jacobson
Two song arrangements:
- My Funny Valentine (Rogers & Hart)
- A Foggy Day in London Town (Gershwin)
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue

More info: Julian Jacobson: My Funny Valentine Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

St Paul's Valentine's Afternoon Tea

St Paul's Cathedral, EC4M 8AD
8th - 14th February 2010

What better place to whisper sweet nothings to your nearest and dearest than St Paul's famous Whispering Gallery, which carries the smallest sound around its curved walls beneath London's most iconic cathedral. Why not combine a visit to this landmark with a romantic tea at The Restaurant at St Paul's, where the best British sourced ingredients are served up to make it a Valentine's Day to savour. Start with a glass of sparkling rose before feasting on heart-shaped finger sandwiches filled with cucumber and cream cheese, egg and watercress, and Chalk Farm smoked salmon. Follow this with freshly baked scones with jam and Cornish clotted cream, a scrumptious lavender and chocolate mousse to share and rose tea to warm your insides. Mix intermittently with kisses and cuddles: not just any Valentine's, but a St Paul's Valentine's.

More info: St Paul's Valentine's Afternoon Tea Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Elixir Of Love

London Coliseum - English National Opera (ENO), WC2N 4ES
12th February 2010 - 16th March 2010

Pablo Heras-Casado conducts Donizetti's The Elixir of Love, a comic opera of unrequited love and magical potions. Under Jonathan Miller's direction, 19th century rural Italy becomes 1950s small-town America where we see a shy young farmer finally win the heart of the girl he loves. The cast includes Canadian tenor John Tessier who made a much admired debut with the English National Opera in 2008 starring in The Barber of Seville ("a tenor who can make Rossini's punishing high notes sound graceful," The Evening Standard). Here he stars as Nemorino, the lovesick young mechanic who's in love with Adina, a beautiful landowner, who torments Nemorino with her indifference. Nemorino puts his faith in a travelling salesman (played by comic maestro Andrew Shore) believing that his magic potion can cure his broken heart. With this operatic 'rom com' running alongside Lucia di Lammermoor, both the comic and tragic sides of Donizetti's operatic genius can be appreciated at the London Coliseum.

More info: The Elixir Of Love Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Valentine's Day Classics

Barbican Centre, EC2Y 8DS
14th February 2010

The classy alternative to sitting in a crowded restaurant eating overpriced food is the Barbican's evening of Valentine's Day Classics. The programme includes performances of Johann Strauss' swooningly romantic waltz 'Blue Danube Waltz' and Tchaikovsky's waltz from Sleeping Beauty adn Rose Adagio. There's also a rendition of Rachmaninoff's popular Piano Concerto No 2 - famously used in the film Brief Encounter - and a free rose for every couple in the audience. The London Concert Orchestra performs with Noriko Ogawa on piano and Robin Stapleton conducting.

Tchaikovsky - Waltz from Sleeping Beauty and Rose Adagio
Verdi - Prelude to Act I, from La traviata
Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No 2
Bizet - Carmen Suite
Debussy - Clair de lune
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Waltz from Sleeping Beauty and Rose Adagio
Giuseppe Verdi - Prelude to Act I, from La traviata
Sergei Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No 2
Georges Bizet - Carmen Suite
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Waltz from Sleeping Beauty and Rose Adagio
- 20 minute interval -
Claude Debussy - Clair de lune
Johann, Jr. Strauss - Blue Danube Waltz
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Romeo & Juliet Overture
London Concert Orchestra
Robin Stapleton - conductor
Noriko Ogawa - piano

More info: Valentine's Day Classics Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Northern Lights Symphony Orchestra Valentine's Concert

St John's Smith Square, SW1P 3HA
12th February 2010

The Northern Lights Symphony Orchestra will perform a special Valentine's Concert of Mozart and Tchaikovsky at the delightful St John's Smith Square on the Friday evening before Valentine's Day - an ideal way to get your romantic weekend off to a flying start. Conducted by Adam Johnson and featuring Martin Roscoe on the piano, the NLSO will play the Marriage of Figaro Overture and Piano Concerto No.21 in C major by Mozart and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.5. The NLSO was founded in 2007 and specialise in the repertoire of composers born within the Northern Lights. For those eager not to be entertained on an empty stomach, the Footstool Restaurant in the crypt will be open from 5.30pm for a buffet supper and refreshments.

More info: The Northern Lights Symphony Orchestra Valentine's Concert Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Art of Love at The National Dining Rooms

National Dining Rooms, WC2N 5DN
14th February 2010

Combine fine dining with a spot of culture with a romantic lunch at Oliver Peyton's acclaimed National Dining Rooms followed by a tour of some of the world's greatest collection of paintings at the National Gallery. Peyton's Valentine's menu begins with a sharing dish of potted Cromer Crab on crispy rye with chicory and blood orange, alongside the ultimate aphrodisiac: baked Colchester Oysters with shaved vegetables infused in chives. Lascivious mains include roast halibut with Jerusalem artichoke and a saffron, leek and mussel broth; poached White Park Beef fillet with celeriac mash, horseradish and dry cured bacon; and smoked Portobello mushroom with Golden Cross goat's cheese and shaved vegetables. Rhubarb crumble and fool with white chocolate ice cream and vanilla custard is the perfect way to end your meal before you take in the art, hand in hand...

For serious art lovers, there is also a special National Gallery Valentine's Day Tour which takes place at 4pm on Sunday.

More info: The Art of Love at The National Dining Rooms Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Valentine's Day Dinner Cruises

The Thames
14th February 2009

Treat your loved one to a truly romantic Valentine's dinner with a special three-hour cruise that takes in all the most breathtaking views from the Thames. Golden Tours (£89 per person) offers a buffet dinner, red roses and a live DJ so that you can share a dance with the one that you love. Silver Fleet Cruises have put on a special Veuve Clicquot Love Cruise where you can drink champagne and enjoy a bespoke 'Love' three-course dinner menu by A-List caterers 'rhubarb'. Finally, Bateaux London welcome you aboard one of their two vessels for a five-course extravaganza with a welcome glass of champagne, a red rose and a souvenir photograph per couple. So, make a Titanic decision this year and spend your Valentine's night on water, taking in the lights and sites of our splendid capital.
Golden Tours - Information
Silver Fleet Cruises - Information
Bateaux London - Information

Valentine's Day Concert

Southbank Centre: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, SE1 8XX
Sunday 14th February 2010

Jennifer Pike, the youngest winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition when she walked off with the award aged 12 back in 2002, joins the Philharmonia Orchestra for this special Valentine's Day afternoon concert at the Royal Festival Hall. The programme includes Bruch's glorious Violin Concerto No.1, one of the most romantic works in the concerto repertoire, and Dvorak's tender Romance in F minor for violin. With Tchaikovsky's heart-rending overture to the ballet Romeo and Juliet and Bizet's ever popular Carmen Suite No.1 also featuring, this will surely help you find the way to the heart of someone special.

More info: Valentine's Day Concert Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Millennium Hotel on Marco

Marco, London, SW6 1HS
13th February 2010

One lucky couple dining at Marco by Marco Pierre White on Saturday 13th February will see in Valentine's Day in style this year with a complimentary night at the neighbouring four star Millennium Hotel. Valentine diners are being encouraged to pack an overnight bag and bring it to their dinner because one couple will be picked at random to enjoy the romantic treat after their meal. And it doesn't stop there: the pair's VIP treatment will continue into Sunday with a thirty minute massage at The Chelsea Club's luxury destination spa, Escape, and free use of the exclusive club's facilities for the rest of the day - including a plush 25m pool. But you have to be in it to win it - so make sure you book a table for two at the famous chef's classic French restaurant and keep your fingers crossed. Reservations can be made online at www.marcorestaurant.org or over the phone.

More info: Valentine's Day: Millennium Hotel on Marco Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Love on the Streets

London Review Bookshop, WC1A 2JL
10th February 2010

For those who can't wait for the weekend, how about a romantic midweek stroll through the delightful streets and garden squares of Bloomsbury? The area was a fashionable residential area in the 17th and 18th centuries and is renowned for its literary connections (former residents include Charles Dickens, William Butler Yeats and Virginia Woolf, who was an integral part of the famous Bloomsbury Group). But the area also has a long and diverse history that goes well beyond the elite circle of writers who "lived in squares and slept in triangles". This guided tour, which starts at Birkbeck College at 6pm, will explain how one of London's most romantic quarters came into being and how its social landscape has changed over the last three years. The walk's destination will be the London Review Bookshop where there'll be wine and a talk exploring love in the 1930s. Speakers include Professor Alison Light (author of Mrs Woolf and the Servants), Amanda Vickery (author of Behind Closed Doors. At Home in Georgian England) and Juliet Gardiner (author of The Thirties: An Intimate History, soon to be published). This is a free event but booking is essential so contact e.kitteringham@bbk.ac.uk.

More info: Love on the Streets Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube