Chatting to someone near you and wondering where to actually meet? Each of these guides is written for one town or city: real cafés, bars and activities, what a first date there is likely to cost for two, and how to get home afterwards. Every guide is checked against the venues’ own websites, so you can plan something easy and low-pressure rather than guessing.
Find your region below, pick the nearest city, and decide together whether you want a quick coffee, something to do, or a proper dinner. Whatever you plan, meet somewhere public, sort your own way home and go at a pace you’re both happy with.
East Midlands
East of England
Cambridge
Punting, coffee, the theatre or a drink with rooftop views.
Read the guide →Ipswich
First dates from St Peter’s Street down to the Waterfront.
Read the guide →Luton
Café lunches, Thai food and an evening of live jazz.
Read the guide →Norwich
A deli coffee on St George’s Street, Pottergate pasta, bowling or the Plantation Garden.
Read the guide →Peterborough
Lakeside lunches, a cathedral visit or a proper night out.
Read the guide →Southend-on-Sea
A bit of seaside fun, or somewhere quiet enough to talk.
Read the guide →Watford
Coffee in Cassiobury Park, a meal on the High Street or a whole day out.
Read the guide →London
North East England
North West England
Blackburn
Cathedral Quarter food and an easy, low-pressure first meeting.
Read the guide →Blackpool
Seaside food, Showtown and an evening out, without turning it into a pricey full day.
Read the guide →Bolton
Food hall lunches, Smithills and local nights out.
Read the guide →Liverpool
Board games, Bold Street food and dinner in the Baltic Triangle.
Read the guide →Manchester
Northern Quarter coffee, street food and a steak dinner.
Read the guide →Preston
The Harris, food on Friargate and a dinner worth booking ahead.
Read the guide →Stockport
Bakery nights, social games and a show at the Plaza.
Read the guide →Northern Ireland
Scotland
Aberdeen
Plant-based brunch, an art gallery or a six-course evening.
Read the guide →Dundee
Waterfront design, a film night or dinner out in Broughty Ferry.
Read the guide →Edinburgh
Museum lunches, bistro tables and an aperitivo before dinner.
Read the guide →Glasgow
Live music, Italian food and a night at Sebb’s.
Read the guide →South East England
Brighton
Kemptown bakes, seafront food and sharing plates.
Read the guide →Eastbourne
Seafront walks when it’s dry, art and local food when it isn’t.
Read the guide →Milton Keynes
Lunch near the station, The Hub or dinner with a skyline view.
Read the guide →Oxford
A market lunch, dinner in Jericho or a rooftop drink.
Read the guide →Portsmouth
Coffee, art or a meal without any pressure.
Read the guide →Reading
Easy lunches, street food and dinner by the Kennet.
Read the guide →Slough
Chai, dinner and first dates beyond the High Street.
Read the guide →Southampton
Coffee in the Cultural Quarter, lunch at the Wool House and dinner at the marina.
Read the guide →South West England
Bournemouth
Good food and sea air, with a place to suit the kind of first meeting you want.
Read the guide →Bristol
Harbourside art, a vegan lunch and handmade pasta.
Read the guide →Exeter
Quayside drinks, café dates and dinner budgets worked out for two.
Read the guide →Gloucester
Cathedral coffee, Food Dock finds and live music.
Read the guide →Plymouth
Brunch on Mayflower Street, board games at Twist or dinner in the Barbican.
Read the guide →Poole
Restaurants on the Quay, coffee at Kingland and a plan for rainy days.
Read the guide →Swindon
Old Town food, a pottery session or a daytime walk in the park.
Read the guide →Wales
West Midlands
Coventry
Chai, the Cathedral Lanes and dinner on Spon Street.
Read the guide →Dudley
Café deals, pub dinners and Black Country days out.
Read the guide →Stoke-on-Trent
Slamwich lunches, pottery and a dinner to finish.
Read the guide →Sutton Coldfield
A park lunch or an evening at the theatre.
Read the guide →Telford
A simple meet-up at Southwater or a properly planned evening.
Read the guide →Walsall
Free art, weekday food deals and a proper dinner plan.
Read the guide →Wolverhampton
Art, real ale and a night at The Halls.
Read the guide →Yorkshire & the Humber
Bradford
Curry, a cream tea and an afternoon in Saltaire.
Read the guide →Huddersfield
Coffee, the theatre and dinners beyond the town centre.
Read the guide →Hull
Brunch at the Fruit Market, tapas by the marina and indoor plans for wet days.
Read the guide →Leeds
Coffee at the station, street food and a live-fire dinner.
Read the guide →Rotherham
Twelve ideas, from the new cinema to country parks and Wentworth Woodhouse.
Read the guide →Sheffield
Kiwi brunch, food halls and a film.
Read the guide →York
A short walk on the walls, good food and a drink.
Read the guide →