Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and with it a plethora of chocolates, flowers, and restaurants to make your Valentine’s Day special. A romantic dinner is of course a bit of a prerequisite, however it isn’t a very unique way to woo your chosen partner on a day all about love. Therefore, in addition to a romantic meal for two,Leonardo Hotel's has rounded up some unique activities to mix things up for a Valentine’s Day to remember…
Opera glasses by Zach Copley/CC BY (image size has been modified)
Going to an Opera or Ballet is not one of the more common outings but can be a truly immersive and even emotional experience.
Enjoy the delicate movement of ballet or the strong vibrating baritone of the Opera with your loved one this February for a Valentine’s Day with a difference - explore below a few upcoming shows:
The Marriage of Figaro – Leeds Grand Theatre
Ellen Kent's Rigoletto – Theatre Royal Brighton
Valentine’s Day Opera Gala - St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
Books by Abhi Sharma/CC BY (image size has been modified)
Not your traditional Valentine’s Day activity, however, exploring a bookstore together can bring you together and help you learn about each other.
A good starting point would be the travel section as common ground (where have you been, where would you like to go) - you could even challenge each other to buy and read the other’s favourite book.
Peruse few of our favourite stores:
City Books independent book store, Brighton & Hove
Waterstones (housed in a beautiful historic building), Bradford
The Edinburgh Bookshop, Edinburgh
News from Nowhere community bookstore, Liverpool
What better way to get a little closer on Valentine’s Day than a steamy Salsa dancing class? Salsa and Ballroom are popular activities so finding somewhere to Salsa should be a breeze, whether in a golf club hall or a snazzy club. Discover your rhythm and let the sparks fly for a Valentine’s experience to remember.
Botanical Gardens by Andrew Callow/ CC BY (image size has been modified)
Overflowing with delicate delights, sweet smells, and nature’s unique and stunning creations, a wander around a botanical garden is the perfect activity. Surrounded by budding beauty, your love will blossom in this romantic natural oasis.
In the kitchen by Matt MacGillivray/CC BY (image size has been modified)
Learning something new with a partner can be fun experience and a great bonding activity for Valentine’s Day. With so many classes you could possibly take, finding a discipline you both enjoy shouldn’t be too tough. From baking, cooking, candle making, to sculpture, art, photography, woodwork, and glass work – the possibilities are endless.
Try something a little bit steamy this Valentine’s Day and experience a Burlesque show. Elegant, classy, and artistic, Burlesque is incredibly popular, especially among adventurous couples. You can enjoy a meal and a show, or just indulge in the entertainment, either way, it’s a uniquely romantic evening.
Burlesque offers an experience that is saucy, sweet, comedic, and dramatic, it’s a theatre show with a difference and the perfect Valentine’s day entertainment.
Take a look at a few upcoming shows:
Club Noir’s Valentines ‘Forbidden Fruit’ - O2 Academy Glasgow
The Martini Lounge Burlesque & Variety Show – The Epstein Theatre Liverpool
Burlesque Valentine Ball – Various Locations
Three Choirs Vineyard by Andrew Callow/CC BY (image size has been modified)
Enjoy an interactive experience by wine, beer or whiskey tasting as you learn about the process each drink undergoes. English wines are relatively unknown but well worth discovering, Scotland and Ireland are renowned for their whiskey distilleries, while many breweries have a rich heritage and unique flavours. Explore something a little different and become a connoisseur of your (or partner’s) favourite beverage!
Explore a few of our favourite locations:
Renishaw Hall Vineyard, near Sheffield.
Jameson Experience, Cork
Guinness Storehouse, Dublin
Glengoyne Distillery, Glasgow
Black Sheep Brewery, North Yorkshire
York Fair Acrobat by Ted Van Pelt/BY CC(image size has been modified)
The circus or an acrobat show offers an exciting experience as you watch incredible performers achieve the impossible with skill, courage, and incredible artistic flare. There are many acrobat/circus shows touring, some for all ages, others with a more mature audience in mind, making this the perfect activity to share with your partner as you sit in awe and wonder of the performance.
A completely different experience of flying, a helicopter ride of a city is a truly unique activity for Valentine’s Day. Helicopter rides are available in a myriad of locations, and are especially impressive over a cityscape.
Geocaching by Johan Larsson/BY CC(image size has been modified)
Geocaching is taking the world by storm. The app takes you on a mini adventure as you search for a geocache (which holds a mystery item inside). Taking you to a new place, a beautiful location, or a new ‘hidey hole’ in your own town, Geocaching brings a new dimension to orienteering and scavenger hunts. With 2 million Geocaches worldwide available in different shapes, sizes, and difficulties to find - there is plenty to discover with a partner.
This is a great way to work together and bond as you venture into the world of Geocaching…
A tip for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day is to each plan a surprise activity catered to your partner’s tastes/dreams/wants with a romantic meal at the end. If you want to ‘jazz up’ the meal to be a little different, why not set a theme and both dress up? Movies, decades, music legends, literature, games - the possibilities are endless for a truly unique Valentine’s experience.
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