Anti-Valentine’s Day on the Thames

There has been a bit of a backlash against Valentine’s Day recently, and not just from the singletons. Many couples are turning their backs on red roses and chocolates and opting for non-romantic activities instead, often with their mates. Here are our suggestions about ways to not celebrate Valentine’s this year.

Galentine’s Day

Get the girls together to create your own Galentine’s – the antidote to romance. (There is no Balentine’s for boys… yet.) Galentine’s is a growing trend amongst women who don’t see the point in languishing at home because they don’t have a beau to step out with. Their aim instead is to just go out and have lots of fun. There are plenty of anti-Valentine’s parties at venues across London, including bars like Tonight Josephine (nearest pier: Festival) which is having a Galentine’s Day bash, with free make-up masterclasses by Benefit.

Escape Rooms

Get a group together and spend an hour solving puzzles in order to ‘escape’ from a room with ‘trouble’ on the way. Escape rooms have become tremendously popular – they give your brain a work out, get you all working together as a team, and are great fun whether you ‘escape’ or not. If you’re in the vicinity of the South Bank, there are escape rooms at London Bridge (nearest pier: Tower Bridge Quay).

Having a larf!

Comedy is a great way to bond with people – whether you’re with loved ones or friends. If you’re up for a late night, join Cabaret Sauvignon and a Single Vault Whiskey plus guest comedians at Cavern (nearest pier: Westminster) as part of the Vault Festival 2019.

Screaming

Also part of the Vault Festival 2019 is Séance, a short but unsettling immersive experience demonstrating how groups of people can be manipulated.

Carry on screaming

There’s nothing less romantic than a good old-fashioned horror movie about stalking, and that’s just what the Old Operating Theatre Museum (nearest pier: Bankside) is putting on for Valentine’s Day. Mad Love is a 1930s horror about a murderous hand transplant – so suitable for the setting!

Boating

A cruise down the river can be as romantic or anti-romantic as you like. If you’re planning to snuggle on the top deck with your partner or bring the whole gang, we can help you make it a great day.

In the next blog, we’ll hear from a couple of people who’ve had possibly the most romantic experience you can on the Thames – when their partner got down on one knee and proposed!