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Cheap Date Ideas

Jane Hoskyn | Tuesday 07 October 2008 | 09:04

1. Picnic in the park

Summertime, and the dating is easy… and cheap. If you think that a pricey limo ride and a bottle of vintage champagne is more romantic than a woozy afternoon in the park with plonk from the off-licence and ice-cream from the van, you have a warped view of romance. This is the real deal. Wrestle on the grass, make daisy chains, people-watch and just enjoy each other’s company. And don’t leave litter!

Price of love: A tenner for food and booze.
 

2. Museum or art gallery

The lucky UK is home to thousands of free museums and art galleries, from local history centres to world-famous landmarks like Tate Modern in London or Liverpool. This type of venue has all sorts of advantages: if you both like art and culture, you’ll enjoy yourselves even if it’s a blind date and there’s no spark between you. The hush of the gallery lifts any pressure to chat, but it gives you plenty to talk about afterwards in the bar.

Price of love: Free admission; a couple of quid for coffee in the café. Looking for some suggestions - try Tipped.

 

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3. Street festival or carnival

Now that winter has packed its cold-eyed bags and run away (good riddance), the nation’s streets are buzzing with free activities every weekend – and often in between. Forget spending over £300 on two tickets to Glastonbury and do your research: sites like www.free-events.co.uk list thousands of wallet-friendly events all over the country. Carnivals and street hoopla are great for dates, because you’ll be switched-on and smiling all day long – and you’ll never be short of things to talk about.

Price of love: £20 for a pub lunch for two.
 

4. Dinner at your place

Show off your culinary skills and turn the lights down low. Best not attempted on a first date, but ideal once you’re a couple. It’s all rather sexy, especially if you start feeding each other and opt for chewing each other’s faces off rather than finishing dinner. Just don’t try the “feeding blindfold from the fridge” trick from Nine and a Half Weeks – it’s far too sleazy. And ask beforehand if there’s anything they won’t eat. Making your lover feel sick will do little for your long-term prospects.

Price of love: £20 for ingredients.
 

5. DVD marathon

A night at the cinema often works out far pricier than expected. £20 for a pair of tickets, £5 for popcorn and Coke, £10 for drinks afterwards and heaven knows what for a cab ride home. Why not just snuggle up at home and have a DVD marathon instead? You get more choice over the films you watch, and you can have an “indoor picnic” while you’re watching. And you can do things to each other that you might get arrested for in Row 15 at the local Odeon.

Price of love: Free trial offer DVD rental from www.blockbuster.co.uk.
 

More inventive cheap date ideas: 

6. Bowling (from £3 a game)
7. Star-gazing (free)
8. Window shopping (free if you can resist temptation)
9. Boating in the park (from £5 per hour)
10. Greyhound racing (from 50p per bet)
11. Camping (from £5 a pitch)
12. Pub quiz (around £1 entry), and possibly lucrative if you know your stuff)
13. Life drawing (around £2 for a drop-in class)
14. Salsa classes (around £5 for a drop-in class)
15. Karaoke (free at the local pub); loss of dignity could be priceless)


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