Date ideas in Basingstoke and Deane
Whether you’re looking to plan a mate date, romantic meal, or just to spend some quality time with a partner, friend or family, Love Basingstoke has you covered! We’ve pulled together a handy list of date ideas in Basingstoke and Deane to see you all year round – make sure you’ve saved this one to your favourites tab!
‘Things to do’ dates:
For those that fancy something a little different, there are loads of options for ‘things to do’ dates in Basingstoke and Deane. Here’s our top ideas:
Love Basingstoke will light up your winter nights at the ‘Let’s Glow’ free light trail in Basingstoke town centre. Between Thursday 20 and Saturday 22 February enjoy magical illuminations, immersive light installations and atmospheric projections across the Top of the Town and War Memorial Park. Wrap up warm, take in the beautiful lights and pop for a bite to eat in the town centre afterwards to make a night of it.
Indulge your creative side with an evening of modelling mayhem at Cocktails and Play-Doh with The Late Night Assembly at Proteus Creation Space on Friday 21 February.
Put your teamwork to the test with one of the escape rooms. Escape Hunt located in Festival Place has an adventure to suit any puzzle solver including Doctor Who, Aladdin and Alice In Puzzeland themed games. Exciting Escapes, on Wote Street, has the choice of six authentic and historical rooms with a range of game modes including ‘Go Head-To-Head’ where you’re competing with your friends – perfect for a double date! Or find yourself trapped in a world of fantasy at ‘Trapped in Fiction’ located on Winchester Street.
Get interactive at The Post Box Spots Bar for pool, shuffleboard, darts and an impressive Sports Simulator. Want a bite to eat too? You’ll find sharing platters perfect for a group of mates or individual meals if you’ve headed to the bar for some healthy one on one competition!
Play a board game, take part in a quiz or just pop in for a coffee. The Dice Tower on London Street is a date location full of fun and flavour. On the menu are a range of treats including pizzas, brownies, nachos, cocktails and local beer and cider.
A date at Flip Out will have you jumping for joy! Bounce on the trampolines, race against your partner in the Ninja Tag area or battle it out in a game of laser tag.
Love is in the air, literally. If you’re looking for something completely different and a memorable experience, treat someone to you love to the unforgettable sensation of flying with an indoor skydiving session at iFLY Basingstoke.
Impress your date with your history knowledge at one of the museums in Basingstoke. Located at the Top of the Town, the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery contains local history from medieval times to the modern day. Explore the streets, shops and buildings from as far back as the Victorian era at Milestones Museum found at the leisure park.
Also located at the leisure park, grab some popcorn and a drink while watching the latest blockbuster film at Odeon Cinema or for some healthy competition and to ‘strike’ another date, head to Hollywood Bowl for bowling, food, drink, amusements and pool, all under one roof!
Take a trip to the theatre to show your love. From comedy to musicals – Anvil Arts has something for everyone. Book your tickets in advance by visiting Anvil Arts' website for a date to remember.
Book a ticket in advance to try out your artistic skills together, Azure Art Academy run events and workshops throughout the year including wine and paint evenings.
‘Grab a bite to eat’ dates:
If you’re planning a lunch date, a hidden gem in the borough is The Yard, a light-filled space offering indoor and outdoor seating and takeaways, with local Moon Roast coffee, toasties, salads, cakes, juices and more. Open Thursday to Sunday from 9am to 4pm. Nestled in the Candover Valley, make the most of the picturesque location and enjoy a local walk from the café.
There’s a saying that ‘cake is the answer, no matter the question’. If so then an indulgent afternoon tea at The Parlour Tea Room in Viables Craft Centre is definitely the answer.
Festival Place has all the ingredients for dates fit for a foodies. You’ll be sure to find something you fancy at one of the many restaurants they have to offer including BrewDog, Cosy Club, Cote Brasserie and Tapas Revolution. Have a sweet tooth? Heavenly Deserts, The G Factory and Scooperb located in Basingstoke town centre are the perfect place for a pudding!
There are some great independent restaurants at the Top of the Town including Turkish restaurants Meldiz and The Olive House, The Lime Leaf if you enjoy Thai cuisine and for South Indian dishes visit Elai.
Woo your date with dinner at The Wellington Arms, award-winning country pub, in Baughurst. Featured as one of the filming locations for the Channel 4 First Dates Christmas specials, The Wellington Arms is the perfect place to find or celebrate love.
Feast with friends and family at Silchester Farm at the Friday Club, Sunday Club or special events held throughout the year. See the what’s on page for upcoming events.
‘Drinks’ dates:
Basingstoke and Deane has a vast variety of bars and experiences for a ‘drinks’ date whether it’s an afternoon tea or something stronger.
Explore the Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill and take part in a masterclass to create your own cocktails. During February 2025, there are two special events planned alongside the experiences. Treat someone special to a premium Valentine's Day gin experience on Thursday 14 or Friday 15 February. For a fun night with friends, there is a special Galentine’s cocktail and cinema night planned on Friday 14 February. With a bus stop located just outside and buses running regularly from Basingstoke and Andover, you can both enjoy a cocktail (or two!).
There’s also plenty of choice at the Top of the Town in Basingstoke town centre. Alchemy Bar and Lounge, serves organic coffee in the day turning into an over 21s cocktail and wine bar in the evening . Duck & Tipple located on Wote Street has almost 30 cocktails on the menu, plus a variety of mocktails, soft drinks and juices and hot drinks. The Tea Bar on London Street offers afternoon tea during the day and has regular live music in the evenings. Also on London Street is Gabardine Bar. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for a vast range of events including cheese and wine tasting. Dance the night away at Royal Exchange and Harry's Bar, you'll find different events and entertainment each weekend with everything from dance classics to disco and rave to garage anthems.
‘Walking’ dates:
Walking dates are an excellent option when you’re looking for a blast of fresh air, to head on a dog walk and of course great for a cheaper date idea.
Take a walk around the Green Flag awarded Eastrop Park before enjoying a picnic or hot drink on one of the picnic benches. In the warmer months you can hop on a boat for a row around the boating late. A short walk from Festival Place means you can stop off for a coffee, a bite to eat or a cocktail after. See our guide to dog friendly Basingstoke and Deane for more ideas on places to stop for refreshments with any four-legged friends.
The National Trust offers a joint membership, for two adults who live at the same address, which is brilliant for those who enjoy regularly exploring beautiful walking locations together. This includes Sandham Memorial Chapel, world famous chapel holding Stanley Spencer's paintings and The Vyne. The Vyne, former Tudor powerhouse surrounded by gardens and woodlands both based in Basingstoke and Deane.
Visit Beacon Hill for some magnificent views. The initial climb is a bit of a thigh burner but completely worth it when you reach the top and see the fantastic views over the North Wessex Downs. You’ll even get a birds eye view of Highclere Castle (the real-life Downtown Abbey). This impressive iron age hillfort and the site of one of the beacons that formed a network across Hampshire. If you are taking a dog on this walk, please note that dogs must be kept on leads all year around.
These are just some of our favourite date ideas in Basingstoke and Deane. If any of your ideas are missing from our list, we want to hear about them! Send us your suggestions to @LoveBasingstoke.
Note: Inclusion of any business within this listing should not be seen as an endorsement of their services. While the information is considered accurate at the date of publication, changes may occur.
February 2025
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