It’s Valentine’s Day and you’ve been for a lovely meal, maybe a trip to the cinema or a romantic walk and you both agree… “we should do this more often” but perhaps you need inspiration?

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!

‘A Couple of Drinks’ dates:

Basingstoke and Deane has a vast variety of bars and experiences for if you’re in need of some Dutch Courage to help with those first date nerves or if the baby sitter is booked and the parents are out on the town.

Explore the Bombay Sapphire distillery and create your own cocktails. 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. 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 as well. The Tea Bar on London Street has regular live music so you can dance the night away and Gabardine Bar has a vast range of events including cheese and wine tasting.

‘Grab a Bite to Eat’ dates:

Festival Place has all the ingredients for a date fit for a foodie. 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. If you want to make your date’s heart melt, The G Factory and Scooperb located in Basingstoke town centre are the perfect place for an ice cream .

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.

‘Romantic Walk’ dates:

Romantic walk and picnic dates are great for the summer months and an excellent option when you’re looking for a cheaper date idea.

Take a walk around the Green Flag awarded Eastrop Park before enjoying a picnic on one of the picnic benches or hopping 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.

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, former Tudor powerhouse surrounded by gardens and woodlands both based in Basingstoke and Deane.

‘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.

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 Wonderland 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!

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.

Impress your date with your history knowledge at one of the museums in Basingstoke. Located at the top of the town Basingstoke, 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 whilst 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.  

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.