Whether you are in a relationship, single or wanting to celebrate your friends we thought we would put together a list of date ideas for all you art lovers.
Indulge in the Rosewood Hotel’s award-winning art inspired afternoon tea. The latest collection by executive pastry chef Mark Perkins is inspired by surrealist painter Salvador Dali’s infamous works and designed with the ‘Surrealism Beyond Borders’ exhibition at the Tate Modern in mind and even explores virtual reality with its own NFTea experience. We would like to get my hands on the tiny Chocolate Lobster Telephone cake.
On the night of the 14th February, Ochre restaurant at the National Gallery is hosting a Love Conquers All Dinner, a self-guided tour of some of the museum’s most iconic ‘love’ paintings, followed by a 3-course set menu, which includes a glass of champagne and a live music program featuring Jess Duo.
Enjoy dinner and jazz in the beautiful Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College. Designed in the early 18th century by Sir James Thornhill, the Painted Hall features 40,000 square feet of walls and ceilings covered in striking images depicting 200 figures including kings, queens and mythological creatures. It was originally intended as an eating space for the Greenwich Pensioners who lived at the Royal Hospital, as it was called then, but it soon because a tourist attraction so this is a rare opportunity to dine in this unique setting.
The Courtauld often host informal lunchtime talks and their next one happens to be on Valentine’s day. Taking place in the gallery at 1pm and delivered by students or researchers, this is a wonderful way of looking closely at a special piece in their collection. Why not follow it up with a visit to the Peter Doig exhibition or lunch at Spring?
After 6 years of sold out shows, Backyard Cinema's critically acclaimed Romeo + Juliet reimagined for the Barbican for one night only this Valentine’s Day. Celebrate Baz Luhrmann’s acclaimed 1996 Romeo + Juliet with a truly special screening of the greatest love story ever told. Screened under stained glass windows and amongst candle-lit aisles accompanied by a live choir performing versions of the famous movie soundtrack.
And if you are more interested in marking the occasion but avoiding the cliches, spend Valentine’s Day with Cronenberg’s 90s masterpiece, Crash at the Barbican’s cinema instead.
If you are in the mood for a more hands-on date, why not paint your partner? Just a short walk from Victoria station, Masterpeace Studio in Eccleston’s yard is offering a painting class with a complimentary drink and sweet treat.
If gifts are your love language, a few ideas include Kate Bryan’s The Art of Love, which tells the stories of the most fascinating couples of the art world, exploring the passionate, challenging and loving relationships behind some the world's greatest works of art; a membership to a museum or a national art pass; or why not treat them to an Art School Prints gift card?
