First dates often take the same shape. A meal and a movie are great, but it is always good to mix things up. After all, the last thing you want is a boring date. Here are 10 great alternative first date ideas to enrich your dating life.

1. Catch a view

Everyone appreciates a mesmerizing view. There are a variety of ways views can be taken in. Get fancy at a sky bar, have some drinks on a rooftop or pitch up on a blanket and take the view in from a park. Check out Primrose Hill for a park with a view of central London or head to bar 31 at the Shard for a drink overlooking London. Alternatively, take your date for some drinks at the Rumpus room.

2. Activity bars

Drinking and activities are the perfect pair and a sure recipe for a fun night. London offers bars with activities ranging from table tennis to crazy golf. Engaging in activities and getting competitive is the perfect way to relax and getting rid some of that first date tension. Head to Swingers, located in the West End for crazy golf and drinks. Or get a rally going at Bounce Ping Pong to ensure your date is alternative and memorable.

3. Go to a Fairground/Theme Park!

Who doesn’t love a roller coaster? Ok maybe they aren’t your dates favourite… The tea cups are always a good option though, right? Whatever your ride of choice you and your date can have your fill all year round! In the Winter you can always go to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with an incredible variety of rides and refreshments including everyones favourite Mulled Wine. In Summer the Theme Park season is well and truly open with Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures and Alton Towers all providing all the thrills and spills you’d ever need.

4. Take a creative cooking class

If you already possess great cooking skills, you get to show them off. If you don’t, you get to have fun. Win-win! The School of Wok offers great Asian cuisine classes which will allow you to get to know your date whilst preparing tasty food. Delicious!

5. Ice sculpting

Not many people can claim to have experienced ice sculpting, so why not be part of the minority that has. It’ll definitely make for a unique and memorable first date. Hamilton Ice Sculptures offer the perfect class for a cool (pun intended) first date.

6. Visit a street food market

London offers an almost infinite selection of street food from all corners of the globe. Exploring these is a chilled out way of getting to know your date. Borough Market, Kerb Camden and Southbank Centre market are all highly recommended places to visit. Just make sure you don’t eat beforehand, as you will be stuffed afterwards!

7. Take an acting class

Get out of your comfort zone and take an acting class. Taking an acting class is another unusual but intriguing way of getting to know the person you are into. The Theatre Deli offers fun acting classes where beginners are welcome. Deep breath and Lights, Camera, Action!

8. Go for a bike ride

Choose a day with good weather and invite your date for a bike ride. Hyde Park makes for an excellent location for a chilled ride. If you don’t already have a bike, you can either use the Santander bikes or use apps like Mobike to rent one.

9. Go for a walk!

If you are thinking of a laid-back date idea, grab a coffee or potentially some picnic food and going for walk is always a great one. Take your date to a beautiful location, bond over picking food or surprise them by choosing a selection they’ll love. Enjoy a nice day out any time of year by strolling through a park or the countryside, then settle down in a spot where you can talk till the sun sets/you run out of food.

10. Mix it up

Get creative! Mix things up and come up with a combination of alternative date ideas! Why stick to just one, when you can do a whole lot of them in one day? Wondering around a gallery, getting some street food followed a crazy golf bar? Sounds like a plan!

Going on first dates, whether you’re searching for love or just having fun should be an enriching and exciting experience. Life is too short for monotonous and boring dates, so use our list of 10 alternative first date ideas. Get inspired and start planning alternative first dates which provide you with great experiences and lasting memories. Thinking outside the box may be just the key to finding your perfect match.