Date Ideas in North London: One Evening in Kentish Town, Planned Start to Finish

Most date idea lists give you ten options and leave the planning to you. This is one evening, in order, with the single part you need to book in the middle. It works on any night from Tuesday to Saturday.

Before: up Parliament Hill

If you meet while it is still light, walk north from Kentish Town station. Parliament Hill is about fifteen minutes away, and the view from the top takes in the whole of London. It is free, it is quiet on a weeknight, and it gives you something to talk about on the walk back down.

The main event: paint each other something

Studio 136, our pottery painting studio on Kentish Town Road, runs evening sessions made for this. The Late Night Sip & Paint lasts two and a half hours, with music on and the lights down. It is BYOB: bring up to two cans each (18+). You pick from over 300 pieces on the shelves, from mugs and plates to bowls and planters, sit down and paint.

The version couples come back for: each of you paints a piece for the other and keeps it hidden. We glaze and fire everything, and it is ready to collect two to three weeks later. That collection date is your second date, already in the diary.

After: a drink round the corner

Kentish Town is pub country. The Assembly House is the grand Victorian one on the corner by the station; The Pineapple, tucked in a side street off Leighton Road, is the one people cross London for. Both are a few minutes from the studio.

Swap it for a gig

The O2 Forum is on the same high street. On a gig night, book an earlier session, paint first, and walk to the show. It is the most Kentish Town evening there is.

Getting the timing right

Evening sessions run Tuesday to Saturday, and the late ones fill first, so book Friday and Saturday a week ahead. Studio 136 is a two-minute walk south of Kentish Town station (Northern line and Thameslink). Closed Mondays.

Not ready to pick a date? Painting for Two is £60 as a gift card, valid for 12 months. More plans across our other studios are in five London date nights that beat another dinner, and a full day in the area is in things to do in Kentish Town.