When it comes to things to do in Nottingham there is no shortage of activities and attractions, however when it comes to date ideas they usually require a little something extra. We loved date nights in Nottingham because there is so many exciting ideas. So, whether you have been together for a while or just wanting a cool first date ideas in Nottingham then look no further. We have put together this list of fun, quirky and romantic things to do in Nottingham for couples to try out and enjoy.

Free Date Ideas in Nottingham

Stroll around The Arboretum

Nothing says romantic date idea than taking a stroll in the park. What better way for two people to get to know each other than walking and talking. It is proven that it’s easier to have a serious conversation, like the get-to-know-you kind you might have on a date, than when you are side by side with someone as opposed to being face to face and making awkward eye contact.

There is also the added benefit that walking is a form of exercise and as Elle Woods once said, ‘exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy’. So, if you are happy and feeling good about life, a date will theoretically go better. Plus, there are plenty of places in the Arboretum to find a secluded spot for a smooch. And if it doesn’t go well at least it is a free date idea, so you haven’t wasted anything other than your time.

Take a salsa dance class at Revolucion de Cuba

On Wednesday nights from 6pm in Nottingham you can get your sexy on with a free taster class in salsa dancing at Revolucion de Cuba. Or if you and your date already have rhythm you can sign up for more advanced classes which are later in the evening. Once you have some hot moves under your belt you can take what you’ve learnt and unleash your moves and wow other patrons in the club from 9pm-2am whilst sipping on delicious Caribbean themed cocktails.

Cheap Date ideas for less than £10

The Lost City Adventure Golf

If you’re looking for some light-hearted fun on your date night in Nottingham, then this is the place for you. You might associate crazy golf with seaside family holidays, but The Lost City is definitely not just for kids! Located inside the Corner House in the centre of Nottingham it has two rainforest themed 18-hole miniature golf courses, a tiki bar and live music at the weekend. It’s a great destination for an alternative date night, but it does get busy on weekends so it is recommended to book in advance and there might be a wait between each hole.

The Lost City costs £6.50 before noon and £8.50 after that and it is open daily from 10am to 11pm except Sundays where they close at 10pm. After your game be sure to stop by the romantic Tiki Bar and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to just sit and chat to your date with a lovely themed cocktail.

Ice Skating at the National Ice Centre

Ice skating is not as easy as it looks, trust me. But it is fun to do once you get the hang of it and is a great date idea in Nottingham. If you fancy some Dancing on Ice and channelling your inner Torvill and Dean, then the ice rink is a great place to start.

If you’re completely new to skating there is a warmup zone with advice session every 30 minutes on how to get started, stay up, and skate on the ice. In no time at all you will be Bambi-ing around the ice and it’s the perfect excuse to hold hands and snuggle up with your date. Tickets cost £9 for adults and skating sessions are at certain times so check their website before turning up.

Roller skating at Skate Land

Another fun date night idea in Nottingham is Skate Land. Roller skating, like ice skating lends itself greatly to clinging onto your date for support and laughing about falling over. If you are a complete beginner or just worried about falling over you can join the learn to skate session on Saturday or Sunday from 11am-1pm and you might even find a new hobby that you enjoy together. Skate world is also a cheap date idea costing between £2-£4 for a session plus £2 for skate hire, it doesn’t break the bank. Fun Fact- me and Lewis met at a roller disco when we were teenagers. We don’t skate anymore, though I did play Roller Derby for a while which was awesome!

Ludorati Board Game Café

Who else immediately thinks of long boring games of Monopoly every time board games are mentioned? *raises hand* Me too! But these days there are so many more options for board games than the dusty old family traditions and there is no better place to try out some new exciting board games than the Ludorati Board Game Café in Nottingham.

One of the world’s first board game cafes Ludorati has a game for everyone, from newcomers to the serious hobbyist. Why wouldn’t they when their game library is extensive containing over 850 board and card games! It is not just a café serving a selection of local coffees, they also serve wine, beer, soft drinks and a selection of food and sweet treats. During weekdays it also hosts a Robin Hood themed pop-up boardgame museum for fans of the iconic legend, amongst other themed events.

Take a ghost walk tour around the city

Nottingham has so much history it’s unsurprising that a few ghosts have remained in the city walls and buildings over the years. So if you are into stranger things or unexplained happenings get yourself on a Nottingham ghost walk it costs £7.50 and advanced booking is required. The walk takes an hour and a half and journeys around Nottingham including into some of the oldest pubs in England and down into the caves under the city.

If walking around the city seems too energetic or if the weather is bad, a good spooky alternative is the Ghost of the Gaol Tour at the National Justice Museum. One of the most haunted buildings in the UK this tour cost £10.95 and follows in the footsteps of those who were condemned, imprisoned, and executed in years gone by.

Boating on the Lake

Highfields park in just outside the city centre is home to a large boating lake dating back to the 18^th Century. Picture this a couple lounging in a rowboat, on a lazy summer afternoon in the middle of the lake, while he woos her with poetry from Nottingham’s very own Lord Byron. This was a popular dating image for the 19th and early 20th century upper classes, as it provided a chance for couples to be alone together, but still in plain sight to avoid accusations of anything sexual happening.

Go old school and have a date with a difference but these days we advocate gender equality so sharing the rowing would only be fair. Boats available to hire include canoes, rowing boats and katakanus meaning there is something for everyone. Prices are £5 per adult for an hour of rowing and tickets can be bought from the ticket office next to the lake.

Romantic Date ideas in Nottingham

Outdoor cinema at Wollaton Hall

Outdoor cinema has become really popular in the last few years. Not only is it entertaining but it’s also something different and you won’t get shushed for chatting while the movie is on because you’re outdoors, so it won’t be as obvious. Outdoor cinema doesn’t just show old movies either, they often have new releases only a few months after the cinema. So, why go to a regular cinema when you can use the excuse of being outdoors to cosy up with someone.

You can also bring your own drinks including alcohol, all your favourite movie snacks or even a full picnic if you wish. The thing that puts some people off outdoor cinema is the unpredictable weather, however if you prepare for this by dressing for British summer weather and taking a big golf umbrella and a waterproof blanket you should be all set if it rains.

Afternoon tea at the pudding pantry

Afternoon Tea is a great cute alternative to a full-blown dinner date. And it is something that The Pudding Pantry in Nottingham excels at. Afternoon Tea here is served daily from 2pm till 4:30pm and 5:30pm on a Saturday and there are 3 different options to choose from.

The classic afternoon tea includes 2 mini scones, homemade jam & clotted cream, 4 individually designed cakes, and sandwiches and costs £16.95 per person. The high tea includes everything above plus a glass of bubbly Prosecco and costs £21.95 per person. And lastly there is the bottomless tea which is like the high tea but with unlimited glasses of Prosecco, this costs £36.96 per person. However, you are limited to a table time of 90 minutes with the bottomless tea and your glass will only be refilled when it’s empty. Still plenty of time to get tipsy with your date.

See a Show

Nottingham has 3 theatres to choose from where you can see everything from pantomime to west end classics. To see what’s on at the Theatre Royal and the Royal Concert Hall click here and for the Nottingham playhouse you can find what’s on here.

I love having as theatre date, getting absorbed in the story and the music is an incredible high. A night at the theatre is often a sophisticated kind of date where you can get dressed up all fancy and channel your inner Julia Roberts or Richard Gear in Pretty Woman. It can be incredibly romantic too if you pair it with pre-show dinner and drinks.

If you are looking for something that is still intimate but less formal than the theatre, Nottingham also has not one but two comedy clubs. The Glee Club on Castle Wharf next to the River Trent and Just the Tonic comedy club that hosts at 4 different venues around Nottingham. Both clubs have previously hosted big names and even if you don’t know the comedian on a certain night you are sure to have a laugh on any date night.

Take a cruise on the River Trent

Hosted by Princess River Cruises, there are two kinds of cruise to go on for a date in Nottingham. A peaceful daytime cruise with relaxing commentary meandering through the city taking in the sights and surroundings of the River Trent. You can choose from a 2 or 3-hour daytime cruise option and both come with either a two-course meal of a traditional roast dinner or fish and chips followed by dessert and tea or coffee. Or if you prefer a lighter meal you can choose an afternoon tea option instead. Price start from £15.75 per person depending on your meal preference this peaceful option will allow plenty of time to chat and get to know your date.

The other option if you’re looking for something different and a bit livelier, is a 3-hour evening cruise on one of the party boats. The package options are extensive, but all include a meal and entertainment on board. Prices range from £16.75 per person for a basic meal up to £39.45 per person for an all-inclusive bar and transport to a top nightclub afterwards.

Take a pottery making class at Hands On Pottery

Why not get a little dirty on date night! I don’t know what you guys are thinking, but we mean with clay! If you have seen the movie Ghost you know exactly how sexy pottery making can be. So, if you fancy yourself the next Patrick Swayze or Demi Moore then this may be just the date night idea for you.

Fire up your creativity at Hand on Pottery in Nottingham where everyone is welcome from complete beginners to pottery experts. The teachers offer one to one guidance so everyone in the class can get the most from the experience. Sensible clothes that you don’t mind getting messy are a must, but aprons are provided.

You can either sign up for a 5-week class to learn all the skills and techniques needed for £150 per person. Or if you just want to give it a spin you can opt for a single hand building session for £10 for 2 hours plus a £5 charge per kilo of finished works.

Create some jewellery at Nottingham jewellery school

For couples that have been dating for a while or who are ready for more commitment. Why not sign up for a jewellery making course at the Nottingham Jewellery School. The beginner’s courses are 6 weeks long so that is 6 date nights sorted. It’s not the cheapest of dates however, the 6-week courses start from £160 per person but you do get to keep everything you make.

There are classes for everyone from beginners to advanced so even if you’ve never done jewellery making before you can still have a go. Plus, you could make something special for each other during the class. Which would be like, so flippin’ cute!

Exciting and Unusual Date Ideas in Nottingham

Visit Planet Bounce

Remember the fun you had as a kid at those giant inflatable parks? Well good news, as an adult you can also join in the fun at Planet Bounce. An exciting unconventional date idea in Nottingham, planet bounce is sure to leave you and your date amused and laughing for hours afterwards.

Bouncing sessions last for an hour and cost £11 per person. Sessions are from 11am-6pm daily and must be pre-booked online, you can purchase extra time if you want to bounce for longer. But if you’re anything like us an hour of excited jumping around is plenty and you can end your date with a coffee and chat about your fun afternoon.

Play some VR games

Get your heart pounding and your adrenaline flowing with this fully immersive date idea in Nottingham. Get your game on at Zero Latency VR in the Intu Victoria Centre and show your team spirit by banding together with your date and 6 other people to defeat an army of zombies. Or wow your date with your logic and problem-solving skills in a VR engineering adventure.

Gaming sessions are 45 minutes including a briefing on using the VR equipment and prices start from £14.95 a session. Once you have finished your gaming session head over to Dough Notts on King Street for a sugary pick me up and a coffee and relive your VR escapades.

Solve an Escape room

If you ever watched Crystal Maze as a kid and wanted to partake, then as escape room is the closest you will probably ever get. Escape rooms are fantastic fun and you really have to work together and solve the clues and perform the tasks in order to escape, great for a date idea to know how your date thinks and is with working through issues.

Nottingham has loads of options for escape rooms ranging in size and price, each escape room experience generally last for an hour in which you must complete the tasks to escape. Almost all must be booked in advance and contrary to popular belief they are not all scary. Here are the top 6 escape room companies in Nottingham: Cave Escapes, Logiclock, ilocked, Cryptology, Escapologic, and Escape Stations.

Go Karting race

There is nothing like a bit of healthy competition when it comes to dating. Am I right? If you love showing off your amazing driving skills or just plain winning at things, then Go Karting is the perfect date idea in Nottingham for you. Located just outside Nottingham city centre in Netherfield, Team Sport is the place to be this go kart track is indoors so it’s a year round date night idea.

The adult ultimate race experience session is suitable for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros. This race format is a race against the clock and perfect if you want to battle it out on the track just as a duo or in a small group with friends or family. Sessions cost £38 per person and last up to 45 minutes, there is also a snack and drinks bar to quench your thirst afterwards.

Attend a concert

There’s nothing quite like the vibe you get at a concert, everyone bopping along to the same songs, bodies synchronised with rhythm of the music. A concert can be a romantic and exciting evening for a date, getting hot and sweaty in the crowds and being pushed up against each other.

It doesn’t have to be an expensive date either, yes if you want to go and see a super famous band or singer in a huge venue like the Royal Concert Hall or the National Arena then it gets pricey. But there are plenty of small concert venues like the Rescue Rooms, The Bodega or Rock City in Nottingham for an intimate date, and you may discover a new band you both like.

Whatever kind of date ideas you are looking for, Nottingham has something to suit all needs.

Have you been on a romantic or unusual date in Nottingham? Did we miss any great ideas? Let us know your date ideas in the comments!

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