Let’s be real, when you think of romance in the capital the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t east London – but it should be. From boat rides and crazy golf to rooftops and batting cages, east of the city has a lot of offer to keep you and bae outside and occupied during these warm summer months. If you’re bored of going central, check out the ideas below to see some of the date spots in east London.

Kick back in the heart of the Olympic Park at Riverside East

If you’re looking for a laid-back date spot, look no further than Riverside East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. Launched last summer, this fairly new space offers a mix of street food, all-day café dishes, fine dining and Sunday roasts. Seating includes an outdoor yard, as well as a rooftop terrace providing a scenic view of the Olympic Park. Tucked away is also a batting cage space, provided by the team at Sixes Social Cricket, so you and a your date can go head to head in a friendly one-on-one.

To find out more about what Riverside East has to offer, click here.

Pedal along the E20 waters in Swan Pedalos

Tired of going for food and drinks for dates? Why not switch it up and take your bae on a trip down the River Lea in a plastic swan. Once you set sail on the swan pedalos at the Stratford Waterfront Pontoon next to the London Aquatics Centre, you can pedal your way through the waters of the Olympic Park, taking in the sights such as the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the London Stadium, V&A East Museum and more. Not only will this activity allow you to bond with your date on the water, but the pedalling of the swans will let you both enjoy a light form of exercise in the process too.

For more information and a price list for the swan pedalos, click here.

Enjoy a game of crazy golf in the sun at Plonk in Hackney

There’s nothing like an activity date to break the ice and Plonk in London Fields is the perfect setting to do just that. With nine Polynesian-themed holes, such as the volcano canyon and tiki forest, Plonk is a quirky venue that will set the scene for an exciting date. If you happen to lose at crazy golf, you’ll have plenty of chances to redeem yourself inside where you’ll find a retro arcade, board games, foosball and more. You can also chill in the beer garden where there are ping pong tables to keep the competitive spirit alive.

To find out more about Plonk Hackney, click here.

Hire in rowing boat in Leytonstone’s Hollow Ponds

When it comes to hidden gems, it doesn’t get any better than this one right here. In the quiet, residential area of Leytonstone is a fragment of Epping Forest called Hollow Ponds – a green space perfect for picnics and walks. To top things off, there are rowing boats for hire where you and your significant other can take a trip on the lake and feed the swans and ducks along the way.

If a romantic sail on a lake sounds good to you, you can click here to find out more details about the boats for hire at Hollow Ponds.

Have a fun-filled date at Roof East (Stratford)

Westfield and the Olympic Park may be the main attractions of Stratford but across the road from the Underground station is a true gem in the form of Roof East. Located on the top floor of Stratford Shopping Centre, Roof East is a vibrant rooftop bar and events space offering a range of activities and street food for a fun date. Among the many activities are crazy golf, archery, a batting cage and table tennis. As if that wasn’t enough, Roof East is also home to the open-air cinema, Rooftop Film Club, which will be showcasing movies such as Love & Basketball, White Chicks, Set It Off and more all summer long. Food, drinks, games and a cinema? Roof East has it all.

Click here for more information about the many games and film screenings at Roof East.

Keep it locked here on WYS LDN for more fun things to do in the capital!