Date night, but make it cultural

22 SEPTEMBER 2026

Add a little sophistication to your usual romantic rendezvous with our guide to the best exhibitions, films and events to enjoy this October

Dinner and drinks will always have their place, but this October is shaping up to be one of the most exciting months of the cultural calendar, with a packed line-up of exhibitions, festivals and events opening across the country. So, we're making date night a little more interesting, adding art, film and culture to the usual pasta-and-cocktails routine.

Here are the 10 date nights the 374 team are booking this autumn.

LONDON

Frieze London opens on 14th Ocober. Source/ Frieze

Backyard martinis at Rita's in Soho. Source/ @ritasdining

1. Frieze, followed by martinis

Frieze London and Frieze Masters return to Regent’s Park from 14th to 18th October. Do the fair, wander through Frieze Sculpture, then head to Rita’s in Soho for a seafood platter and brilliant martinis.

frieze.com / ritasdining.com

Juergen Teller, Young Pink Kate. Source/ The Tate

St John restaurant. Source @st.john.restaurant

2. The 90s at Tate Britain, with dinner at St. John

The 90s: Art and Fashion Exhibition at Tate Britain opens on 8th October and will look back at the art, fashion and photography that shaped the decade. Afterwards, head to St. John for dinner - a London institution that, fittingly, first opened its doors in 1994.

tate.org.uk / stjohnrestaurant.com

Renoir dance at the moulin de la galette

Larry's has an amazing programme of live jazz. Source/ National Portrait Gallery

3. Renoir and Champagne

Renoir and Love opens at the National Gallery on 3rd October, bringing together paintings exploring romance, friendship and intimacy - including Dance at the Moulin de la Galette, on display in the UK for the first time. Afterwards, take yourselves downstairs for Champagne at Larry’s, which is set in the old Victorian vaults below the National Portrait Gallery.

nationalgallery.org.uk / npg.org.uk

Dua Lipa has been named the festival's curator this year

Zadie Smith is one of the confirmed speakers at the festival

4. Literature and lunch

The London Literature Festival returns to the Southbank Centre from 21st October to 1st November, with Dua Lipa guest-curating the opening weekend. Pick a talk, browse the book stands then wander over to Spring for a delicious lunch.

southbankcentre.co.uk / springrestaurant.co.uk

Dover St Counter bookings open 21 days in advance

The Royal Academy of Arts. Source/ The RAAVIF

5. The RA, plus a late-night dinner

Make the most of the Royal Academy of Arts’ 9pm Friday-lates with an evening exhibition, then dinner at Dover St. Counter. We suggest a visit to The Painting of the French Riviera followed by a cheeseburger and several sharing desserts.

royalacademy.org.uk / doverstreetcounter.com

Director Danny Boyle ( Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire) returns with INK, one of the most anticipated British films of the festival

Photo: @lunette.london

6. The upmarket cinema date

The BFI London Film Festival returns from 7th to 18th October, which means swapping your usual cinema trip for a premiere. The festival opens with Elsinore and closes with Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut, with 251 films, shorts and series on this year’s programme. Tickets go on sale on 17th September. Afterwards walk over Waterloo Bridge and head to Lunette Restaurant, which is Nick Jones' new rooftop restaurant at the St Clement Hotel. Florence Kight, the original chef behind Sessions Art Club, is in the kitchen.

bfi.org.uk / lunette.london

Brutto - lively, unpretentious and exceedingly good food

Barbican

7. The Brutalist date night

One to bookmark for any time of the year: pair an exhibition with a screening at the Barbican, then wander over to Brutto for dinner. Brutalism, brilliant pasta and a Negroni - consider the date-night brief nailed.

barbican.org.uk / brutto.co.uk

AND BEYOND

Source: Visit Lake District

Source: Another Place

8. Late-night canoeing

The Cumbrian Dark Skies Festival takes place in the Lake District from 23rd October, and we can hardly imagine anything more romantic than a late-night canoe ride under the stars.

visitlakedistrict.com

Source: Creative Tourist

Source: The Art School Restaurant

9. The ultimate romantic stroll

The River of Light Festival returns to Liverpool from 23rd October to 1st November, transforming the city’s waterfront with huge illuminated artworks and creating the perfect setting for an evening walk followed by dinner at The Art School.

cultureliverpool.co.uk / theartschoolrestaurant.co.uk

Source: Kaws. Courtesty of YSP.

Source: pinterest

10. The autumnal day date

For an autumnal afternoon that requires minimal effort and zero dressing up, grab coffees and spend a few hours wandering around Yorkshire Sculpture Park before finding a good pub for a late lunch.

ysp.org.uk