Now there’s nothing necessarily wrong about a quick coffee or a cinema trip for a date, but sometimes you’re looking for something a little bit more exciting, interesting or more suited to getting to know someone new.

 

Well, we thought we’d enlist the help of someone who’s been on more first dates than your average Tinder Gold subscriber. Sia, one of the professional companions represented by Silver Fox Escorts London, was kind enough to tell us her 5 favourite dates to go on, whether in her civilian life or with clients.

The Classic Hotel Bar and Dinner Combination

Sia kicked us off with an old classic but with a slight twist that’s common for escort dates but less obvious for us everyday-ers.

 

Dinner and drinks certainly isn’t groundbreaking, but it works for a reason. It’s a fun and fulfilling experience; you get a little variety in having two venues (and sometimes a venue change can be the catalyst for chemistry), and you can dress it up or down as much as you want to.

 

The less obvious part here is choosing a hotel bar for the drinks section, and it works for a few reasons. First off, some of London’s hotel bars, The Connaught for example, rival even the best standalone cocktail bars in the city. But because they’re not the first place you think of, you often find that they’re a little quieter, at least in atmosphere, which is perfect when being able to hear each other matters.

 

It’s also a perfect way to level up the setting without adding too much to the price tag. A cocktail bar in a 5-star hotel is almost guaranteed to deliver amazing drinks, in a beautiful setting, with some of the highest quality service around, and you don’t need the £500 per night room to enjoy it either.

Live Music Hotspots

Live music creates something many dates lack: a shared experience.

 

Instead of relying on conversation alone, both people are reacting to the same performance. Even if the music isn’t life-changing, it provides natural and easy talking points that can help improve the flow of the date, especially if you’re a little nervous.

 

The skill here is choosing the right venue because an intimate jazz bar and a gig at the O2 are very different experiences. Sia says, “Relaxed music like jazz or acoustic performers work because they're a little less stimulating, but I have had some amazing dates where the vibes are much more exciting and lively. One client took me to a place called Piano Works where you can request songs for the band to play. The drinks were flowing, everyone was singing along, and we had such a good time.”

A Romantic Spa Day

Unless you want to be extra bold, this one is best saved for a few dates in, but a shared spa experience can be an amazing and unusual way to bond with someone. It works because it flips the usual experience on its head.

 

Most dates begin with a certain amount of nervous energy, but rather than arriving stressed from work or rushing across the city, both people go into the date already feeling more comfortable and with the express intention of relaxing together.

 

You don’t have to spend 8 hours wandering around, spending hundreds on treatments or trying to speak in hushed enough tones to avoid your conversation echoing to the other side of the room. Even a few hours enjoying a spa, pool or wellness facility before dinner can completely change a date’s dynamic.

 

“It’s nice to be able to slow down with someone, and even though it can feel a little exposing if the date is with someone new, I’ve found that the initial nerves (mostly around seeing each other in a swimsuit) can actually really spark off some chemistry.”

Cocktails and Culture

One of Sia's favourite recommendations involves combining a cultural activity with drinks afterwards.

 

A gallery exhibition, photography show or museum visit gives people something to react to together. It removes some of the pressure that comes with sitting opposite a stranger and trying to carry an entire evening through conversation alone.

 

Sometimes the best part isn't finding out which artwork someone likes, it's hearing why they like it. That tells you far more about a person than yet another conversation about LinkedIn profiles.

Afternoon Tea for Two

Afternoon tea seems to be a date reserved for the over-40s, but if you’re younger than that, maybe it’s time you reconsider.

 

“I think because it seems so traditional or formal, people dismiss it, but they really should give it a go. It’s lots of fun, the atmosphere is great, and you get this sense of occasion without committing to a fancy meal or something like that,” Sia said.

 

Another great point is that it gives people with either limited time in the evenings or limited interest in late-night dates a space and chance to have a fun, put-together date that doesn’t leave you tired or bed-rotting the following day.

 

None of these dates is about excessive luxury, exclusivity or expense. That’s something a lot of people miss. It’s not all about the newest or trendiest or most eye-wateringly expensive date. It’s about finding something to do together where you can relax, engage with one another, maybe experience something new, and most of all just have a little fun.