Date Night in London's West End

The shimmery street lights, festive shopfronts and buzzy West End shows make the evening feel straight out of a festive film.

In the heart of the West End, the festive season feels timeless. The mood strikes the perfect balance of elegant and merry.

Many Brits already have a nostalgic connection to the area, remembering childhood Decembers spent wandering around Hamleys or Fortnum & Mason. Those classics remain, but the neighbourhood now brims with standout restaurants, hotels, galleries and boutiques. All worth adding to your address book for your next date night in town.

Stay: Sofitel London St James

Out-of-towners should check into Sofitel London St James, right in the middle of the action yet tucked away from the crowds in a beautifully restored neoclassical building. Ease into the evening with a couples’ massage at the spa, complete with a private jacuzzi and steam room to set the tone for a big night out.

Shop: Jermyn Street to Savile Row

Next, it’s time to shop. Stroll from Jermyn Street to Savile Row — stylish stretch lined with the likes of Church’s, Carl Friedrik and Aspinal of London.

Whether you’re after classic loafers, a statement backpack, or stationery worthy of your New Year’s resolutions, this is the place to find it.

Culture: Art & Exhibitions

Balance your retail therapy with a dose of culture. The Royal Academy of Arts is showcasing a major exhibition of American painter Kerry James Marshall, while the National Portrait Gallery is hosting an elegant display of Cecil Beaton’s photographs, sketches and illustrations until mid-January.

Both make for ideal pre-dinner or mid-afternoon cultural pit stops plus excellent conversation starters later in the evening.

Play: Ice Skating in Leicester Square

If you’d rather work up an appetite outdoors, head to Leicester Square, where an ice rink has popped up for the first time, surrounded by a festive market serving mulled and sparkling wine.

After a few laps and some seasonal sipping, take a walk back along Piccadilly to admire the Christmas lights. Be sure to make a pit stop at Fortnum & Mason to stock up on their iconic Christmas hampers, your relatives will thank you later.

Dine: The Ritz London

There’s something eternally suave about dressing to the nines and arriving at your table on Piccadilly. The Ritz London has been turning heads this year after being crowned Best Restaurant in the UK at the National Restaurant Awards.

Decide for yourself whether it deserves the title by ordering their signature Beef Wellington, carved tableside from a gleaming trolley. And before you leave, take in the sight of the hotel’s 25-foot Scottish Christmas tree, decked with bows, baubles, and thousands of lights. No one does festive quite like The Ritz London.

Theatre: West End Highlights

For culture after dark, Othello is currently running to rave reviews at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, while High Noon opens at the Harold Pinter Theatre on 17th December.

Whether you’re into classic drama or modern reimaginings, the West End always delivers a show worth dressing up for.

_{Or, if you’re after something a little cosier, make your way back to the Sofitel London St James.}

The cocktail bar is seriously suave, all blue velvet banquettes and low, intimate lighting. Perfect for a nightcap to top off the evening.