Valentine's Day date ideas, whether it's date one or year three

Valentine's Day does one useful thing: it gives you a reason to make a plan. It also does one unhelpful thing: it makes every plan feel like it means something. The answer is to match the plan to where you are, and in 2027 to remember that the 14th is a Sunday.

First, decide what kind of Valentine's this is

The right plan depends on how long you've known each other. Be honest about which row you're in.

If you've only just matched

A first date on Valentine's Day isn't wrong, but it carries extra weight. If you're both happy with that, keep it short and daytime. If not, move it. Thursday 11 or Friday 12 February is close enough to be fun and far enough to feel normal.

Example: "Valentine's on a first date feels like a lot of pressure for a coffee. Friday the 12th instead?"

That message is honest, a bit funny and still makes a plan. Our guide to fun, low-pressure date ideas has plenty of first-date plans that work any night of the year.

Valentine's on a Sunday: daytime plans

A Sunday Valentine's is a gift if you use the daylight. You avoid the evening crush, things cost less, and you finish early enough for Monday.

• A long brunch. Book it, take your time, and walk somewhere afterwards.
• A free gallery or museum. Pick a room each and show the other your favourite thing. Manchester Museum and the Whitworth are free and open on Sundays, and the V&A in London is free and open daily until 17:45.
• A walk that ends with a pub lunch. Choose a park, a river or a canal, and book the lunch so it's warm at the end.
• A matinee. An afternoon film at an independent cinema, then a drink to talk about it.
• A market. Covered markets and food halls are good for grazing and choosing together.

Check opening times before you go. Many museums close around 17:00, and some open later or close on particular days. Our city date guides list opening days for free galleries in 20 UK cities, all checked on each venue's website.

Booking the evening

If you want the candlelit dinner, plan it properly.

1. Book early. Weekend evenings around Valentine's go first.
2. Read the terms. Some places switch to a set menu and take a deposit for that night. Know what you're agreeing to.
3. Consider another night. The Saturday before or the Monday after gets you the same food without the crowd.
4. Have a plan for after. A walk, a bar with seats, or a view keeps the evening going without a second big bill.

In London, the Sky Garden is free to visit but you need a ticket, and free tickets are released every Monday morning, three weeks ahead, for the whole week. Ticket holders can visit from 11:00 to 21:00 at weekends, so a Sunday evening slot is possible if you book on time. Walk-ins are sometimes accepted, but you may be turned away.

If you'd rather go out on the Friday, the V&A in South Kensington stays open until 22:00 on Fridays and general entry is free, though some galleries close at 17:45.

Cheaper Valentine's plans

Valentine's doesn't need a big spend. Some of the best plans cost almost nothing:

• Cook something neither of you has made before. Shop together, split the jobs and accept that it might go wrong.
• A themed film night. Pick a decade or a director, make a menu to match, and put the phones in another room.
• A picnic with a view. Wrap up, bring a flask, and choose somewhere you can get a bus home from.
• A free gallery and hot chocolate. Easy, warm and good for talking.
• Write each other a list. Five places you'd like to go together this year. It's cheap, it's sweet, and you get your next five dates out of it.

Our guide to cheap date ideas that don't feel cheap has more plans under £20.

Ideas for couples who've done Valentine's before

If you've been together a while, the risk isn't awkwardness, it's autopilot. Swap who plans it this year, or each plan half the day without telling the other. Try something neither of you has done: a class, a late opening, a gig, or a day trip by train. Our date night ideas for couples has a longer list.

Presents and cards without the pressure

Early on, keep it small or skip it. A card, a coffee or a small, specific thing that shows you were listening beats anything expensive. If you're not sure where you stand, say so: "Shall we do no presents and spend it on dinner instead?" is a perfectly romantic sentence.

If you're single on the 14th

You don't have to sit it out. Get a group of friends together for a big night, which is a good way to meet new people in any case, or treat yourself to the plan you'd want someone else to make. If you're in your 20s, dating in your 20s has ideas for getting from matching to actually meeting.

Staying safe on a busy night

Valentine's evenings are busy, and busy bars are where drinks go unwatched. Meet somewhere public, get yourself there and back, and tell a friend where you'll be.

The government says spiking is a crime. If you think you or someone with you has been spiked, get medical help by calling 111, or 999 in an emergency, and report it to the police on 999 or 101.

Some bars and venues run a scheme called Ask for Angela, which started in 2016 and has been adapted around the UK. If you feel unsafe, you ask staff for "Angela" and they help you leave discreetly, for example by calling you a taxi. Not every venue takes part, so don't rely on it. Our first-date safety guide covers the rest.