Idea's for a "Grand Gesture"..

TeetersOnHeels

Would like to pick your brains on behalf of my friend and her OH. He works in London for a week a month or so, and next month my friend is going to be spending a couple of days there with him to do some xmas shopping and stuff. She's stayed before with him over the years and they've seen shows, been on the Eye, and other touristy bits and bobs. This time when she goes it will be herOH birthday, and is looking for idea's - something a bit different - doesn't have to be an item, perhaps more an event, but different to what they've done before. She looked at a chamapgne capsule on the Eye, but it was £500 :eek::eek:
Anyone any idea's? SHe's quite willing to spend a bit of money, but not five hundred quid.

luxor4t

Have they done a Duck tour?
http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/
They offer packages to add to the basic tour, eg 'Duck & Dine' etc (under Hire a Duck).

I arranged a tour for OH's birthday a couple of years back - it made a lovely change from yet another "nice meal" which is all he can ever think of for my birthday :rolleyes:

Lunar_Eclipse

I would opt for a lovely dinner and/or trip to the theatre.

I would choose the Oxo Tower, having never been before. DH says the views are lovely, but it can get pricey.

Many people like places like Claridges & Aubergine; also consider somewhere more funky for Lebanese, Japanese or Greek food for example.

gingin_2

http://www.danslenoir.com/london/ This place looks great fun, especially if you like food, I would imagine you would be talking about it for a long time afterwards.

We like here http://www.gilgameshbar.com/ the food is amazing and it has a great bar. It's in Camden so not in the usual West End haunts/ tourist traps.

Why not go to the comedy store instead of a show, or find a nice dark jazz club, maybe Ronnie Scott's?

If you want a daytime trip, you can't beat a picnic and a bottle of wine at the top of Primrose Hill (weather permitting).

neneromanova

check out lastminute.com. There are soooo many things to do on there and it's really nice and cheap

flossyblog

There are some good ideas on this thread with Tripadvisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g186338-i17-k1350500-o20-A_thread_for_the_financially_challenged-London_England.html

hotcookie101

TeetersOnHeels wrote: »

. She looked at a chamapgne capsule on the Eye, but it was £500 :eek::eek:
Anyone any idea's? SHe's quite willing to spend a bit of money, but not five hundred quid.

I did this with my OH a couple years ago, and it was nowhere near £500. We did share the pod with other people though, but it was still lovely, am sure we only paid £25/30 max each. Would have been VERY weird just us 2 and the guy with the champagne :eek:

It has gone up a little £35 each, but you get 10% off

poet123

http://www.roofgardens.virgin.com/en/the_roof_gardens/the_gardens

Different! and the restaurant is pretty good too.

TeetersOnHeels

Thanks for the lovel idea's, have passed them all on - hopefully they'll give her some inspiration!!

cazziebo

poet123 wrote: »

http://www.roofgardens.virgin.com/en/the_roof_gardens/the_gardens

Different! and the restaurant is pretty good too.

I second this one! Amazing place- right in the middle of Kensington.

never_enough

Depends on their age, where they're staying & what they're into but my ideas;
A treasure hunt around Town, her oh has to solve the clues before moving onto the next place. Takes some planning, but I did this with my oh & it was hysterical, he really got into it & wouldn't let me give him extra clues. [note here that it didn't help that I had typed one of the clues wrongly!] So, we missed our reservation for dinner & had to eat elsewhere, but snuck back for some champagne & birthday cake.
There's always open air ice rinks around somewhere lovely, or if they'd prefer heat a steamy afternoon in the palm house at Kew Gardens? Or how about horse riding in Hyde Park or watching A Christmas Cracker at the Globe Theatre(first time it's been opened at this time of year)? Or how about a sunrise kayak up the Thames past Hampton Court Palace? Or a dinner dance cruise on the river, or a Sunday lunch cruise?
You used to be able to do plane trips over London, not sure you still can. Or how about a totally differant idea-a day trip to Paris by Eurostar? Endless possibilities... Hope they have fun!