The best weatherproof dates make you forget you ever had a plan A! By focusing on a fun activity rather than what’s going on outside, you can concentrate on exploring your connection.

Reach new heights with indoor rock climbing

If you and your date are the active sort – or at least one of you is! – then staying indoors doesn’t mean you can’t choose something sporty. Indoor climbing blends fitness with fun, and can be a great way to get to know someone as you rely on them to guide and cheer you on. Once you’ve made it through those tricky climbs, relax with a drink afterwards to celebrate scaling the heights!

Don’t worry if climbing is something you haven’t tried before. Look for a local indoor climbing centre and you’ll find they offer options from beginner to pro, and will have trained instructors on hand to guide you.

Treat yourselves to a tasting session

If sport isn’t your scene, there are just as many options for those who enjoy a more chilled-out dating experience. If you and your date have gourmet tastes or a love of fine wines, you could look for a tasting session to explore some new flavours together. Maybe one of you is something of an expert and the other is willing to try something new!

Whether you choose wine, chocolates, or try out local products such as artisanal cheeses, attending a tasting session can be a great way to get chatting. You’ll learn about each other as you try new varieties, discover your shared tastes, and argue about which taste came out top!

This is a great, low pressure activity designed to be social where you’ll always have something to talk about – so it’s an ideal choice if you’re nervous about starting a conversation.

Enjoy a literary escape

If you and your date are literature lovers, why not base a meet up around your shared interest in the written word? You might attend a talk and book signing by a favourite author (or a new one you’d both love to try), find a classic tale being discussed at the library, or spot a local poetry or book reading.

Or, for a cosy, chatty choice, arrange to meet in your favourite book-shop cafe. You can browse the shelves together, then talk genres, childhood favourites, and which book-to-movie adaptations were the best over a brownie and a cup of something comforting. Bonding over books can add a new, more personal touch to the traditional coffee date.

Shake it up a little…

Maybe you usually suggest meeting for drinks? Why not mix up the old traditional date suggestion and take your date to a cocktail making class? Don’t worry, mocktail options are usually available for those who prefer to place their tiny umbrellas into non-alcoholic beverages. With hosts who know how to keep the atmosphere upbeat, you can shake the ice and break it at the same time.

You could challenge your date to create the best signature cocktail, try to make the most delicious drink possible, or just mix your favourite colours and hope for the best. This date could be the start to an evening of fun – and hopefully many more!

Roll with it and go bowling

Engaging in a little playful rivalry can add a fun twist (and a lot of laughs) to your date. Bowling alleys have been known as classic date locations for decades, with good reason.

Bowling is an easy, casual activity in a location – a guaranteed weatherproof date – where everyone around you will be having fun, and the relaxed pace means there’s plenty of time to get to know each other.

Bowling can be a great equaliser: it’s enjoyable even if you’re bad at it, and nobody has to worry about looking good in rented shoes. Getting gently competitive with your date can help you both to relax and let your personalities shine: just remember not to be a sore loser, or get too enthusiastic with the victory lap if you win!

Appreciate a performance at an open mic night – or take part!

If you’d like to take in some culture, but don’t want to miss out on the chance to chat, an open mic night might be the perfect alternative to a theatre or cinema date. There are all kinds of open mic events, from comedy to music, to spoken-word performance, so you’re sure to find something that suits you – or something you both feel open to trying. These nights have an informal feel, and you can share some drinks and talk between the acts.

If you’re a talented performer, you might even want to take the stage yourself and show your date what you can do, but otherwise sit back, enjoy, and compare notes on which acts connected with you the most.

So, don’t let the weather spoil your big plans. Whatever the forecast, these creative, active, cultural or casual date ideas prove that you can have an amazing time together without risking exposure to the elements. Which one would you choose?

What are your favourite weatherproof date ideas?

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