Cosy romance,
cold outside.

Winter gives you a built-in excuse to stay in — and staying in can be genuinely romantic when you're intentional about it. Here are twelve ideas to try:

• Host a fondue night — chocolate or cheese, both work
• Build a blanket fort and watch something you both love
• Cook a new recipe together from scratch (extra points for pasta)
• Start a puzzle over wine — simple, slow, surprisingly fun
• Play a board game with actual stakes (loser does the dishes)
• Do a home cocktail class — pick a spirit, find a few recipes
• Watch a classic film you've both somehow never seen
• Write letters to each other, then read them out loud
• Do a blind taste test — cheeses, chocolates, hot sauces
• Start a book club for two — same book, weekly catch-up
• Take an online class together — pottery, drawing, baking
• Stargaze from the balcony with blankets and something warm to drink

There's something about cold air and shared body heat that accelerates connection. Here's how to lean into it:

• Book an ice rink session — even bad skaters have a great time
• Visit a Christmas market and try all the food stalls
• Go sledding — childish, chaotic, and genuinely bonding
• Take a long walk in the first snowfall of the year
• Find an outdoor fire pit bar or rooftop igloo in your city
• Do a winter sunrise hike — effort pays off enormously

Tip: Always have a warm-up plan. A hot drink destination after outdoor activities turns a good date into a great memory.

Food and drink are powerful date tools in winter — the warmth, the aroma, and the ritual of sharing something delicious all do a lot of the work for you.

• Make mulled wine at home — it's much simpler than it looks
• Book a restaurant with an open fire or candlelit ambience
• Do a hot pot evening — sociable, interactive, great for conversation
• Try a wine or whisky tasting at a local bar or specialist shop
• Visit a bakery and buy too many pastries to take home
• Find a local speakeasy or hidden bar — the discovery is part of the date

Our mulled wine recipe: 1 bottle red wine, 1 orange sliced, 6 cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks, 3 star anise, 3 tbsp honey. Simmer low for 20 minutes. Don't boil.

Festive season has a bad reputation for cheesiness, but it doesn't have to be. Here's how to do it with taste:

• Visit a Christmas market early in the morning before crowds arrive
• Walk a light trail or illuminations event in your city
• Watch a beloved festive film at an independent cinema
• Go to a carol concert — atmospheric, nostalgic, unexpectedly romantic
• Ice skate at a pop-up rink, then get hot chocolate after
• Spend an afternoon at an independent Christmas market (not the big one)
• Cook Christmas dinner together — a full trial run, no pressure