Serpentine Lake

Instead of going the tourist route with a river cruise on the Thames, take a walk through Hyde Park, make your way to Serpentine Lake, and hire a row boat just for the two of you. Hyde Park stocks a fleet of rowing and pedal boats—they accommodate up to 6 people, but two will suffice as well—and the lake is the central feature here. Fed by an underground spring, surrounded by the gorgeous rolling landscape of the park, the Serpentine Boating Lake is one of the prettiest places to spend a leisurely evening, cruising along its still waters. The lake itself curves and snakes all the way around to the west of Hyde Park, dividing its sprawling lawns into two halves. You could carry along a little picnic basket, or alternatively stop by Serpentine Bar & Kitchen and get a quick take-out before rowing away. Sure, it might seem a little cliché, but after all, clichés are clichés for a reason.