Struggling with how to surprise your beloved on Valentine's Day? Or are you hoping to avoid the whole hearts and flowers thing? There are plenty of alternative ways to show the love this year and a smattering of anti-Valentines for the rebellious, broken hearted and happily single too:
Curious about the role of nurses in romantic fiction? 'Raise your Temperature' at the Florence Nightingale Museum on 14 February at 6pm, then cool off with a glass of wine. Tickets £8.
Send the Opera Diva Baroness Tamara von Stein zu Leitershofen to surprise your sweetheart with a Valentine's Operagram. Bowl your beloved over and support vulnerable children in Africa at the same time.
Direct your own Valentine's Day movie with LIGHTS! CAMERA! IMPROVISE! at the Arcola Theatre on 14 February, at 8pm. Tickets £12.
Fans of erotic thriller movies should head to Rich Mix’s Valentine’s special on 14 February: Morricone In Love with film and live music from 7pm. Tickets £14 in advance.
For the cynics and doubters, new play, Mathematics of the heart asks what happens when love doesn't add up. It runs at Clapham's Theatre503 from 7-29 February with a Valentine’s Day performance. Tickets £14.
Skating on thin ice with your partner? Act it out. Broadgate Ice is offering a two for £10 deal for couples for 14 February. No need to book in advance, sessions are available on a first come, first served basis and run from 6.30 until 8.30pm.
Laugh the whole thing off with My Funny Valentine, a special night of stand-up comedy on Valentine's Day, starring Stephen K Amos and friends at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Tickets from £10.
If the idea of a 'truffle shaped chocolate and hazelnut gelato filled with melted chocolate fudge and dusted in cocoa powder' floats you and your loved one's boat, book a dessert date at La Gelateria. Special menu £8.
Loners are just as welcome as lovers at Bloomsbury Live’s The Love Below party. Great music, karaoke and bowling and speed dating (not compulsory). From 8pm till late, tickets £4 in advance, £5 on the door.
Singles, Click Tonight invites you to "F*** Valentine – Just Party” at Kanaloa for £15. No hearts, no flowers and wearing red is taboo.
Put a dampner on Valentine passion by joining the "Turn me off” tour in the Natural History Museum, showing you the scariest, grossest and most dangerous creatures in their collections. Doors opens at 6:30pm, tickets cost £28 and you must book.
Feeling Gloomy host their Love Hurts: Anti-Valentine's special, in association with Down With Dating, on Saturday 11 February, to bring you sad music, speed hating, the Blind Hate game and opportunities to moan about everything at Islington Academy. Tickets £4.50 in advance.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments.
Photo of vintage cheddar heart cheeses by mlazopoulou via the Londonist Flickrpool.
