Top 5 Outdoor London Proposal Locations!
London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world (hey - I know we’re bias, but it really is!!) and so who could blame you for wanting to use one of her most beautiful sights to propose in. After all, a beautiful moment needs a beautiful backdrop, right?
And the great thing about London, is the secret and not-so-secret spots that seem endless - new ones cropping up all the time! So whether you’re visiting London as a tourist, or are a local, we are here to help you out - we’ve done proposals all over the city and extensively researched these locations.
So here we have it - the best outdoor proposal spots in London, and things to consider at each one!
St Dunstans in the East
This relatively unknown, ruined church garden, is smack bang in the middle of the financial heart of the city and when you come across it, it’s like you’ve entered into a dream. With the ivy covered walls, ornate window frames and three totally different sections and little nooks and crannies to explore, it really is like you discovered another world, with tower blocks and offices either side. Check out this proposal video to see this location in action! Plus, there are no restrictions on filming here, making it worry-free.
WHEN TO GO: During the weekday lunchtimes, the place is teeming with office workers on their lunch break, escaping corporate life. So we’d recommend visiting at the weekend if you can - and bear in mind the garden does close so don’t arrive any later than 3:30.
WHERE IS IT?: Near Bank and Monument Station, right in the heart of the city.
WHAT’S NEXT?: You can team it with a visit to Sky Garden (5m walk away) or the Shard (15m walk away) for a beautiful celebratory lunch or dinner overlooking the city!
2. Southbank
There are so many gorgeous places along Southbank to propose. Just south of Westminster Bridge, you have the location used in the video here, overlooking the houses of Parliament. A bit further up, you have the London Eye - a proposal hub in itself. And further up than that, the Southbank - even further, we recently did a proposal in a small, secluded garden section between the National Theatre and the OXO tower - absolutely gorgeous.
WHEN TO GO: The Southbank is always busy, but some times and areas are more touristy than others. If you’d like a crowd and a buzzing atmosphere, go at the weekend and stick to the middle section between the London Eye and the National Theatre. For more intimacy, go on a weekday and head to either end.
WHERE IS IT?: Near Waterloo Station, or a short walk over the bridge from Embankment Station.
WHAT’S NEXT?: There is so much nearby! For a fancy dinner, head to the top of the OXO Tower for incredible views across the Thames. Covent Garden and the Strand are only a 15m walk away - or take in some world class theatre at the National, if you can contain your excitement!
3. The Pergola at Hampstead Heath
We’ve done a few proposals here and it’s absolutely stunning - an unusual walk way suspended over a beautiful garden, with a stunning manor house in the background - in the heart of Hampstead Heath. There’s also a bit of cover in case of rain!! You do need to get permission for filming here - there is usually a charge but sometimes this is waived for short proposals.
WHEN TO GO: There are always people strolling through, but on the whole, it’s quite quiet. For less people, visit on a weekday and check the seasonal opening times online. We’d recommend Spring for the beautiful blooms, or Autumn for the stunning backdrop of crimson and gold.
WHERE IS IT?: A bit of a walk from Hampstead station - get a cab if possible and beware of stilettos due to the bit of walking in a park and the steps up to the Pergola!
WHAT’S NEXT?: There are some lovely independent restaurants in the gorgeous, upmarket district of Hampstead. Or get a cab back into the centre to celebrate down in the West End!
4. Victoria Embankment Gardens
As an alternative to the busier Southbank, this oasis right in the city centre has lots of options for lovely backgrounds. There are no restrictions on filming and for very central location, it’s often surprisingly quiet.
WHEN TO GO: There are always people strolling through, but it’s not too bad! For less people, again, visit on a weekday and check the seasonal opening times online. It’s gorgeous in the spring and summer as there are tons of flowers in neat beds all over the place.
WHERE IS IT?: Right next to Embankment station, also close to Charing Cross.
WHAT’S NEXT?: The Savoy is right there if you’d like a fancy meal - if you’re after something more relaxed, we’d highly recommend Gordon’s Wine Bar, a London legendary institution! For somewhere in between, try Roka on the Strand - and Covent Garden is only a 10 minute walk away.
5. Hyde Park
Who doesn’t love Hyde Park? The variety of places to propose here is staggering, the park is absolutely huge… and if you’d like to draw a crowd, this choice is the best bet, as in summer there will be tons of people chilling out in there, who would LOVE to stop and see a proposal! Our favourite spots are the little ‘bridge’ overlooking the Serpentine (as in the video!) or Kensington Gardens which is on the west side of the park. The only thing to consider with this location, is the restrictions - performances aren’t strictly allowed in here (we got lucky with that previous video!) so if hiring our team, it may be better to choose one of the other spots.
WHEN TO GO: It’s very busy in the summertime - and autumn - and most of spring… it’s hard to escape the crowds in this one, so if you’re planning a grand gesture, expect an audience! The atmosphere in summer however can’t be beat.
WHERE IS IT?: Hyde Park Corner or Green Park tubes are the closest.
WHAT’S NEXT?: We’d recommend walking into Mayfair or Notting Hill from the park and trying one of the many gorgeous restaurants there. We’d particularly recommend the beautiful Sheraton Park Lane, for afternoon tea or cocktails in their beautiful lounge space - there is often a harpist, adding to the indulgent atmosphere.
Honourable Mentions:
TOWER BRIDGE: This iconic London site is a proposal mecca! However, we’d advise going for one of the nearby bankside locations where you can view the bridge, rather than proposing on it, where it can’t actually be seen at all. However, some proposal planners can actually get you a spot INSIDE the bridge to propose - that’s pretty cool. We work with The Proposers and The One Romance and would highly recommend.
RICHMOND PARK: It’s a bit outside of Central London but if you are nature-lovers, this expansive park has deer roaming within - it’s always fun to walk around trying to find where they’ve gathered that day.
KYOTO GARDEN IN NOTTING HILL PARK: This tiny, stunning Japanese garden is a really calm and beautiful place, with a waterfall and a little bridge over it - and often has peacocks wandering around! But watch your step - the little bridge has no walls or railing - the last proposal we performed at there, the best friend actually fell in the stream attempting to film it. We are not kidding!
REGENTS PARK: Very near to Camden which is a destination all on it’s own, this gorgeous park has a lake in the middle, and lots of different sections including a beautiful tended garden which is so colourful in the summertime. It also houses London Zoo, so would be a great day out for an animal lover!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our top London locations - if you propose at any out, we’d LOVE to see pictures! Make sure you’re signed up to our free Proposal Club for more ideas and advice, and as always, if you’d like to chat to one our expert team about how we can help create a personalised performance in any of these spots or more, get in touch!