First Date Tips: What to Wear, Where to Go and What to Say

The best first date tips are simple: plan somewhere easy and comfortable, arrive on time, dress a notch smarter than you need to, listen more than you talk, put your phone away and end the evening graciously. A first date is a chance to enjoy someone’s company and see whether you’d like more of it. Treat it that way, rather than as an interview, and most of the pressure disappears.

Here’s a fuller guide, with practical advice on planning, what to wear on a date, conversation and manners, plus some first date ideas in London.

Planning the date

Take the planning off her hands. Suggest a specific place and time, ideally somewhere you already know, so you’re not hunting for the entrance. Keep a first date reasonably short and flexible: drinks that can turn into dinner work better than a long dinner that can’t turn into anything shorter.

• Pick a place where you can talk. Avoid loud bars, cinemas and anywhere you’ll be shouting over music.
• Think about travel. Somewhere central and easy for both of you is considerate.
• Book a table. It shows forethought and saves an awkward wait at the bar.
• Have a second option. Know a good bar nearby in case the evening goes well.

First date ideas in London

London is generous to daters. A few ideas that rarely fail:

• Cocktails. A dim, intimate speakeasy bar or a rooftop bar with a view across the city gives you instant atmosphere.
• Afternoon tea. Elegant and unhurried, and lovely in the daytime. Our guide to afternoon tea in London lists favourites.
• A gallery and a walk. A late opening at a museum or gallery, followed by a stroll along the river, gives you plenty to talk about.
• Dinner somewhere romantic. Best once you’re fairly sure you’ll get on. See romantic restaurants in London.

For more inspiration, our guide to date night ideas in London has plenty.

What to wear on a date

Aim for one notch smarter than the setting. You want to look as though you’ve made an effort, without looking as though you’re on your way to a wedding.

• Fit matters more than price. A well-fitting shirt and trousers beat an expensive suit that’s too big.
• Smart casual suits most places. Dark jeans or chinos, a crisp shirt or fine knit and a good jacket cover almost every London bar and restaurant. Add a blazer for somewhere smarter.
• Shoes get noticed. Clean leather shoes or smart minimal trainers, never scuffed.
• Grooming is half of it. A fresh haircut or tidy beard, clean nails and fresh breath.
• Go light on fragrance. One or two sprays. She should notice it when you’re close, not from across the table.
• Dress for comfort. If you’re tugging at a collar all night, it shows.

Before you go: a quick checklist

• Table booked and confirmed, with the address sent to her.
• Route planned, leaving ten minutes spare.
• Phone charged, and a card and a little cash in your pocket.
• Shirt pressed, shoes cleaned, nails trimmed.
• Something light to eat earlier, so you’re not drinking on an empty stomach.

Handling first date nerves

Almost everyone is nervous before a first date, including the person you’re meeting. A few minutes of slow breathing on the way there, arriving a little early to settle in, and reminding yourself that the aim is simply to enjoy an evening all help. If there’s a lull in conversation, don’t panic; a comfortable pause is fine, and a question about something she mentioned earlier will usually get things moving again. Nerves tend to fade once you’re both laughing.

Conversation: what to talk about

Ask open questions about things she enjoys, such as travel, food, the parts of her work she likes, what she’s reading or how she spends a free Sunday. Follow up on the answers. Share things about yourself too, so it doesn’t feel like an interview, and keep the tone fairly light. Long stories about exes, complaints about work and heavy politics are best saved for later dates, if ever.

A little playfulness helps. Our guide on how to flirt covers reading the signals and keeping things warm and respectful, and intimacy and connection explains why genuine attention matters so much.

First date manners

• Be on time. If you’re running late, message ahead.
• Put your phone away. Face down on the table still says you’re half elsewhere.
• Be kind to staff. It’s always noticed.
• Drink moderately. Relaxed is good; tipsy is not.
• Offer to pay. Offer graciously, and accept gracefully if she’d rather split it.
• Respect her pace. Follow her lead on how the evening develops, and never assume anything.

Ending the date well

If it went well, say so simply: “I’ve had a lovely evening, and I’d like to do this again.” Make sure she gets home safely, whether that means walking her to a taxi or checking she’s back. If it didn’t click, be warm and honest rather than vague. A gracious goodbye is the last impression you leave.

First date tips for a dinner date with an escort

Some clients prefer the pleasure of a dinner date without the uncertainty of a first meeting, and book a companion for the evening. A dinner date with us usually lasts around three hours and costs about £800, and it’s best arranged a day or two ahead. Much of the advice above still applies: dress well, choose a good restaurant, be on time and treat her as you would any date. A few things differ. Settle her rate discreetly at the start, usually in cash, and respect that the evening has a set length. Our guides to escort etiquette and dinner dates and overnights explain the details.

Ladies who list the girlfriend experience make natural dinner escorts. Rates are for time and escortship; anything else is a private matter between consenting adults, and she can decline anything she isn’t comfortable with. Browse London escorts, then call or WhatsApp from the booking page to arrange your evening.