Rain against the window. A dark evening. Absolutely no enthusiasm for putting on a coat. There are plenty of reasons to choose an indoor date.
Some of these ideas get you out of the house, and some work without leaving it. Choose around your budget and how much effort you fancy making.
1. Make a film night worth staying in for
Choose a theme, then pick one film each and agree whether you actually have time for both. Old favourites, bad action films or something you've both been meaning to see are good places to start.
Sort the snacks before pressing play. Put your phones out of reach so the film has a fighting chance against the group chat.
2. Try a board game café
Find a café with games you can browse together. Ask for something that works well with two players if you aren't sure where to begin.
Check booking rules and table charges beforehand. Allow enough time to learn and finish a game without trying to squeeze a three-hour strategy epic into your lunch break.
3. Paint pottery together
Pick a mug, plate or other piece and spend an hour or two painting it. You can compare designs as you go, and you'll have something to keep afterwards.
Check the studio's prices and collection arrangements. Pieces may need firing, so don't plan on taking your new breakfast bowl home that day.
4. Make your own tasting evening
Choose a few chocolates, cheeses, crisps or alcohol-free drinks. Hide the labels, taste them one at a time and rank your favourites before revealing what they are.
Keep the selection small enough to enjoy. Check ingredients and dietary needs when shopping, and set a spending limit so a snack date doesn't become your weekly food bill.
5. Visit a museum with a small mission
Choose a museum that interests you both, then each find the strangest object or the thing you'd most like to know more about.
You can spend the whole afternoon there, but you don't have to. One collection and a conversation afterwards can make a good date. Check admission, exhibitions and opening days before setting off.
6. Have a go at an escape room
An escape room gives you a shared problem to solve and a very clear reason to stop checking your phones.
Before booking, confirm that the room works for two people. Check its theme, physical requirements and whether it includes scares. Choose a challenge you're both excited about rather than one person reluctantly enduring.
7. Cook a takeaway favourite at home
Try making the dish you usually order, whether that's pizza, noodles or a curry. Read the recipe first and get the ingredients in before the evening starts.
Share the preparation and the washing-up. If you want an easier version, use a ready-made base or sauce and spend your effort on the parts you'll enjoy making.
8. Go bowling
Bowling gives you something to do between conversations, and being good at it is entirely optional. Decide whether you're playing seriously before someone starts celebrating a single pin.
Check lane availability and the full cost, including any required shoe hire. Pick a quieter session if you'd rather hear each other than the lane next door.
9. Do a small creative project
Get some paper and pencils, try a beginner craft kit or make a collage from old magazines. You could draw each other, design imaginary album covers or make something for your home.
Choose a project you can finish in one sitting. The aim is to spend an enjoyable evening together, with no need to discover a previously hidden artistic talent.
10. Book a matinee or an evening show
Look for a play, comedy performance or concert you both fancy. A matinee can work well if you're trying to avoid a late finish.
Check the running time and total ticket price, then leave room in the plan for food or a drink. Give yourselves something to talk about after the curtain comes down.
Have a rainy day idea ready
Save a couple of indoor options in Unfaff while they come to mind. A plan at home and a place to go out give you something to choose from when the forecast changes.
