Written by Nick Levine

Dating in winter can feel like a trial. When it's cold, wet and dark outside, it just takes more effort to get yourself out of the door and in the mood to be charming with someone you don't really know. With this in mind, here are eight cute winter date ideas that'll make you actually want to do it. Disclaimer: the snood suggestion in item #6 is entirely optional.

1. The park date

Seriously, park dates are great as long as you can block out lockdown memories. Just keep in mind that you're doing laps of a local park with a near-stranger because you want to, not because it's literally the only thing you can do right now. Oh, and remember to wrap up warm so you don't lose the will to live if it's chillier than expected. This is winter, so putting on gloves and a cosy hat for the date is part of the fun.

Because public parks attract anyone and everyone – noisy teenagers, Tai chi practitioners, grimacing joggers – you won't be short of stuff to talk about even if your date begins awkwardly. Plus, the beauty of a park date is it lasts precisely as long as you want it to. Stroll some more or call it quits? The choice is yours.

2. The hot chocolate date

Yes, this is kind of twee and sounds like something out of a Richard Curtis movie. But no, you shouldn't feel ashamed for wanting to go on one – it's been a tough couple of years and we're all craving comfort. Use Yelp to find the best cocoa-making café in your area, make sure your date has a sweet tooth, then get ready to indulge. Go marshmallow or go home, quite frankly.

The only rule of a hot chocolate date: don't post an "adorable" photo of yourself with whipped cream on your nose, because that's a bit too twee.

3. The build a snowman date

And you thought a hot chocolate date sounded twee! Look, all I'm going to say is this: if you're lucky enough to have proper snowfall in your area, and you can find a grown adult who's willing to build a snowman with you in full view of other humans, go for it. An opportunity like this probably won't come around again.

4. The ice skating date

Ice skating on a first date? Bold, very bold. Ice skating on a third or fourth date? Kind of ideal, actually. Because ice skating is something we only tend to do once or twice a year, very few of us are very good at it. This makes it a perfect way to loosen up and show your slightly silly side, something that's a pretty integral part of getting to know someone

Plus, if your date can't laugh at themselves when they fall over, that's a definite red flag – an ice-skating date could save you time in the long run.

5. The mulled wine date

Does mulled wine feel cosier than a regular glass of wine? Of course! Does it make a winter date seem more special? For sure, because mulled wine is seasonal and no one wants to drink it in June. Is it less boozy though? Sadly not, because unless the bar you're visiting has boiled it to oblivion, the mulled wine won't have lost much of its alcohol content. Still, it's hard to sip quickly, so you might find you don't need a second drink after all. The result: a drinks date that is thrifty as well as romantic.

6. The museum date

Obviously, the vast majority of galleries and museums are open all year round, but this date idea just feels better suited to winter. That's partly because almost anyone looks more intelligent in a scarf or snood – actually, wearing a snood screams "Professor on sabbatical" – and partly because you won't feel guilty about padding around indoors when it's tipping it down outside.

Just think carefully about the type of museum you're going to visit. A trip to a museum of erotica, for example, sends out very different signals to spending half a day looking at taxidermy. (There is absolutely nothing sexy about taxidermy, so please don't pick that option.)

7. The baking date

This is another date idea that isn't seasonal per se, but just makes more sense during colder months. It's also another suggestion that probably isn't ideal for a first date – after all, you should always be cautious before welcoming someone into your home. But, if you're starting to feel comfortable with someone, inviting them over to make cookies or flapjacks is a cute way of moving things forward.

It's also a clever way of discovering if a prospective partner is, well, very messy. I once dated a keen cook who made the kitchen look as though it had been burgled every time he rustled up a risotto; so trust me when I say you'll want to know this sooner rather than later.

Oh, and don't make banana bread, because it'll just remind you of spring 2020 – a time no one wants to revisit.

8. The indoor climbing date

There are people out there who will happily agree to a HIIT class date – I know because I've done it, and I can still remember my own sweat patches giving me the ick. But, if you like the idea of an active date that isn't quite so intense, why not hit up your local climbing wall?

Climbing isn't easy, but it relies on coordination and planning your next move, not just strength and athleticism, so it rewards people with different skill sets. Also, it's worth pointing out that a climbing date may prove to be cost-effective in the long run. If you and your date don't get on, you'll at least have a climbing selfie to show for it. And as anyone who uses dating apps knows, a climbing selfie makes an absolutely fire profile pic.