What are some good casual date alternatives to 'going for a drink'?

Coffee shops or a nice local cafe.

Art galleries (usually free, generally some sort of café as well), museums (same deal), give lots to talk about as well.

For our first date, my husband took me to the zoo. It was a really fun day out, and there’s a lot to talk about so conversation is flowing easier. Would definitely say that, museums, maybe a pier if the weather is nice, other sort of day trips that that are really good for a first date.

The imperial war museum. You will find out if she’s a nazi. 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=PiLVAz-Jczg&pp=ygUQUGVycCBzaG93IHJhY2lzdA%3D%3D

All these thick cunts saying go for a coffee

OP clearly states they no longer drink, FFS

Go to a good market if there’s one near you, get a coffee or something and peruse. Or even a museum is good because it gives you something to talk about together

If you've got any sort of mini golf near you then I hear that is quite fun.

Dogging hot-spot

Garden Center. Pick out the ugliest statue and say “that’s you”

Our first date was feeding peas to ducks, followed by ice cream and a coffee. It was the best date I've ever been on!

Board game cafes seem to be popping up everywhere, obviously not for everyone but it’s something different. And there’s often cake available as well.

When the weather is good, picnic in the park is a winner.

When the weather is not so good, something like indoor mini golf or anything activity based will be a fun time as others have said. Depends what you have around your area, I've taken girls ice skating, bowling, to an arcade, rock climbing, bunch of different early date ideas. Whenever I asked girls on dates, I always just proposed what I wanted to do anyway so even if the date was a flop at least I got to do the thing I wanted to do.

Am wifed up now so sadly no more first dates. Now my dating life is shaped by whatever she's seen on TikTok recently...

"Do you like owls?"

I’m took my girlfriend to an air rifle range for a first date, we’ve been together 3 years now

Crazy golf, laser tag, afternoon tea, picnic in a park, trampoline park, board games at a cafe/park/wherever, rock climbing, roller (or ice) skating, immersive/interactive theatre, food/music/lit festivals, watching live sport, art gallery, funfair or amusement park

Could you not just go for a coffee instead?

Bowling 

Go for a walk.

Depending on the type of person you're talking to, a museum can be a great choice

Walk , It's lovely and warm out, can stop for an ice cream.

Once I asked a girl out and took her to the zoo because I honestly just wanted to go and thought it would be strange if I turned up alone. She loved it.

[Not OP] During the week, coffee and museums tend not to be an option in the evening after work, and all the other options (dinner, mini golf, laser tag, etc) can be pretty expensive. Anyone got suggestions for non-spenny weeknight activities?

Coffee is pretty much what you're looking for.

Coffee date, mini golf, walk in the park, visit a museum, etc.. Plenty of options.

Now the weather is nicer maybe a picnic? Although that might be more of a second or third date kind of thing.

I am super-duper-single though, so what do I know?

Street food market, picnic, board games cafe, museum?

I'd do something simple like go for a coffee or visit a local attraction (and go to their tea room if they have one!)

I'm not a social drinker at all, so I wouldn't want to go for a drink, but also feel a full sit down meal would be too much if the date isn't working out very well l, as you're both stuck til it's over. At least with visiting a site, you can speed up/slow down depending on how well it's going etc.

Edit: I know not everyone likes hot drinks either so it's a bit of a task sometimes 😁 Even just a nice ice cream or a chippy on a bench on a nice afternoon is amazing.

Go for a walk together somewhere nice. It's great because you don't feel like you have to fill the awkwards silences and it can be as long or short as you like

A National trust property

I used to love going to the fairground for a first date 😂 married now though

Mini golf, bowling, coffee and a walk through the local park

Walk, with a stop at a cafe maybe! Get to see nature, nice views and less pressure - and if there is no vibe or whatnot - you’ve still had a nice day out!

If the weather is nice, a picnic is a good option. It doesn't have to be fancy, just things easy to eat with your fingers like a sandwich, piece of chicken, bite-sized pork pies, cherry tomatoes, grapes, whatever takes your fancy.

Definitely a walk somewhere pretty with a stop at a cafe or an ice cream along the way

I used to like a coffee for a first date, can get a chat without drink, and can hear each other

My husband took me to feed the ducks and ice cream. It was lovely!

I hunt the poor. Good wholesome entertainment for one or one hundred.

You can still go for a drink and enjoy a soft drink. I don’t drink and I can enjoy a coffee or soft drink somewhere nice.

For me the best option is to go for a coffee or a tea. Try to do a bit of research and go for an independent coffee / tea shop, not one of the big sterile chains. I find that the independent places are a happy medium between a quick drink and a meal. You can always start off with just a coffee and then if the date goes well ask if they want another one, maybe with some cake or a pudding. That’s almost like going out for a meal and it isn’t embarrassingly expensive like a restaurant would be.

If you want to be really clever plan also for after, a walk, a museum, a stroll around town. Much more personal than a movie or a concert. I always find those a bit awkward if the film isn’t your kind or you don’t like the band.

A coffee shop, go and see a movie of sorts, we have a theatre near where I live and there is always pantomimes there, go for a picnic in the park.

Go karting and have a great time even if they don't want a second date after. In fact you'll probably completely forget you were on a date. Excellent.

My partner and I met for coffee and cake on our first date, he told me about parakeets in the local park (I was so excited by this that tbh even if I wasn’t sure about seeing him again I was gonna go), so that was our second date, followed by a game of dobble in another park. It was perfect for us and we won each other over!

Crazy/mini golf, or fruit picking of some kind.

I bet mushroom picking is a good shout too.

We went to a museum for our first date, he was interested in military history and I was just generally fascinated by the intercepting of enemy comms and intelligence gathering. It was a novel idea but it was a nice way to share in something we both found interesting. That was nearly 5 years ago and we are engaged now 🥰

You can't beat a good wax museum. Give her the option of skipping the chamber of horrors.

Frolick in a field 🔥😤

Cornetto in the park

stealing the Declaration of Independence

I did mini golf. I find something light hearted and that little bit competitive helps cut that awkwardness and you’re not sort of sat around trying to find things to say.

Arcade! If there's one near you anyway.

I think bowling can be pretty fun! :>

I live by the beach so a beach walk was always my go to!

But a nice walk and coffee is good it breaks the ice 😊

Had a date recently at 39, we went to a cafe and had a bite, then as we're both nerds, went to Warhammer/Dungeons and Dragons shop!

Another idea is a "Paint your own ceramics" cafe! No alcohol involved and you can both look like you know what you are doing and eating cake!

Me and the girl I've just started dating went bowling and then the arcade then for a little picnic. It was awesome and also super cute best first date I've had.

Get this... You can go to a bar without having an alcoholic drink.

Come on man, you can't have reached 25 and seriously have no idea about non-bar date alternatives?

I've been there and I don't like to drink much anymore either.

I like a dip in the ocean/harbour (I'm a lurker who lives in Copenhagen), walk and talks (somewhere public, first dates in a forest can seem a bit off) and my favourite is watching the sunset on a nice bench with a view (it's less intimidating sitting next to each other than opposite one another), you could also bring a cuppa in a thermal flask as well as snacks.

perfect first date for me would be someone like crazy golf, playing pool or going bowling or going to a farmers market. I’ve been on a few dates and the worst ones are going to a pub I’m my opinion. Last pub date I went on, the guy got a bit too drunk made inappropriate comments and kept trying to kiss me when I said no. In the end my friends got me and got me to the taxi rank.

LaserQuest

Somewhere where you can chat and feel comfortable.

Coffee shops or a cafe - they can still have a drink if they want but you also have options.

Or meet at a coffee/ice cream stand in a park or in town and take a walk or sit on a bench.

Totally depends on where you are but there's a ton of alternatives. Meet during the day for a picnic in a park. There's a really nice cafe and bar in Battersea park that happens to also own epic crazy golf course. Loads of fun :) Walk along the Thames or take a canal boat trip from Camden town to Paddington basin. Go to Borough market for a food tour. There's loads of outdoor cinemas in London at this time of year...

Coffee then a stroll, keep it short. If they're not wanting to stroll you have a quick answer.

Ice Cream/milkshakes... Can't go wrong with a little cafe like that.

Coffee and walk around a country park.

Kew gardens is great if you're in or around London

A nice walk around a local National trust? Lovely!

A park for a walk and maybe get a coffee there if there is a coffee shop, or an ice cream?

The beauty is this can take as long as you want, want it to last all day- it can!

Decide this person isn’t for you, a quick lap round the lake and you can make your excuses!

My friend took his ex girlfriend mini golfing on their first date, they had a blast!