Cast your mind back to 2010, when the nation was busy flicking their tiny union jacks at the news of Will and Kate’s engagement and Mr Cameron was busy unpacking his 365th navy suit inside number 10. Back then, if you’d enquired about someone’s plans for Galentine’s Day, chances are you would have received a baffled, bemused look.
But what began as a light-hearted, fictitious holiday, conjured up by hit US mockumentary ‘Parks and Recreation’, soon made its way across the pond. Fifteen years on and come February 13th Blighty’s hotels, restaurants and spas throw open their doors to gaggles of gals keen to celebrate female friendship. So far, so American. But it doesn’t have to be a money-grubbing affair fuelled by saccharine sisterhood and cringey cards – put the helium balloons and matching bracelets to one side for a moment and it’s just a bloody good excuse to do something a little bit different with one’s bosom buddy.
But, while Parks and Rec may well have invented this ingenious holiday, they left us high and dry when it comes to what we’re actually meant to be doing or giving (if memory serves me right, their go-to gift was a crochet flower. Enough said).
Thankfully, we’ve a few ideas up our sleeve; from a front row seat at London’s most exciting fashion show to venturing into an orchid-filled Peruvian jungle – no passport necessary. Well, be honest, it’s nothing if not varied!
The Musical: The Devil Wears Prada (main picture)
When it comes to West End shows to enjoy with the girls, what could possibly tick the Galentine’s Day box better than The Devil Wears Prada the musical? Strip away the razzmatazz and eye-wateringly elaborate frocks and you’re left with a relatable story about dreams, emotional hurdles and the importance of friendship. Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (the man behind sell-out shows like Legally Blonde, Kinky Boots, Pretty Woman and Hairspray) and with catchy scores by none other than Sir Elton John, the Hollywood blockbuster’s West End makeover is chockfull of sequins, sass and some stomach-churningly brutal one liners, courtesy of monstre sacré, Anna Wintour… sorry, I mean Miranda Priestly (played by the brilliantly cast, Vanessa Williams of Ugly Betty fame). Tickets range from £25 right up to their ‘Miranda would approve’ seats which can set you back as much as £250. “That’s all”.
The Devil Wears Prada is on at The Dominion Theatre. Tickets start from just £25. For more information or to book, visit www.devilwearspradamusical.com.
The Fashion Show: VOGUE: Inventing the Runway
You don’t need to know your Prada from your Packham to enjoy this larger than life look at the meteoric rise of the fashion show. Tucked away behind King’s Cross’s gastronomic grain yard, Granary Square, Lightroom is where those in the know head for cutting-edge artist-led storytelling. Last year, their subterranean gallery saw visitor’s walk within Hockney’s digitalised paintings and virtually fly to the moon with Tom Hanks.
Vogue at The Lightroom, Jacquemus Spring 2020 (photo by Justin Sutcliffe)
Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, was one of the people sitting awe-struck as Hockney’s works sprung to life, drenching the crowd in colour and sound. As a result, Vogue: Inventing the Runway was born. Delving into the magazine’s epic archives this immersive spectacle features everyone from Balenciaga to Burberry- and yes, you can wear stupidly large sunglasses, just tell them Anna sent you. Vogue: Inventing the Runway is an immersive fashion show at Lightroom with tickets from £25. To book visit www.lightroom.uk.
The Day Out: Kew Gardens Orchid Festival
Escape the winter blues with a Peruvian getaway—no passport necessary. This month, Kew’s spectacular Princess of Wales glasshouse transforms into a flower-filled Peruvian jungle for its 29th annual Orchid Festival. Even on a bog-standard day, the world-famous botanical gardens lay claim to having the most diverse collection of plants and fungi on the planet. But visit its iconic glasshouse this month and you’ll be greeted by 3,000 species of rare orchid. Hiding amidst the cornucopia of kaleidoscopic blooms are whimsical creatures, brought life through sheer flower power – think a floral aviary and orchid bedecked alpacas!
Madagascar Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens
From the lost city of Machu Picchu to the Nazca Lines, Peru’s natural wonders come alive in this lush microcosm, tucked away in wet London – it’s also a great eye-opener into the conservation work that the charity does in this neck of the woods; from forest restoration and climate-adaptive farming to their investment in medicinal plants. Head to their Orchids After Hours sessions to see the display illuminated with authentic Peruvian music, culture and entertainment creating a pollen-heavy, multi-sensory extravaganza. Entry into the orchid festival is included with your Kew Royal Botanical Gardens ticket (although you do need to book a time slot to secure your place). To book visit www.kew.org.
The Premier: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy at Everyman
Remember those halcyon days when a night with the girls meant hurling copious amounts of cushions on to the floor, exploding some popcorn in the microwave and watching tearjerking chick flicks back-to-back? Well, Everyman’s galentine’s screening of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy has given that nostalgic ritual a lavish glow up— you can expect all of the usual emotional angst, but enjoyed from the comfort of a plush velvet sofa (yes, there are cushions) with an ice cream sundae the size of your head – oh, and a glass of perfectly chilled champagne in-hand. Head to their Broadgate, King’s Cross or Stratford International venues and once you’re done watching a preview of the nation’s favourite “verbally incontinent spinster” bumble her way through life, swerving nitwits and neanderthals along the way, you can create your very own dried flower bouquet with the talented florists from Roseur. Creatively challenged? Don’t worry, you won’t be after your Bridget-approved Flirtini cocktail. To quote Miss Cyrus, this year you can buy your own flowers! To book visit www.everymancinema.com.
The Afternoon Tea: The Stafford London
Sprinkled with Michelin stars and royal warrants, St James’s is encircled by not one, not two but three royal parks. Connecting St James’s eponymous park with Hyde Park is leafy Green Park, which was created solely so that King Charles II didn’t have to put his ridiculously regal feet on pesky peasant soil – one can only presume that to the blue blooded, royal soil just feels so much better underfoot. He may have been desperate to keep his tootsies on the posh stuff, but back then there wasn’t a sneaky snicket leading to one of the capital’s fanciest hotels, The Stafford London.
At the centre of this wood-panelled grande dame, hides The Game Bird restaurant, overseen my Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen. Here, girlfriends can hunker down fireside and indulge in one of the capital’s best afternoon teas. If you spot a rodent on your tea-fuelled tower, fear not, it’s a culinary ode to the WWII’s most decorated allied servicewoman and former hotel resident, Nancy Wake (AKA The “White Mouse”) – toasting her heroic escapades is basically your national duty, even Charlie boy would swerve the royal turf for that! Afternoon tea at The Stafford London starts at £70 per person and is served between 12 – 5.30pm daily. For more information or to book, visit www.thestaffordloncon.com.
The Exhibition: Frameless
Enjoying art with a friend doesn’t have to be a serious, silent affair. Thankfully, the hush-hush days of thoughtfully stroking one’s chin whilst awkwardly shuffling from Monet to Michaelangelo is long gone. Today, one can dive head first into the artworks themselves, bound on a multi-sensory journey, accompanied by dramatic lighting, playful pixels and powerful musical scores. Descend the psychedelic escalator at London’s Frameless gallery and you’ll find yourself swept up in Rembrandt’s Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, engulfed by Vesuvius mid-eruption, lost within one of Rousseau’s iconic jungles and dwarfed by Dali’s parading elephants.
Immersive art experiences pop up like whack-a-mole nowadays, but this is the Willy Wonka of arty tickets, giving you access to 42 of the world’s greatest masterpieces as you’ve never seen them before. Opt for a ‘lates’ session and you can experience it with a cocktail in-hand – even better, there will be no pesky kids in the way, so you can skid through the digital confetti at will – well, when else can you virtually deface a Signac? Frameless is an immersive art experience near Marble Arch. For more information or to book visit www.frameless.com.
The Great Escape: St Albans
Fancy a girly escape but no time for a long weekender? If life means you can’t bury yourself in a Cotswold Cottage or head to the coast, olde-worlde St Albans could be just the ticket. Less than half an hour from the capital, the Roman city is all cobbled alleys, ancient ruins and cosy beamed boozers. Head to its majestic cathedral before February 15th and you can catch Luke Jerram’s infamous artwork, the Museum of the Moon. The touring sculpture has sprung up everywhere from Canada to Kaluka over the years, but right now it is dramatically suspended in the cathedral’s nave, for all to see. The beguiling seven metre internally-lit spectacle is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Dan Jones. Entrance is free but donations are very welcome. For more information visit www.stalbanscathedral.org.
The 5* Sleepover: Royal Lancaster London & Their Nibs (main picture)
Remember the excitement of a girly sleepover? A sugar-fuelled, sleep-deprived, fun-filled night of movies, manicures and midnight snacks! Now, one of the capital’s best 5* hotels has teamed up with one of the city’s best-loved pyjama brands, to bring you the ultimate grown up sleepover. The Royal Lancaster London’s ‘Sleepover in the City’ package has everything you need for a giddy galentine’s getaway: complimentary matching pyjamas courtesy of pattern-led pyjama brand Their Nibs, a Temple Spa pamper kit, a nostalgic pick ‘n’ mix sweetie jar and cocktails delivered straight to your room. Plus, you get £25 to spend on food—and yes, pizza room service is completely acceptable. Late night? Fear not, a 3pm check-out also comes as part of the package! If you’re feeling spenny, book the vast Presidential Suite – located on the 18th floor it boasts sweeping views of the London skyline for a sleepover fit for a queen. To book visit www.royallancaster.com.
The Movie Marathon: The Before Trilogy at The Prince of Wales Cinema
The West End’s last surviving indy cinema screens everything from energetic sing-a-long sessions and big budget blockbusters to niche arthouse numbers, but it’s their all-night movie marathons which really sets The Prince Charles Cinema apart. This galentine’s day they’ll be screening all 3 movies from Richard Linklater’s The Before trilogy back-to-back. The romantic roller-coaster of a trilogy chronicles the love between two strangers, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), over two decades. The films are good, but it’s the atmosphere that’s electric here – especially at the moment, with the cinema going head-to-head with its billionaire landlord this gem of a cinema is at risk of closure. So, show it some love this galentine’s day – buy a lifetime membership (just £60) to this funky film house and you can binge their £1 member screenings until your eyes turn square!
The Prince of Wales Cinema will screen The Before Trilogy at 5.30pm on Thursday 13th February 2025. Visit www.princecharlescinema.com.
The Gift: White Rain’s Heart Huggies
It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that this galentine’s guide has been all about making new memories with your nearest and dearest, rather than flittering your cash away on frivolous, flash in the pan gifts. But, if you’re keen to treat your girls, we have just the thing. Affordable, sustainable and lovingly handmade by a small, family-run business, White Rain’s mini heart huggies! It takes the team two weeks to create, fire and paint these beauties, before they are dipped in 24-carat gold and lovingly packaged in their studio in leafy Hertfordshire. They come in a huge array of colours and finishes, but it’s their spotty gold combo which has captured our hearts this galentine’s – and, if you reeeally like them, you can treat them to the matching necklace too. White Rain mini heart huggies are available from www.whiterain.co.uk priced at £33.50.
