Take an unplanned road trip
Nothing says spontaneity quite like taking an unplanned road trip. Gather your friends, hop in the car and turn on the music as you soak up the freedom of the open road. If you’re not one for driving without a destination, flipping a coin to determine your direction can add an extra layer of fun to the trip. The most important thing is to enjoy not having to be somewhere at a certain time.
Go bungee jumping
When it comes to spontaneous things to do, bungee jumping has been top of the list for decades. And the great thing is the activity has really evolved over the years; thrill-seekers can now jump with a bungee rope attached to their ankle from a myriad of launch points, including the likes of bridges, cliffs and towers. Double points for this one if you’re scared of heights and decide to go bungee jumping anyway.
Skydive
With skydiving, people are either completely terrified at the thought or they’re all in and super pumped. It seems there’s no middle ground, which is where spontaneity offers a harmonious balance. For people who are terrified, they can just do it without thinking, and for those who are so up for it, why wait? Few things in life offer as much pleasure as seeing what the world looks like from a bird’s eye view, and skydiving will definitely allow you to soak up the best vantage points…after free-falling for a heart-racing minute or two of course.
Go stargazing
Spontaneous things to do with your boyfriend or girlfriend don’t get much more romantic than stargazing. Relatively low-effort, grab a blanket, some snacks and head out to a spot you know will showcase the best of the constellations. There’s plenty of downloadable resources online too to help you navigate the night sky.
Dive with sharks
Best done off-the-cuff seeing as if you think too much about this one, you’ll probably talk yourself out of it. Forget everything you thought you knew about diving with sharks only occurring in international waters. The UK is home to an array of aquariums, who offer shark diving experiences. Going against everything we’ve pretty much been told about avoiding sharks, experienced instructors will train you before getting you face-to-face with one of the marine world’s most feared creatures.
Jump in a lake
Location and weather dependent (unless you’re feeling really daring and the cold doesn’t bother you), one of the most free-spirited adventures is jumping into a lake. Be it in a swimsuit or fully clothed, it’s an activity guaranteed to leave you feeling like you can do anything.
Go out for dinner
You know when you’re standing there, looking at your fridge and feeling wildly uninspired for what to make for dinner? That’s the perfect time to just take yourself out for dinner. Try a new restaurant you’ve always wanted to dine at, see if a Michelin Star eatery is worth the accolade, or sample a new cuisine - anything that’s not your normal go-to.
Hit the trails
The best kind of outdoor therapy is just jumping in your car and heading off on a hike, destination unknown. Luckily, the majority of hiking trails will give you a quick map and distances, so you don’t end up in the middle of nowhere but the concept of being free-spirited remains. Above all, have a great time and just take advantage of nature’s spectacular beauty and the (hopefully) good weather.
Go on a bike ride
The wind in your hair, the feeling of freedom and absorbing the sun’s rays: riding a bike is the epitome of spontaneity. Requiring very little planning (provided you have a bike), hop on your bike and just hit the road. Enjoy the views that you can’t get when driving and visit all the local attractions you never make the time to see.
Go on a weekend away
Sometimes the amount of planning that goes into a holiday can really take away the significance of it, which is what makes unexpected weekend getaways even better. Whether you are feeling bold and want to travel abroad, or just keep things in the country and head out on a staycation, you’ll never regret a weekend away.
Mix up the way you order at a restaurant
Restaurants surprisingly offer a myriad of different ways to be spontaneous. It’s all about making the most of the menu - if you’re stuck deciding between two dishes, get the waiter to choose for you, or even go in blank canvas style and let the waiters surprise you with the whole meal.
Buy flowers for yourself
Flip the script and don’t sit around waiting for someone else to buy you flowers. Take yourself to the nearest florist and energise your day by picking up a fresh bunch of flowers. It automatically incites joy and other feel-good emotions, alleviates stress and brightens up any room.
Go forest bathing
Good news, forest bathing is another one of those activities that requires very little planning and can just be done as a spur of the moment thing. Head to your nearest forest or book yourself onto a session led by the experts and experience the healing powers of Shinrin Yoku. Proving to be an antidote for anxiety, these Japanese-influenced guided meditations and meditative practises are transformative.
Book a flight somewhere
When the wanderlust randomly hits, there’s really only one thing for it - book a spontaneous flight. If you can afford to be this spontaneous, why not go for it? Pick a location you’ve always wanted to, book your accommodation and you’ve got yourself the perfect unplanned holiday. Who knows, by tomorrow you could be living it up on a beach.
Print photos
Spontaneous things to do with your boyfriend or girlfriend don’t get much cuter than printing out photos. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through your camera roll and doting on the memories created in those snapshots, print them out and hang them up to add some welcome décor.
Have a water balloon fight
If the weather’s glorious and you’re looking for a fun way to cool down, channel your inner children and enjoy a water balloon fight. Turn it into a real competition by creating barriers and an obstacle course or just let loose.
See a West End show
Theatre fans, this one’s for you. If you wake up one morning and think “I’d love to see a West End show today”, it’s actually possible. All you have to do is visit the TKTS Booth in the heart of Leicester Square, which offers half-price and discounted theatre tickets on the day of the show and voila.
Do something you’re scared of
Best done spontaneously so you don’t work yourself up, do something you’re scared of. Watch a horror movie featuring your worst nightmare, go on a rollercoaster, hold a spider - whatever your fear is, face it and you’re guaranteed to feel incredible knowing you can overcome it.
Paint
Everyone has an inner artist to surface. Grab a paintbrush, canvas and create whatever comes to mind. You don’t have to be talented to reap the benefits of this one and if you’re not one for sitting down, grab some paint and just throw it at the canvas.
Go to the zoo
Zoos make for the perfect spontaneous things to do with your boyfriend or girlfriend. If you wake up this morning and fancy a day out with a difference, the UK is home to an array of zoos, housing a wide span of animal residents. Spend the day admiring all the animals, immerse yourselves in all the attractions and make the most of being outdoors.
Host your own whisky tasting
If you’re sitting there at home one evening wondering what to do, run your own whisky tasting. Head to the supermarket, buy a selection of whiskies and try to build a flavour profile as you experience the distinctive qualities of each. There’s plenty of information online you’ll be able to find out about the distillation techniques. Alternatively, several brands offer you the chance to run your own tasting in your home. If whisky isn’t your cup of tea, you can go for wine, beer or any other spirit.
Go to the beach
The best beach trips? The unplanned ones of course. The important thing is to have no reservations and just pick a beach, pack a bag full of beach appropriate snacks and head out. Catch up on the book you’ve been meaning to get around to finishing, spend some quality time with loved ones and just chill out by the waves.
Catch a train to somewhere random
The concept for this one is quite simple - hail a taxi to the train station, buy a ticket for somewhere random and just have an adventure. There are some great places in Britain that we may not otherwise visit if it wasn’t a by-chance encounter. Spend the day exploring all the hidden gems of your location or even turn it into a mini-getaway.
Watch the sunrise
Sure, waking up to watch the sunrise requires waking up a lot earlier than most people like but it’s a low-effort romantic and spontaneous thing to do with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Set the alarm early or wake up naturally and watch the world as it slowly comes to life together.
Break something
When it comes to pent-up anger, the best way to release it is to break something. Throw a plate against the wall, book yourself in a rage room, do whatever you want - the emotional offload you’ll feel is truly unmatched.
