Make my date

First dates are like job interviews - make a good impression or you won't get to the next stage. But for dates, if you really want to stand out, you need to come up with an original location. Here's a few ideas to get you going...

1. Hit the beach

Summer's over, but that's no reason to stay indoors. A bright autumn day at the beach can be the perfect setting for romance. The crowds have gone, so it'll just be you, your date and the odd dog walker. If you live in London, hit the A21 to Camber Sands and take a blanket, a bottle of champagne and some tunes. It's a Blue Flag beach, which means no fag ends, crisp packets or used condoms. Other Blue Flag beaches on the east coast are Bridlington North in Yorkshire and Cromer, Mundesley and Sheringham in Norfolk.

2. Go fly a kite

Guys, get this wrong and you'll look a dweeb. So pick up a minikite - specialist shops such as The Kite Store in Covent Garden, Wind Things in Edinburgh and Kites Aloft in Manchester have a huge selection. Then head to the nearest hill. In London, Primrose Hill, Hampstead Heath and Greenwich park all have fantastic views of the city.

3. Ride the big one

Going to a theme park may seem tacky but it can be a top day out.
Just remember: throwing up is the worst crime in the first date rule-book so don't push yourself too far. Blackpool Pleasure Beach's 145 attractions should keep you both entertained. And Alton Towers in Staffordshire - with rides such as vertical-drop roller coaster Oblivion - is another good bet. Nearer London, Thorpe Park's 77-milean-hour Nemesis Inferno roller coaster is as terrifying as anything. Both Alton Towers and Thorpe Park are holding special events over Halloween.

4. Go to the dogs

Greyhound racing has got cred now: the British Greyhound Racing Board says the crowds are getting younger, and you may even bump into a D-list celeb or sports star at the track. A night at the dogs means you get to eat chips, drink beer, and go home richer than you started. The only risk is she'll think you're an East End barrow boy. Go to www.thedogs.co.uk for a listing of tracks around the country.

5. Get active

An activity is always a good option for a date as it gives you something to focus on. But there are a few golden rules: nothing too competitive, strenuous or ungainly. No girl wants to get splattered in mud or lose her best shoe off the side of a boat. So that leaves, er... mini golf. It's cheap, fun and anyone can do it.

6. If music be the food of love...

It's good to have a cultural option in case your date's into highbrow entertainment. If you're feeling brave, try an opera; but stick to the classics. Madame Butterfly is always a safe bet and is at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden until Nov 4. If opera is a bit heavy, Lastminute.com has good deals on theatre tickets. And if that's too serious, consider a gig or concert. You might not have much of a conversation but, hey, that could be an advantage.

7. Catch a movie

This is dull if not done right - we're not talking a bucket of popcorn at the local Odeon. Choose a venue with style. In London, the gorgeous Electric Cinema in Notting Hill has two leather sofas laid on for couples at £30 a pop. And the films aren't bad either - a good mix of mainstream and arthouse. Outside London, The Showroom in Sheffield or The Cornerhouse in Manchester are good bets.

8. And finally...

If you do go for a bar, don't go for your local. Choose somewhere with a bit of style or a special feature, such as an amazing view. For the latter, you could try the Oxo Tower or the bar at the top of the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, but come armed with lots of cash - the cover charge and drinks at the Hilton are ridiculously expensive.