Where to get lucky in love

Valentine's Day, the most traumatic 24 hours of the year for the unattached, is fast approaching. Now a new London guide is offering hope to the lovelorn.

The Itchy London website claims to reveal exactly where to go in the capital to get lucky with the opposite sex.

Singletons make up one in three London households, according to latest figures. So it appears the time is ripe for the guide, which offers tried and tested advice on the pubs, clubs and bars most likely to afford a romantic encounter. Its editor Andrew Wood said: "It seems young, single people in the capital need all the help they can get, as it's probably more difficult to pull in London.

"In smaller places, people are all concentrated together and there are definitely places where you can go to pull.

"In the capital, it's more widespread. It is especially difficult for men because the women in London are more cosmopolitan and discerning."

The guide recommends areas such as Clapham, Fulham and Shoreditch. But for the best chance of success with the opposite sex "you can't beat the West End" said Mr Wood, because "it's a place where there are girls from outside London looking for a good time".

When it comes to venues, the hybrid disco/bar is the best bet, he added. "Its got music, so there's a bit of a party atmosphere, but it also has quiet areas where you can go and do your thing.

The Itchy guide also has advice for people with only a couple of days to see London. It recommends staying at the Metropolitan Hotel, home of the Met Bar, so beloved of celebrities. Covent Garden, Neal Street and Portobello Market are its favoured shopping spots, and it also advises visiting both the London Eye and Tate Modern.

A walk in Hyde Park or Regent's Park should follow, with a meal at Carluccio's, Archipelago or J Sheekey and then drinks at Market Place in the West End.

Finally, for partying long into the night, Itchy suggests clubs such as Fabric, Cargo, 93 Feet East and the Notting Hill Arts Club.

The Itchy Guide - available at www.itchylondon.co.uk - also contains advice on such diverse topics as how to become a stand-up comedian and exercise for those bored with the gym.