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Home / Dating London

Dating London: The pool is huge, but so is the competition

Around 985,800 singles live in London, among about 9,000,000 people. That sounds like easy mode until you realise everyone else has a packed diary, a long commute, and one eye on the last Tube home. If you want dates here, you need good timing and a decent plan.
985,800singles in London
What are you looking for in London?

Beyond the usual Tinder, Bumble & Hinge, why don't you try:

adultfriendfinder-logo-resize-eng Adultfriendfinder ★★★★★ i8 AdultFriendFinder caters to an adult audience and has content to satisfy all of your sexual fantasies. For casual datingFor open relationships & swinging Try Adultfriendfinder for free Review ~537,700 members in London 123,700 ♀ · 414,000 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████22%
25-34██████████25%
35-44██████████19%
45-54██████████15%
55-64██████████11%
65+██████████8%

Key facts

Casual datingHookupsSwingersErotic adventures
Pricing: Average
Share of women: 23%

AdultFriendFinder's strength is in its vast membership base all over the globe. If you are someone looking for casual fun, this site might work well for you. Check it out now.

OurTime Logo Ourtime ★★★★★ i8 If you're single and over 50, it might be your time to rekindle that dating spirit with Ourtime. For serious dating Try Ourtime for free Review ~300,000 members in London 120,000 ♀ · 180,000 ♂

Age distribution

45-54██████████60%
55-64██████████20%
65+██████████20%

Key facts

Serious relationshipFind love
Pricing: Average
Share of women: 40%

Ourtime is an exceptionally great platform that you can use to socialise and find love if you are single and over 50. Its concentrated member base and fun features will surely help you find whatever it is you are looking for, whether it be a friend or a partn…

Secret Benefits Logo Secret Benefits ★★★★★ i8 Secret Benefits claims that they have millions of generous mature men and attractive women. Is this true? Let's find out! For serious datingFor casual datingFor fun & flirting Try Secret Benefits for free Review ~85,100 members in London 21,300 ♀ · 63,800 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████11%
25-34██████████26%
35-44██████████22%
45-54██████████20%
55-64██████████16%
65+██████████5%

Key facts

Serious relationshipFlirtingCasual dating
Pricing: Average
Share of women: 25%

Secret Benefits gives both the Sugar Baby and the Sugar Daddy a simple and straightforward platform to find and arrange dates. Thus, if you are into sugar dating, and would like to experience this fast and no-fuss service, try the site today!

mytransgenderdate-logo MyTransgenderDate ★★★★★ i6 Can you find love on MyTransgenderDate? Know more about the website here! For serious dating Try MyTransgenderDate for free Review ~13,300 members in London 4,920 ♀ · 8,380 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████22%
25-34██████████27%
35-44██████████18%
45-54██████████14%
55-64██████████11%
65+██████████8%

Key facts

Serious relationshipFind love
Pricing: Average
Share of women: 37%

MyTransgenderDate is a safe dating place for transgender women who are looking for meaningful connections with like-minded individuals. Although the site doesn't have many features, MyTransgenderDate still works well.

logo Ashley Madison ★★★★★ i8 Ashley Madison is a dating platform focused on discreet connections and privacy. For casual datingFor fun & flirting Try Ashley Madison for free Review ~74,900 members in London 22,500 ♀ · 52,400 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████18%
25-34██████████30%
35-44██████████21%
45-54██████████15%
55-64██████████10%
65+██████████6%

Key facts

FlirtingAffairsHookups
Pricing: High
Share of women: 30%

Ashley Madison creates a dating environment for people exploring discreet connections on their own terms. If you want to meet like-minded individuals who value privacy and personal choice, this might be the platform for you. Join Ashley Madison today to exper…

WooPlus Logo WooPlus ★★★★★ i3 Socialise and date with plus-sized singles at WooPlus. For serious datingFor fun & flirtingAffordable Try WooPlus for free Review ~74,100 members in London 29,600 ♀ · 44,500 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████27%
25-34██████████28%
35-44██████████17%
45-54██████████13%
55-64██████████9%
65+██████████6%

Key facts

FlirtingSerious relationshipFriendship
Pricing: Cheap
Share of women: 40%

WooPlus proves to be a viable place for plus-size women and men's romantic partners. Most users of the site are not afraid to show off their curves. It is highly recommended for plus-sized singles to experience using WooPlus.

logo SDC ★★★★★ i8 Is SDC the perfect swingers date club that can satisfy your most intense desires? Or is it just another money-profiteering dating platform? Check our review and find out everything you need to know about SDC! For casual datingFor open relationships & swinging Try SDC for free Review ~25,200 members in London 8,320 ♀ · 16,900 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████16%
25-34██████████24%
35-44██████████19%
45-54██████████17%
55-64██████████14%
65+██████████10%

Key facts

SwingersErotic adventures
Pricing: High
Share of women: 33%

If you're a swinger looking for real fun and excitement, then SDC might be the home for you. It's more than that as it offers parties, events, travels, and other exhilarating features. This home for swingers actually values your privacy. Want to try out the l…

Eharmony Logo eharmony ★★★★★ i4 If you're looking for long-term relationships that might eventually lead to marriage, then eharmony might be the site for you. For serious dating Try eharmony for free Review ~89,900 members in London 47,600 ♀ · 42,300 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████19%
25-34██████████26%
35-44██████████21%
45-54██████████16%
55-64██████████12%
65+██████████6%

Key facts

Serious relationshipFind love
Pricing: Average
Share of women: 53%

eharmony is a matchmaking site for singles who are looking for serious commitments. It provides an in-depth knowledge of your match through the required personality and character tests. If you are looking for a long-term relationship and would want to settle …

match logo Match ★★★★★ i3 As one of the oldest dating sites available today, was Match.com able to adapt to the latest trends and needs of the present generation? For serious dating Try winner for free Review ~117,000 members in London 46,800 ♀ · 70,200 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████15%
25-34██████████25%
35-44██████████20%
45-54██████████20%
55-64██████████13%
65+██████████7%

Key facts

Serious relationship
Pricing: Average
Share of women: 40%

With a track record of 20+ years, Match is indeed a perfect platform for singles seeking love and relationships. Since the website has a large user base and many special features, it ensures higher chances of finding the perfect match. 

C-Date Logo C-Date ★★★★★ i8 Sign up on C-Date to meet adventurous and open-minded singles who are up for casual dating. Enjoy dates of pure fun without pressure. For casual datingFor fun & flirting Try C-Date for free Review ~74,600 members in London 29,800 ♀ · 44,800 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████20%
25-34██████████33%
35-44██████████22%
45-54██████████13%
55-64██████████8%
65+██████████4%

Key facts

Casual datingHookupsErotic adventuresFlirting
Pricing: High
Share of women: 40%

C-Date is for individuals who are seeking casual sexual encounters. As free members, male users can enjoy a limited function of the dating site. Paying a premium lets you mingle with like-minded members who are up for the same kind of adventure.

lpgo Illicit Encounters ★★★★★ i6 Matching married individuals together for over 15 years, Illicit Encounters is UK’s leading married-dating website. For casual dating Try Illicit Encounters for free Review ~210,000 members in London 105,000 ♀ · 105,000 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████13%
25-34██████████27%
35-44██████████22%
45-54██████████17%
55-64██████████12%
65+██████████9%

Key facts

AffairsHookups
Pricing: Very high
Share of women: 50%

Overall, Illicit Encounters provides a safe and reliable dating service for married and attached people. If you are into this kind of game, then maybe Illicit Encounters is one of the sites that is probably worth your money.

TSDates Logo TSDates ★★★★★ i5 TSDates is an online dating platform mainly for transvestites (TV), transsexuals (TS), and transgenders (TG) looking for some exciting casual affairs and sexual entertainment. For casual dating Try TSDates for free Review ~320 members in London 80 ♀ · 240 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████18%
25-34██████████22%
35-44██████████19%
45-54██████████16%
55-64██████████15%
65+██████████10%

Key facts

Erotic adventuresHookupsCasual dating
Pricing: Average
Share of women: 25%

TSDates is not just a dating platform where you can find casual dates or real relationships. It's not just a good place to find sources for adult sites or a home for those who want to take their sexual experiences to new heights. Try TSDates now to experience…

Victoria Milan Logo Victoria Milan ★★★★★ i7 Is Victoria Milan dating a match for your desire or a pit for your card? Let’s find out. For casual dating Try Victoria Milan for free Review ~22,100 members in London 8,840 ♀ · 13,300 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████19%
25-34██████████30%
35-44██████████21%
45-54██████████14%
55-64██████████10%
65+██████████6%

Key facts

Casual datingAffairsHookups
Pricing: High
Share of women: 40%

If you are a married or an attached individual seeking to spice up his or her sexual game by engaging in an affair, then Victoria Milan might be the safest site to sign up to.

passion logo Passion.com ★★★★★ i3 Passion.com promises hot dates and steamy encounters for sensual singles all over the world with its interactive and fun features. For casual dating Try Passion.com for free Review ~524,000 members in London 131,000 ♀ · 393,000 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████20%
25-34██████████24%
35-44██████████18%
45-54██████████15%
55-64██████████13%
65+██████████10%

Key facts

Casual datingHookups
Pricing: High
Share of women: 25%

Passion.com is an interesting adult site with the plethora of features it offers to its users to make sure that their Passion experience is unlike any other. Granted, there is limited usability for free accounts. However, to apply the glass half-empty or half…

Logo iDates ★★★★★ i5 Search for love connections, no matter how near or far at iDates! For casual datingFor fun & flirting Try iDates for free Review ~48,000 members in London 13,000 ♀ · 35,000 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████20%
25-34██████████23%
35-44██████████17%
45-54██████████16%
55-64██████████13%
65+██████████11%

Key facts

Casual datingFlirtingHookups
Pricing: Average
Share of women: 27%

iDates was created to appeal to both men and women generally between ages 20 and 35 who are fond of meeting new people. You can flirt, and use the entertainment factors on the app with matching functions. iDates is best used for casual dating and hook-ups.

Logo Fling ★★★★★ i3 Find flings and casual dates, whatever your orientation and preference might be, at Fling. For casual dating Try Fling for free Review ~12,800 members in London 3,840 ♀ · 8,960 ♂

Age distribution

18-24██████████23%
25-34██████████30%
35-44██████████20%
45-54██████████14%
55-64██████████9%
65+██████████4%

Key facts

Hookups
Pricing: High
Share of women: 30%

The site is so confident that it'll find a hookup or fling for you that it even guarantees a hook up in 3 months, or else you'll get 3 more months for free. If this dating site interests you, sign up for free today!

Why London dating feels different

London is big enough that your dating life can split by postcode. A Friday in Shoreditch feels nothing like a weekday drink in Clapham, and half the battle is simply getting across town without losing the mood. People do meet for spontaneous drinks, but plenty of Londoners would rather keep it simple and pick somewhere near work, the station, or the part of town they already know.

That is why apps matter here. In a city this spread out, the best platform is often the one that gets you talking to the right people quickly, without turning every match into a logistics puzzle. If you want serious intent, try Parship and read our Parship review. For over 50s, Ourtime fits London well because it cuts past the noisy, throwaway side of the market. And if discretion matters, Ashley Madison is the obvious short-term option, with our Ashley Madison review if you want the details first.

Where people actually meet

The centre still does a lot of the heavy lifting. Soho, Covent Garden, and South Bank are classic first date territory because they give you easy exits if the chemistry is flat. In the east, Hackney and Shoreditch pull in a younger crowd that is happy to turn one drink into a longer night. South of the river, places like Brixton and Clapham keep things more local and a bit less polished, which suits plenty of people just fine.

London also has a strong after work dating rhythm. People squeeze dates between the office and the train, so a place near a station often beats a perfect venue on the wrong side of town. That is not romantic, exactly. It is practical, and in London practical wins a lot.

Best apps and sites for London

  • Parship for people who want something serious and do not want to waste time on endless small talk. Try Parship for free Read the review.
  • Ourtime for over 50s who want a clearer, calmer dating pool in a city that never slows down. Read the Ourtime review.
  • Ashley Madison for discreet connections when privacy matters more than public profiles. Visit Ashley Madison Read the review.

How Londoners date

London dating is efficient until it is not. People are open to meeting, but they are also tired, busy, and mildly suspicious of anything that sounds like a time sink. If you suggest a place that is easy to reach and easy to leave, you are already ahead of most matches. That is why the city rewards confidence without theatrics.

For casual dating, London has a deep enough pool that you can be selective. For serious relationships, the size helps, but the pace can chew up anyone who turns every match into a project. Pick a lane. Then stick to it for more than one evening.

Top 10 First-Date Ideas in London

  1. South Bank: River views, space to walk, and enough things around you to keep the chat moving without pressure.
  2. Covent Garden: Busy but easygoing, with plenty of places to sit down if the date is going well.
  3. Soho: Best when you want energy and choice, not a stiff formal plan.
  4. Tate Modern: Gives you something to talk about straight away, and you can leave whenever the mood says so.
  5. Regent's Park: Good for a daytime date when you want a calmer setting than the centre streets.
  6. Borough Market: Food solves awkward silences fast, and the atmosphere does half the work.
  7. Greenwich: Feels like a proper outing without being a full day mission across the city.
  8. Notting Hill: Pretty streets, easy coffee stops, and a relaxed pace for a first meet.
  9. Hyde Park: A simple walk here works well if you want something low-cost and low-pressure.
  10. The South Bank walk to Waterloo: A natural first-date route with exits, drinks, and transport all close by.
Singles in London: view of the city
Singles in London: view of the city
Which dating site fits you in London? Take the quiz →

FAQ

Where do singles meet in London?
Mostly in the central nightlife areas, the bigger residential districts, and anywhere near an easy Tube or rail link. Londoners like convenience more than they admit.
Is London good for serious dating?
Yes, because the pool is huge, but you need a more selective app and a bit of patience. Parship is the best fit if you want to date with intent.
Which part of London is best for first dates?
Soho, Covent Garden, South Bank, Shoreditch, Clapham, and Brixton all work because they are easy to reach and easy to leave if needed.
Is dating in London expensive?
It can be, but it does not have to be. A walk, a coffee, or one drink near a station beats turning every first date into a big night out.
Founder of DatingScout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
Chris founded DatingScout 17 years ago, and today he is one of the leading Online Dating Experts. He is the author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies" and the author of the Internet's largest online dating study analyzing 20 Million Profile Pictures with artificial intelligence. Chris Pleines holds a master degree in media science and appeared in numerous television interviews and publications to give expert advice as well as tips about online dating.

How we calculate these numbers

To estimate roughly how many singles you will find on each portal, we run an elaborate calculation that combines several assumptions. Values from statistics, population figures, the portal's own member numbers and different mathematical distribution methods all feed into this calculation. Please note: our calculated numbers can deviate from the actual regional member counts; that cannot be ruled out. We have optimized the calculation as far as possible so that it produces useful reference values. Deviations can still happen, and we ask for your understanding.