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Singles in the UK: huge pool, awkward distances, very different dating scenes
About 7,444,800 singles live in the UK, among roughly 68,000,000 people. That sounds easy until you remember how different dating feels between London, a university city, and a coastal town where everyone knows your mate’s ex. The upside is simple: you’ve got choice. The catch is that the right app depends a lot on how far you’re actually willing to travel for a first drink.
7,444,800singles in United Kingdom
What are you looking for in United Kingdom?
Beyond the usual Tinder, Bumble & Hinge, why don't you try:
Adultfriendfinder
★★★★★
i8
AdultFriendFinder caters to an adult audience and has content to satisfy all of your sexual fantasies.
Try Adultfriendfinder for free
Review
~600,000 members in United Kingdom
138,000 ♀ · 462,000 ♂
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
★★★★★
i8
If you're single and over 50, it might be your time to rekindle that dating spirit with Ourtime.
Try Ourtime for free
Review
~300,000 members in United Kingdom
120,000 ♀ · 180,000 ♂
Age distribution
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
★★★★★
i8
Secret Benefits claims that they have millions of generous mature men and attractive women. Is this true? Let's find out!
Try Secret Benefits for free
Review
~85,100 members in United Kingdom
21,300 ♀ · 63,800 ♂
Age distribution
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
★★★★★
i6
Can you find love on MyTransgenderDate? Know more about the website here!
Try MyTransgenderDate for free
Review
~13,300 members in United Kingdom
4,920 ♀ · 8,380 ♂
Age distribution
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.
Ashley Madison
★★★★★
i8
Ashley Madison is a dating platform focused on discreet connections and privacy.
Try Ashley Madison for free
Review
~74,900 members in United Kingdom
22,500 ♀ · 52,400 ♂
Age distribution
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
★★★★★
i3
Socialise and date with plus-sized singles at WooPlus.
Try WooPlus for free
Review
~74,100 members in United Kingdom
29,600 ♀ · 44,500 ♂
Age distribution
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.
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!
Try SDC for free
Review
~25,200 members in United Kingdom
8,320 ♀ · 16,900 ♂
Age distribution
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
★★★★★
i4
If you're looking for long-term relationships that might eventually lead to marriage, then eharmony might be the site for you.
Try eharmony for free
Review
~89,900 members in United Kingdom
47,600 ♀ · 42,300 ♂
Age distribution
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
★★★★★
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?
Try winner for free
Review
~117,000 members in United Kingdom
46,800 ♀ · 70,200 ♂
Age distribution
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
★★★★★
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.
Try C-Date for free
Review
~74,600 members in United Kingdom
29,800 ♀ · 44,800 ♂
Age distribution
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.
Illicit Encounters
★★★★★
i6
Matching married individuals together for over 15 years, Illicit Encounters is UK’s leading married-dating website.
Try Illicit Encounters for free
Review
~210,000 members in United Kingdom
105,000 ♀ · 105,000 ♂
Age distribution
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
★★★★★
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.
Try TSDates for free
Review
~320 members in United Kingdom
80 ♀ · 240 ♂
Age distribution
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
★★★★★
i7
Is Victoria Milan dating a match for your desire or a pit for your card? Let’s find out.
Try Victoria Milan for free
Review
~22,100 members in United Kingdom
8,840 ♀ · 13,300 ♂
Age distribution
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.com
★★★★★
i3
Passion.com promises hot dates and steamy encounters for sensual singles all over the world with its interactive and fun features.
Try Passion.com for free
Review
~675,000 members in United Kingdom
168,800 ♀ · 506,300 ♂
Age distribution
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…
iDates
★★★★★
i5
Search for love connections, no matter how near or far at iDates!
Try iDates for free
Review
~48,000 members in United Kingdom
13,000 ♀ · 35,000 ♂
Age distribution
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.
Fling
★★★★★
i3
Find flings and casual dates, whatever your orientation and preference might be, at Fling.
Try Fling for free
Review
~12,800 members in United Kingdom
3,840 ♀ · 8,960 ♂
Age distribution
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!
What dating in the UK feels like
The UK is one market on paper and a dozen dating cultures in practice. In London, people bin bad matches quickly because the Tube makes switching plans painless. In Manchester, Leeds and Bristol, the student and young professional crowd keeps things moving. In Scotland, Wales and smaller English towns, the pool can shrink fast once you step outside the main centre.
That is why radius search matters here. A ten mile search in one place is fine. In another, it means you’ve just cut out the only half decent options in the next town. If you live outside a major city, be honest with yourself about travel time before you start swiping.
The sites that fit the UK best
Ourtime suits older singles who want a calmer pace and less app fatigue. It is the cleanest pick if you are over 50 and do not want to waste evenings on people who are treating dating like a hobby.
Ashley Madison is for discreet connections. If privacy matters, this is the sort of site people look at first, not last.
C-Date works for casual dating when you want something direct and do not feel like writing a life story before the first message.
If you are shopping around for adult or very open-minded dating, AdultFriendFinder, [[clickout_link provider_id="1241" text="SDC"], [[clickout_link provider_id="879" text="Victoria Milan"] and [[clickout_link provider_id="1758" text="Illicit Encounters"] each cover a different lane. Read the review first, then decide which kind of evening you actually want.
For people who want to compare mature, casual and discreet options in one go, the reviews matter more than the logo. That is the part worth your time.
Why the UK is tricky, and useful, for dating
Britain is expensive enough that people think twice before crossing town for someone who may be dull in person. That makes profiles matter, but so does location. A decent match in Birmingham or Glasgow can still be easier than a mediocre one in a smaller place two train changes away.
The other quirk is social circles. In bigger cities, you can disappear into the crowd. In smaller ones, you may meet the same faces in the pub, at work, and on the app. Sometimes that is convenient. Sometimes it is a nuisance.
What to do with that
- Use a site that matches your dating goal, not just the biggest name you recognise.
- Set your distance honestly. If you hate long train rides, do not pretend you do not.
- If you are over 50, start with a site built for that age group instead of fighting a younger crowd.
- If discretion matters, choose a service that treats privacy as part of the product.
FAQ
How many singles are there in the UK?
About 7,444,800 singles live in the UK, among roughly 68,000,000 people. The number is large, but it is spread very unevenly across cities and rural areas.
Which dating sites make the most sense in the UK?
It depends on what you want. Ourtime fits older singles, C-Date fits casual dating, and Ashley Madison or Victoria Milan are the more discreet options.
Is online dating harder outside London?
Usually, yes. Outside the biggest cities, the pool can get thin quickly, so radius search and realistic travel expectations matter more.
What should I use if I want discreet dating in the UK?
Start with Ashley Madison or Victoria Milan. If you want a broader discreet or affair-focused crowd, Illicit Encounters is also worth a look.
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.