Where to Meet Women in the UK

If you’re looking for good advice on where to meet women, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you are newly single or have been going solo for a while, it can seem like an uphill struggle to meet new people.

Where are all the cute, single ladies hiding? The reality is that they are everywhere, they are looking for you too, and finding them has never been easier. That applies to both real-world dating and even more so for online dating.

Not only do we still have all of the old traditional ways of meeting people, but thanks to the internet we have an eye-watering variety of new ones in the virtual space. So many in fact, that it’s hard to keep track.

Now obviously, a terrific place to start is right here with us. The Match website and app make finding new people incredibly easy and fun, but that doesn’t mean you should limit yourself to only online dating. Why limit yourself at all when the world is out there waiting for you to jump in and join the party?

Are we spoiled for choice?

Once you’ve opened your mind to all of the opportunities right under your nose, you may find that there’s too much choice. You can be struck with the dreaded ‘analysis paralysis’ and end up doing nothing at all.

There are so many apps, websites, venues, and events to choose from that you spend all your time analysing the possibilities when you should be taking action.

After you’ve read this guide, you’ll cut through your procrastination like a laser beam through an ice cream sundae. We’ll arm you with a list so full of all the great places to meet single women that you’ll be tripping over them. Not literally obviously, but you get the picture.

What are the stats on dating in the UK?

Before we dive into all the many places to meet single women in the UK, let’s take a look at some of the nation’s vital statistics when it comes to dating:

• 79% of British residents are happy to use dating apps. The remaining 21% are hesitant to take the plunge until more secure vetting standards are in place.
• The workplace is still a popular meeting place for romantic singles. 18% of Brits say they found love in a professional setting.
• The average cost of a first date in the UK is about £41.
• A staggering 50% of single Brits have never asked someone out on a date. Could it be that guys are still expected to take that risk while the ladies hold back?
• A healthy 13.6% of UK online dating matches result in matrimony.
• 70% of Brits think the pub is a great place for a first date. The other 30% think it’s the worst.
• Online dating apps in the UK generated over £11.7 billion in 2022.
• Glasgow is the top city for Tinder users in the UK. Birmingham and Liverpool are next.
• What we all pretty much knew already has been verified: online dating app usage increased dramatically during the lockdown years.
• And the most shocking statistic of all: McDonald’s has been suggested as a first-date venue to over 44% of Tinder users. Yikes.

What are the usual ways to meet women in the UK?

There may be common ways to meet women, but we like to think that every first encounter is unique, whether it’s online or in person. The stats tell us that for 18% of people, the workplace is where love struck. We also know that up to 79% of singles are happy to use online dating apps.

If we add those two numbers together, it accounts for almost the entire single population of the UK, right? But that’s not the whole picture. What if you work remotely and rarely meet colleagues? You could also be working with a bunch of guys or women that are all married.

You might already be experimenting with online dating, but you don’t want to rule out the old-fashioned way of meeting someone ‘in the wild’. We totally get that and couldn’t agree more. Online and offline are both great ways to meet women and neither should rule the other out.

The top ten ways people met their partner in the UK

According to a recent YouGov survey, these are the top ten ways that Brits meet their romantic partners.

• At work = 18%
• Through friends = 18%
• While out and about = 15%
• Other = 11%
• Online dating platforms = 7%
• Through higher education = 6%
• Using a dating app = 6%
• At school = 5%
• Through common hobbies = 5%
• Through family = 3%

Online dating occupies about 13% of the total, coming in at 5th and 7th place depending on how you define it. The top three categories—work, friends, and ‘out and about’—account for 51% and confirm that work and friends are where most single guys and girls meet people in the UK.

If you are reading this, then it’s likely you have either exhausted the top two categories or they don’t work for you right now. Not every workplace is a hotbed of romance. If you’ve recently moved, you may not know many people in your area and likely won’t have a network of friends to hang out with.

What does ‘while out and about’ even mean?

This takes us down to the next category of ‘while out and about’. It’s a pretty big category of 15% or 1 in 6 people, but what is it? Even more mysterious is the category of ‘other’. If you’re finding it difficult to meet women, you need to know what’s going on in these two areas.

As you go further down the list, the percentages get narrower. You may not be in higher education. You probably left school a long time ago. Meeting women through family accounts for only 3% of the total. This leaves dating apps and platforms, and the above-mentioned, highly mysterious ‘other’ and ‘while out and about’ categories.

Where do most singles meet outside of work and friend groups?

You may be scratching your head at this point and thinking of Will Smith in the movie Hitch. You’re looking in the bathroom mirror, trying not to cringe as you come up with corny pickup lines to use on random women in the street.

Please, don’t do it. You’re better than that.

It absolutely does not have to be that way and the truth is that there are many low-key, ultra-cool ways to meet women that work and will make you feel good about yourself.

If you need some advice in this area, check out this useful post on flirting tricks actually work on real women.

Meanwhile, let’s kick off with some of the classics:

1. In a pub or wine bar. Remember those stats—70% of people across the nation still see the pub as a great place for a first date. Having said that, this way usually requires more than just walking into your nearest local and hoping for the best. With a little forethought, you can finesse this route like a master and turn it into pure gold.
2. At social events. This is way easier than you think and there are bucket-loads of online resources to help you out. These can be professional networking, sporting events, volunteering events, or anything else that takes your interest. Dress your best, wear your warmest smile, and spend the day with a laser-focus on meeting women. An event website to find things happening in your area.

Here are four great ones, and there are a whole lot more out there:

• Meetup.com focuses on making friends with shared interests. It’s a great way to expand your social network.
• Eventbrite.com will keep you up to date with all the happenings in your area so that you can plug into the social and entertainment life near you.
• Feverup.com is a more nightlife-oriented and city-based site. If you like to go out after dark and live near a big city, this is a terrific resource.
• LivingSocial.com connects you will all kinds of activities and events at a discount. It’s a great way to explore what’s on offer around you without breaking the bank.

3. On a dating app or dating site. These were in the minority in the past, but as technology and matching algorithms have become more sophisticated, they are now widely accepted. People love using apps like Match and are more open about it. During those crazy lockdown years, online dating took a huge leap forward into the mainstream.

Prevailing trends indicate that by 2035 you will be more likely to have met your partner online than offline. The future is happening right now, so embrace it!

4. At parties. Despite all the changes in society, this traditional way of meeting people is as popular as ever. Depending on your preferences, it can be a pretty wild affair or something more sophisticated like a cocktail or dinner party. Or why not a little of both?
5. Hobbies and evening classes. When you were a student this was something you thought only your nan did. Now that you’re grown up you probably see the value of learning a foreign language, mastering the Tango, or making a chair from scratch.

You really can’t lose here. Maybe all you’ll take home from your woodwork class is a dodgy chair, but you never know, maybe there’ll be a cute guest to sit on it as well.

Where do people usually find girlfriends?

It depends on our circumstances and where we are in life. Teenage boys and senior gentlemen in retirement don’t usually find girlfriends the same way.

If you are in a younger demographic, either in higher education or early in your career, you will likely find it a lot easier to meet women. There are more single women looking for adventure in their 20s than in their 30s, after all.

But in reality, this perceived ‘scarcity’ doesn’t make the search any harder. Don’t forget, there are fewer single guys in their 30s than in their 20s too.

Recent research from YouGov shows that men aged 25 to 29 are the most likely to meet women using an app or online dating service. As time goes on, the data indicates that this trend will continue and older demographics will become even more comfortable with these new ways of meeting new people.

Work and education get more fun as you get older

Despite all this tech, the workplace and workplace events are still awesome ways to get to know women. Educational settings where you are studying together, working on projects, and all that other good stuff are fantastic opportunities for romance. They will likely always be around no matter how advanced dating technology becomes.

Things get way better when you hit your 30s

When you’re a bit further along in your career in your late 20s, things can start to feel pretty different. You’ve probably already had a long-term relationship or two, and you are unlikely to be in full-time education. Meanwhile, the women you tend to meet professionally are less likely to be single.

Fast forward to your 30s and the landscape of meeting women changes again. By this time, you’ve been around the block. Maybe even a few times. You’ve been through more than one long-term relationship, maybe even a marriage (or two), and going back to the dating game feels like starting from scratch again.

Still not convinced? If you’re in this category or a demographic or two beyond, take a look at this in-depth post on using Match dating for the over 60s. You might be surprised who’s successfully finding and meeting people with online dating!

When you’re done, come right back here for the low down on all the best places to meet single women in the UK.

Starting over again is a good thing

We know it’s hard, but trust us, it’s actually a good thing. This time around you are older and wiser, and so are the women you meet. You won’t be trying to impress anyone with your street credibility, your knowledge of the latest urban fashions, or God forbid, your ability to down pints without falling over.

All of those things are a distant memory and you can now safely be yourself. Even better, so can she. You’ll save a lot of time and get to know the real person much quicker whether it is a short-term (one night?) or long-term (house and kids?) relationship you’re looking for.

Even more fantastic ways to meet women in the UK

Here are just a few ways to meet women that fall into these golden sweet spot categories of ‘other’ and ‘while out and about’. These don’t require a change of job, enrolling in a university course, or building a network of family and friends to arrange your love life for you.

1. Pubs and wine bars. OK, you got us here and we admit it, but this one is so good, we had to say it twice. This is the UK we’re talking about and we love to spend time in our local. This time though, it’s not the crowded booze-infused students union with some terrible experimental band drowning out your conversation.

A little research will reveal where you can go in your area for a more civilised experience. Think of those event websites listed above and you’re on the right track.

2. On a holiday. Not just any holiday though. You can book a singles trip and choose exactly what kind of people you have in mind (long-term relationship seekers or short-term fun and games). You can mix with exactly the kind of demographic you’re attracted to and if you don’t end up married, at least you got a holiday out of it.
3. Volunteering activities. Now that you are older and wiser (maybe a little bit richer too) you want to give something back.

Guess what? Women love to do this as well. And if someone is giving up their free time for a good cause, they’re probably a cool person too. This is exactly the kind of person you want to meet, hang out with, and get to know better.

In the end, if all you did was give some time to your local animal rescue centre, at least you’re building up some good karma that may bring that special lady into your life when you least expect it.

4. While exercising. Is this the ‘out and about’ thing they were talking about? Walking the dog is another biggie too. Either way, you’re doing something good for your health, making yourself more attractive, and if you keep bumping into the same hot person on your run/gym session/dog walk, maybe it will benefit your love life too.

All it takes is a little ‘hello’, one of your trademark charming smiles, and the rest can be a beautiful story you write together.

5. At a supper club. Do you like food? Guess what, some of the most beautiful, intelligent women in the world love food too. If you haven’t heard of supper clubs you should check them out. People meet up to check out new food venues, popup food experiences, and other culinary adventures.

There’s nothing like bonding over a good nosh up and this idea has really taken off in some places. Grub Club is a London-based platform that connects people together over food, but if you’re close to any big UK city there’s bound to be something similar near you.

Can you simplify all this for me?

We surely can. You want a long list of places to go, right? Well, here it is, broken down into two simple categories of online and offline options.

Our top 17 offline places to meet women in the UK

• At a pub/bar.
• At a friend’s house.
• At a social event.
• In your own social circle.
• In a club.
• Through your work.
• At a café.
• At a party.
• In a class/community group.
• Walking the dog.
• At the gym.
• In the supermarket.
• Going for a run.
• At a conference.
• Volunteering.
• At an organised singles event.
• At a supper club.

Our top 8 online places to meet women in the UK

1. On the Match dating website or app.
2. Any other lesser dating website or app.
3. Through an event website.
4. Taking an online course.
5. Through an online forum.
6. On a social media platform.
7. In an online community.
8. Using an online chat room.

Time to turn words into action and opportunity

Now you know where to meet women, it’s time to strike while the iron is hot! You can register with us and start meeting people with compatible interests that align with yours.

While you’re out there in the real world mingling and meeting, your virtual self will be working away online meeting and matching you up with a whole other set of women at the same time.

Start your dating journey today!

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