In short
These Over 60s Singles guides are for people in their sixties and beyond who are dating again, often after decades away. They cover online dating for the first time, what to check before joining a site, video calls, first dates, local interest groups, and dating after losing a spouse or while caring for someone. First-timers should start with the online dating guide.
Where to start
If you have never used a dating site, start with online dating for the first time at 60-plus, which goes from joining to sending your first message. Before you sign up anywhere, read what to check before you join. And when someone suggests meeting, planning a first date will help settle the nerves.
These guides are written for people in their sixties, seventies and eighties, in plain British English. Each one is dated and lists the official sources behind any phone number, law or figure.
Pick a guide by your situation
Most people arrive with one particular question. This table points you to the guide that answers it.
| If you are... | Read |
|---|---|
| Thinking about online dating for the first time | Online dating for the first time at 60-plus |
| Comparing dating sites, or about to pay for one | What to check before you join |
| Nervous about video calls | Video calls made simple |
| About to meet someone for the first time | Planning a first date |
| Hoping to meet people face to face, through a shared interest | Learning and interest groups |
| Widowed and wondering whether you are ready | Dating after the death of a husband or wife |
| Looking after a partner, parent or relative | Dating while you are caring for someone |
| Worried a new contact may be a scammer | Romance scams and how to report them |
Getting started online
Online dating over 60 works much as it does at any age: you make a profile, look at other people's, and exchange messages before deciding whether to meet. The differences are mostly about confidence, privacy and avoiding scams.
- Online dating for the first time at 60-plus: joining, choosing photos, writing a profile, first messages, paying and staying safe.
- What to check before you join a dating site over 60: the questions worth putting to any dating site, with this site's own answers alongside.
- Video calls made simple: what you need, which way to call, keeping your number private and looking your best on screen.
Meeting people face to face
Plenty of people over 60 would rather meet someone through an activity than a screen, and many do both. Regular groups let you get to know someone gradually, without the pressure of a date.
- Planning a first date after decades out of practice: where to go, what to talk about, who pays and how to end it kindly.
- Learning and interest groups for people over 60: how u3a, walking, dance and similar groups work, and what a first visit is like.
- Where to meet singles over 60 in the UK: region by region, from the South East to the Highlands.
Dating in your own circumstances
Dating again later in life often comes after a loss, a long marriage or years of caring. These guides take those situations seriously.
- Dating after the death of a husband or wife: knowing when you're ready, coping with guilt, talking to family, and where to find grief support.
- Dating while you are caring for someone: finding time, arranging cover, being honest about your role and looking after yourself.
Sections for particular readers
Two sections go deeper for readers with particular questions. Christian dating over 60 covers describing your faith in a profile, meeting through church, dating someone who believes differently and remarrying. Dating in your seventies and beyond covers dating in your eighties, health conditions and living apart together.
Staying safe, whichever guide you read
The biggest risk in dating over 60 is a romance scam rather than a dangerous date. A romance scam is when someone builds an online relationship in order to ask for money. The rule that protects you is simple: never send money to someone you have not met in person.
The safety guide lists who to ring in each part of the UK and in the US, Canada and Australia, and meeting a date safely covers the practical side of a first meeting.
Questions people ask
How do I start dating again at 60?
Start with what you would enjoy anyway. Join a group built around an interest, tell friends you are open to meeting someone, and if you try a dating site, browse the free part first. Meet in public for a coffee or a walk, keep the first date short, and never send money to anyone you have not met.
Is online dating safe for people over 60?
It can be, with a few firm habits. Keep conversations on the dating site at first, video call before meeting, meet somewhere public and tell a friend your plans. The main risk is a romance scam, so never send money, gift cards or bank details to someone you have only met online, however convincing they seem.
Where can I meet people over 60 without using the internet?
Interest groups are the most natural route: u3a learning groups, walking clubs, dance classes, choirs and volunteering all bring people together regularly. Our guide to interest groups explains how they work, and the UK regions page suggests where to look in each part of the country.
Is it too late to start dating in my seventies or eighties?
No. People meet partners at every age, and many in their seventies and eighties want companionship more than a whirlwind romance. Our over-70s section covers dating in your eighties, dating with a health condition, and couples who choose to live apart together.