More people are dating in their sixties than ever before. Some are recently widowed. Others divorced after decades together, or after the children left, or on retirement, when they realised they wanted different things. Some have been single for years and are thinking that now is the time. And many are simply healthier, more active and more independent at 60-something than their parents were, and see no reason not to look for love or companionship.
This guide covers dating after 60 in the UK: who’s dating at this age, how to work out what you want, where people in their sixties meet, using apps for the first time, safety and scams, health and intimacy, money, family and living arrangements, and how later-life relationships tend to work. It links to more detailed guides throughout.
General information, not legal, pensions or medical advice
This guide explains how things generally work in the UK so you know what to ask. It is not advice about your situation, and Hearts Again is not a law firm, financial adviser or healthcare provider. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and can change. Before you make any decision, speak to a qualified professional:
- a solicitor, for example through the Law Society (England and Wales), the Law Society of Scotland or the Law Society of Northern Ireland, or Citizens Advice for free initial guidance
- your pension scheme administrator, MoneyHelper pensions guidance (including Pension Wise for people aged 50+), or the Pension Service about the State Pension
- your GP, a pharmacist or NHS 111 (Scotland: NHS inform or 111). In an emergency, call 999
The short answer
- Millions of people in their sixties are single. In 2025 the ONS found 8.6 million people living alone in the UK, and around half of them were aged 65 or over.
- People in their sixties use dating services less than younger people, but those who do spend the most time on them. Ofcom found 55- to 64-year-olds spent longer on dating services than any other age group.
- Being clear about what you want, whether marriage, a partner who lives elsewhere, or companionship, matters more than which app you choose.
- Romance scammers target people in their sixties and seventies. Video call before meeting and never send money to someone you haven't met.
- Remarrying or moving in together can affect pensions, benefits, property and inheritance. A solicitor or financial adviser can explain how this applies to you.
- Many couples in their sixties choose to live apart together, keeping their own homes and independence.
Who’s dating in their sixties
More single people than ever
The UK’s older population is growing, and so is the number of older people living alone. The Office for National Statistics found that 8.6 million people lived alone in the UK in 2025, and nearly half of them (49.6%) were aged 65 or over. Of older people living alone, around two-thirds were women, reflecting women’s longer life expectancy.
People become single in their sixties for many reasons:
- Bereavement. Losing a spouse or partner is a common reason, especially for women.
- Later-life divorce. Some couples separate once children have left home or on retirement.
- Long-term singles. Some people have been single for years and decide they’d like a partner.
- The end of a long relationship that wasn’t a marriage.
The gender balance
Because women live longer on average, there are more single women than men in older age groups, and the gap widens with age. In practice, women in their sixties often say there are fewer men to choose from, and men sometimes find themselves in demand. It’s worth knowing, but it shouldn’t put anyone off. Plenty of people of both sexes find partners in their sixties.
Online dating at 60-plus
Ofcom found that about one in ten UK adults used online dating services in 2024. Use was lower among older people. Only 6% of 55- to 64-year-olds used them, but those who did spent an average of 5 hours 43 minutes on them, the longest of any age group. In other words, fewer people in their sixties use apps, but those who do take it seriously.
Are you ready?
There’s no right time. Some people start dating a year after a bereavement or divorce. Others wait many years. Signs you might be ready include:
- You’re curious about meeting someone, not looking for a replacement
- You can talk about your late spouse or ex without it overwhelming you
- You have the energy for it, and you’d be OK if a date didn’t go anywhere
Our guides to how to know you’re ready, dating after bereavement and dating after divorce go into more detail.
Work out what you want
People in their sixties are often clearer than younger daters about what they want, but the range of options is wide:
| What you might want | What it often looks like |
|---|---|
| Marriage or civil partnership | A committed relationship, often with a wedding, and a combined life |
| Living together without marrying | Sharing a home, but with fewer legal ties |
| Living apart together | A committed relationship, but each keeping your own home |
| Companionship | Someone to share meals, trips and conversation, with or without romance |
| Something more casual | Dates and company without long-term plans |
None of these is better than the others. What matters is being honest, with yourself and with the people you date. Our guide to whether to remarry, live together or live apart compares the options.
Where people in their sixties meet
Dating sites and apps
Some dating sites are aimed at older people or have many older members. Mainstream apps can also work, especially in cities. Things to think about:
- What you want. Relationship-focused sites with longer profiles suit people looking for something serious.
- How many members near you are your age. Many sites let you browse on a free account before paying.
- Ease of use. Some sites work better on a computer than on a phone.
Our guides to whether dating apps are worth it after 50, free vs paid dating sites and never used a dating app before? will help you get started. The Dating App Matcher suggests which type of service might suit you. We’re testing services for our reviews and will publish our findings.
Social groups and activities
Many people in their sixties meet partners through shared activities rather than apps. Good options include:
- u3a, with more than 1,000 local groups and around 400,000 members across the UK
- Walking groups, Ramblers groups and parkrun
- Dance classes, especially ballroom, Latin, line dancing and ceilidh
- Choirs, bridge clubs, bowls and golf
- Volunteering, such as charity shops, heritage sites and befriending
- Faith communities
- Singles holidays and group tours
Our guides to alternatives to online dating, singles events, making friends after 50 and solo travel have more detail.
Introductions and matchmaking
Friends and family can be a great source of introductions. Some people in their sixties use professional matchmaking services. Our guide to whether professional matchmaking is worth it explains how they work and what to check.
Using apps for the first time in your sixties
If you haven’t dated since before smartphones, apps can feel daunting. A few steps help:
- Ask a trusted friend or family member to help you set up. Many people do.
- Use recent photos. One clear head-and-shoulders shot and one full-length, both from the last year or so. Our guide to dating profile photos explains more.
- Write a short, warm profile that says what you enjoy and what you’re looking for. Our guides to profile examples for women and for men, and the Profile Builder, can help.
- Message a few people properly, mentioning something in their profile.
- Video call before meeting.
- Meet for a short coffee or lunch somewhere public.
Our guide to modern dating terms explains words like ghosting and breadcrumbing, which you may come across.
Safety and scams
People in their sixties and seventies are often targeted by romance scammers, partly because they may have savings and partly because scammers assume they’ll be less familiar with online tricks. Warning signs include:
- Professing strong feelings very quickly
- Claiming to work abroad, on an oil rig, in the military or as a doctor for a charity
- Avoiding video calls
- Wanting to move quickly from the app to WhatsApp or email
- Any request for money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or help with a “fee”, however it’s framed
Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person, whatever the story. Our guides to dating app scams targeting over-50s, romance scam messages and how to spot a fake profile explain the common patterns. If you’re unsure about someone, try our Scam Red-Flag Checker. If you think you’ve been scammed, our guide to what to do if you’ve been scammed explains who to contact.
For meeting in person, see our first date safety checklist.
Health, energy and accessibility
Health matters more to dating in your sixties than it did earlier, though not always in the ways people expect. Many people in their sixties are active and well. Others are managing long-term conditions, hearing or sight changes, mobility issues or the after-effects of caring for a partner.
- Sharing health information. You don’t need to share medical details on a first date. Our guide to dating with a health condition covers what to share and when.
- Hearing. Busy restaurants can make conversation hard. See dating with hearing loss.
- Getting about. If you don’t drive at night or have mobility needs, see accessible dating.
- Health checks. In England, the NHS Health Check is offered every five years to people aged 40 to 74 without certain existing conditions. Your GP practice can tell you what’s available where you live.
Intimacy and sexual health
Many people in their sixties enjoy a sexual relationship, and many are nervous about it after years or decades. Our guides to sex with a new partner after 50 and sexual health and STI testing with a new partner cover timing, talking about it and staying healthy. NHS sexual health clinics offer free, confidential testing at any age. For physical changes affecting sex, such as menopause symptoms or erectile difficulties, your GP or a pharmacist can talk through options.
Money, property and pensions
By your sixties, money and property are often more complicated than they were earlier in life. A new relationship can raise questions such as:
- Who pays for what on dates and holidays
- Whether to combine finances, or keep them separate
- What happens to your home if you move in together or remarry
- How remarriage or cohabiting might affect pensions, benefits and inheritance
- How to protect your children’s inheritance
You don’t need to sort these out on a first date, but they become important as a relationship gets serious. Our guides to money in later-life relationships, what happens to your pension if you remarry, protecting your children’s inheritance and moving in or buying a home together explain how these things generally work. A solicitor, a regulated financial adviser or your pension scheme can explain how they apply to you.
State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028. If you’re approaching it, retirement plans may also shape what kind of relationship you want and where you want to live.
Family
Adult children and grandchildren often have feelings about a parent dating, especially after a bereavement. Some are delighted. Others worry about being replaced, about money, or about a new person changing family traditions. Our guides to when adult children disapprove, telling your family you’re dating after bereavement and dating someone with grandchildren when you have none cover these situations.
Dating as a widow or widower in your sixties
For many people in their sixties, dating comes after losing a spouse, sometimes after a long illness and years of caring. That brings particular feelings and questions:
- Guilt. Many widowed people feel that dating is disloyal, even if their late spouse would have wanted them to be happy. Our guide to feeling guilty about dating after losing your partner explores this.
- Comparisons. It’s natural to compare a new person with your late spouse. See how to stop comparing a new partner with your late spouse.
- Practical reminders. Rings, photos, belongings and the family home can all raise questions. See wedding rings, photos and belongings when you start dating again.
- Talking about your late spouse. It’s fine to mention them. Our guide to talking about your late partner on early dates covers how much to share.
- Dating another widowed person. Many people find shared experience helps. See should widows and widowers date each other?
Grief and a new relationship can exist side by side. Many people find their capacity for love has grown, not shrunk. If grief comes back strongly during a new relationship, that’s normal too. See when grief returns during a new relationship.
Dating while caring for someone
Some people in their sixties are dating while caring for a parent, an adult child or a grandchild, or after years of caring for a partner. Caring can limit time and energy, and it can make you feel guilty about wanting something for yourself. A few things help:
- Be honest early with dates about your caring responsibilities, so they understand why you may need to cancel or keep dates short.
- Look for support for yourself. Carers UK and local carers’ centres offer information, advice and, in some areas, help to arrange short breaks.
- Choose flexible dates close to home, such as coffee or a walk, rather than long evenings out.
- Don’t wait for the “perfect” time. For many carers, there isn’t one. A relationship that respects your responsibilities is possible.
How relationships work in your sixties
Relationships in your sixties often have a distinctive shape:
- Independence matters. Many people have their own homes, routines and friends, and want to keep them. See living apart together and dating when you love your independence.
- Life stages differ. One partner may be retired and the other still working. See dating someone retired when you’re still working.
- Pace varies. Some couples move quickly because they don’t want to waste time. Others take it slowly.
- Past relationships are part of the picture. Late spouses, ex-partners and long histories are normal.
Our guide to relationship milestones after 50 covers how couples typically move from dating to commitment.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to find love at 60?
No. Many people find new partners in their sixties and beyond. The pool may be smaller than in your thirties, but people in their sixties often know what they want and can move forward with more confidence.
What’s the best dating site for over-60s in the UK?
It depends on what you want and where you live. Some sites focus on older members and serious relationships, while mainstream apps have bigger memberships. Our Dating App Matcher can help you choose, and we’re testing services for our reviews.
Where can I meet single men or women over 60?
Through dating sites, u3a groups, walking groups, dance classes, volunteering, faith communities, singles events and holidays, and introductions from friends. See where to meet single men over 60.
Is online dating safe at 60?
It can be, with sensible precautions: video call before meeting, meet in public, tell a friend and never send money to someone you haven’t met.
Should I remarry or just live together?
It depends on what you both want, and it can affect pensions, property and inheritance. Our guide to remarrying vs living together vs living apart compares the options. A solicitor or financial adviser can explain the implications for you.
How do I tell my adult children I’m dating?
Choose a calm moment, keep it simple, and give them time. Our guide to when adult children disapprove has ideas.
What if I’ve never used a dating app?
Start with our step-by-step guide to dating apps, and ask a friend or family member to help you set up a profile.
Related guides
- Dating profile examples for over-60s
- Dating at 65: what to expect
- Dating at 80: is it ever too late?
- Dating at 55: what to expect
- Dating after divorce at 60
- Dating after 50 in the UK: complete guide
- Dating after 40: a complete UK guide
- Dating at 70 and beyond
- Dating after bereavement: when is the right time?
- Where to meet single men over 60
- Dating app scams targeting over-50s
- Living apart together after 50
- What happens to your pension if you remarry?
Sources
- Office for National Statistics, Families and households in the UK: 2025.
- Ofcom, online dating trends (February 2025).
- u3a (membership figures as of March 2025).
- NHS, NHS Health Check and sexual health services.
- GOV.UK, State Pension age timetable.
- Hearts Again editorial research on dating in your sixties.