Mature Singles in the UK: Who's Here and How to Meet Them
"Mature" is an odd word for it, really, and mature dating is an odder phrase still. Nobody on the site is mature in the sense of being sensible all the time. Mature singles are simply people over 40 who've done some living, know what they like, and would rather spend their evenings with someone good company than on their own.
On SingleAndMature you'll meet mature singles from every corner of the UK. Some are in their early forties and still have school runs; some are well past retirement and taking up salsa. What they have in common is that they'd like to meet someone, and they'd like it to be someone who means what they say.
Who mature singles in the UK actually are
“The best thing about meeting someone later on? Neither of you is pretending any more. Take any ten mature singles on the site and you'll find a mix. A recently divorced teacher in Leeds. A widower in Devon who's been talked into it by his daughter. Single mature women like the one in Glasgow who's been on her own for eight years by choice and now fancies a change. Mature men like the one in Kent who works away and wants someone to look forward to coming home to.”
Many are somewhere between their mid forties and mid sixties, and the range runs well past 70. Some want a long-term partner; just as many would like friendship that might become something more. And a growing number want a relationship where both people keep their own homes, which turns out to suit a lot of people with grown-up families and settled lives.
What mature singles are looking for
Something serious
Plenty of mature singles would like to meet the person they'll spend the rest of their life with. They're often the most direct people on the site: clear about what they want, honest about their past, and happy to meet sooner rather than later. If that's you, say so in the first line of your profile.
Something easier
Others want good company first: someone for the cinema, the coast, a Sunday roast. Romance is welcome if it grows, but it isn't the point. These are some of the warmest conversations on the site, and they often turn into the strongest relationships, precisely because nobody was rushing.
Mature singles near me: finding people you can meet
SingleAndMature is a mature singles dating site, so everyone here is over 40 and at a similar stage, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of dating mature people near you. The most useful search on the site is the simplest one. Put in your postcode, pick a distance, and see who's within reach. Mature singles near you are far more likely to become a first date than someone lovely two hundred miles away.
Be a little generous with the radius. In a city, five miles might be plenty. In the countryside, thirty miles is a normal drive, and some of the nicest matches are people one town over who you'd never otherwise have crossed paths with.
When you find someone interesting, read their profile properly before you write. Ask about one specific thing they mentioned. Nothing makes more difference to whether a message gets a reply. If you're over 50, the over 50s dating page goes into first dates in more depth, and if you're further along, dating as a senior is written for you. Men wanting to understand women their own age should read what mature women want from dating.
How to start a conversation with mature singles
Mature singles have usually read a lot of messages, and they can spot a copied one in a heartbeat. The good news is that the bar for a great first message is low, and almost nobody clears it.
Here's what works. Read the profile to the end. Find the one detail that made you smile or wonder, the dog called Biscuit, the plan to learn Italian, the confession about a terrible singing voice, and ask about it. Then add one line about yourself so they have something to reply to. That's it. Three sentences, written for one person, will get more replies than twenty pasted hellos.
What doesn't work: comments on looks, long life stories in the first message, and anything that sounds like a job application. Keep it warm, specific and short, and let the conversation do the rest.
When you haven't been single for years
Many mature singles on the site were married or partnered for twenty or thirty years, and the world they're dating in now feels very different. Messaging before meeting, profiles, photos: it can feel like a lot to learn at once.
It's simpler than it looks. Think of the profile as the bit of you someone would hear about from a friend before being introduced. Think of messages as the chat at the bar before deciding whether to sit down together. And think of the first date as exactly what it always was: an hour or two finding out whether you like each other's company. The tools are new. The rest isn't.
Questions people ask about meeting mature singles
The things most people want to know before they make a profile.
What age are mature singles on SingleAndMature?
Members are over 40, with most in their forties, fifties and sixties. You can set the age range you're interested in when you search.
Can I find mature singles near me?
Yes. Search by postcode and choose how far you'll travel. The members closest to you appear first.
Do I have to want a relationship?
No. Lots of mature singles are looking for friendship and company first. Say what you're after and you'll meet people who want the same.
Is it discreet?
You choose what goes on your profile and how much you share. Many people start with a few lines and add more once they're comfortable.