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With a population of around 8.9 million people, you’d think finding love in London would be like shooting fish in a barrel, although much more romantic and with (hopefully) fewer fish involved.

But the truth is, dating in London is hard. The crowded, bustling city is the perfect metaphor for our busy lives. Lives that don’t leave a lot of spare time for hanging around romantic bars or flirting with strangers in coffee shops.

Not to mention if you smile at someone on the tube you’re more likely to be deemed a crazy person than a potential partner.

But this doesn’t mean you should give up hope! With so many eligible individuals in the capital, here are our top tips for finding love in London.

1. Use a dating agency

There are quite literally millions of people in London on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, and you certainly won’t struggle to find a single individual looking for love (or at least a hookup) nearby.

But if you actually find the time to sit and use these apps, you might also find this shallow approach to dating rarely ends in a meaningful connection.

Using dating agencies like Ignite, however, you’ll work closely with a dedicated matchmaker who will connect you with like-minded individuals with the same lifestyle and aspirations as you.

2. Choose the right first date venue

London is a big city and it’s home to thousands of award-winning restaurants, quirky pubs and unique experiences, which sounds like it should be ideal but can actually make choosing a first date venue even harder.

Firstly, Activity or dinner? Highbrow or low key? Then think about your location and theirs, and choose a venue that works for you both. Plus, you’ll want to take them somewhere memorable.

Armed with this knowledge you can choose a date night that you know they’re going to love.

3. Always make sure you’ve booked

If you’ve arranged to go out on a date, it’s probably a good idea to book a table or tickets to avoid disappointment. This is particularly true if you’re going out in the city on the weekend when restaurants and bars can become full to capacity.

4. Try to ditch crowded places

As we said, London is a busy city! So finding a quiet venue can feel like hard work. But do your best to choose a relaxed atmosphere and don’t arrange to meet your date somewhere too crowded or noisy. Shouting at each other from half an inch away isn’t the ideal way to get to know each other!

5. Avoid public transport if possible

Public transport is the perfect way to get across the city. Problem is, fighting for the tube or sitting on a crowded bus can really take the romance out of a date, so give yourself time to get there. Even better, try to choose venues within walking distance or treat your date to an Uber instead! This will make for a much more relaxed date, free from fumbling with your Oyster card or waiting on crowded train platforms.

6. Make the time for yourself and your date

Last but certainly not least, we understand that dating in London is hard, so you do need to make time for this aspect of your personal life. If you often find yourself working long hours late into the evening, make sure that you give yourself extra time on date nights to get ready and feel relaxed.

The likelihood is you’ll find someone who just like you, has to carve out time in a busy schedule, so be forgiving if you’re struggling to find a time that suits you both and be willing to be a little flexible.

If you’re looking for love in London, choosing a dating agency like Ignite Dating could be the key to finding happiness. Your dedicated matchmaker will work closely with you to help you find the perfect match.

Are you looking for love in your city? Maybe you’ve signed up to the latest dating apps, you’re looking to join a dating agency in Manchester or you’re just about ready to hire a giant billboard in the city centre like (the very creative) Mark Rofe did. For many, finding love in this bustling city can feel like searching for that proverbial needle in a haystack.

Yet in 2018 it was revealed that Manchester had the highest concentration of single people in the UK, of which, 51% had been single for as long as 10 years. And unless cupid has been putting in some serious overtime since then, it’s fair to assume that this is still the case. So in theory, there’s plenty of eligible people looking for love in Manchester.

Perhaps, but we understand that finding the perfect match isn’t as simple as swiping right on your smartphone. So when you do have a date lined up, especially if it’s your first date, it’s natural that you want to make a great first impression.

The good news is, Manchester is the perfect place to get to know a new partner, from Salford Quays to Didsbury, it is full of classy restaurants and chic bars for every taste and mood. If you’ve got a first date coming up soon, these five restaurants should be top of your list for first date venues in Manchester (and if things go well, perhaps over time you’ll get to try them all!).

1. 20 Stories

20 Stories Restaurant is located on the 19th floor of the iconic No.1 Spinningfields. The glamorous restaurant and rooftop terrace make this the perfect place to gaze out over the twinkling Manchester skyline. Plus the delicious menu, featuring locally sourced ingredients, aims to showcase the best the Northwest has to offer.

2. Asha’s

Championing traditional Indian cuisine, Asha’s is another delicious Central Manchester venue for you to consider for your date. Founded by Bollywood legend, Asha Bhosle, with the glamour to match, you can guarantee this will be the best Indian dining experience you’ve ever had (outside of India, of course).

3. Yu

The best part about using a dating agency in Manchester to help you find your perfect match is that you can get to know more about your date before you meet with them. So if you know for a fact that they love Chinese food, then take them a little way out of town to Yu, Alderley Edge – they will not be disappointed! The perfect blend between traditional recipes and modern cooking, you and your date can enjoy an unforgettable fine dining experience.

4. Rosso

When it comes to choosing first date venues in Manchester, they don’t get much more opulent than Rosso. The Italian restaurant boasts that it is the city’s ‘most luxurious and sought after dining experience’. The unique style of the Grade-II listed building, as well as the long list of fine wines and Italian dishes steeped in tradition, are a sure-fire way to make a good impression on your date! 

5. Adam Reid at The French

Last but certainly not least, another great dinner destination for dating in Manchester is Adam Reid at The French. A delightfully traditional British menu of hearty comfort food, with a Northwest twist. The restaurant can be found at the Midland Hotel and the luxurious interiors marry perfectly with creative culinary talents of Adam Reid for a truly romantic date.

If you’re looking for a partner in Manchester, working with a dedicated matchmaker could be the key to finding love. At Ignite Dating, we take our time to get to know you, so we can handpick the perfect potential matches. Get in touch to find out more. 

If the last time you were active in the dating scene you were dancing to Mr. Loverman, sipping Archers & Lemonade whilst making eyes at the cute guy across the bar, then the bad news is that the dating scene has changed. With people working longer hours, and the advent of the internet, we no longer socialise the way we used to.

Divorce rates dropped substantially in 2018, but there were still over 90,000 couples making the decision to go it alone. After taking time to heal, focusing on the children and exhausting your friends ‘single friends’ list, how do you go about meeting the one, second time around?

Most people turn to online apps. Quick, easy and disposable, but is that what you want and
even then, is it for real? A cheeky ‘wink’ in your coffee break most of the time it’s great.

But online dating comes with risks. There were over 4,500 reports of romance fraud in 2018, accumulating losses of over £50,000,000, and those are worrying statistics when trying to keep safe. Common sense and gut instinct is key – if someone is reluctant to talk on the

After taking time to heal, focusing on the children and exhausting your friends ‘single friends’ list, how do you go about meeting the one, second time around?

MICHELLE BEGY, MATCHMAKER & HEADHUNTER, IGNITE DATING

telephone or meet, then they probably aren’t who they say they are.

If online dating isn’t for you, then offline agencies may well work, and more and more professional people are turning to use them.

A good agency will take time to get to know you and what you’re looking for, and as members are interviewed and ID hecked, you can be confident that matches are serious.

At the top end of offline service is head hunting a dedicated professional working with you to find the one. It costs more but is great for people who know what they are looking for and the rewards can be spectacular. You can be as prescriptive as you want; from height and build, to salary and education, or simply types and characteristics – head-hunters excel at using all sources to find your match.

Unfortunately, your first date probably won’t be your last and it is harder as you get older to find the one. Try to be open minded and if you really aren’t sure after the first date, then always have a second one. Whatever is the right forum for you, enjoy and embrace the exciting journey that you are on.

Credit: QueenBee magazine