Date the UK

Date The UK is operated by Cupid PLC one of the major players in the online dating world. Whilst it lags slightly behind the big brand online dating sites it boasts over 3 million members so they’re clearly doing something right. Perhaps it’s the fact that this site is built specifically for UK members from the ground up. Many of the larger big brand online dating sites operate in several countries and often lack that personal touch. We believe that’s why Date the UK has the edge.

Features

We love any site which has a quick and easy sign up process. With a simple online form you can sign up in seconds and take a look around. You simply need to verify your email address and you’re away. In the sign up process you’re not asked to fill out lengthy profile forms which some users prefer. The profile features are rich though should you wish to complete your full profile (which we always recommend). You can upload multiple photos and even take a profile pic using your webcam. A great feature of this site is the ability to create video profiles. You can communicate what you’re looking for much easier via video and give people a real sense of your personality.
The search features are great allowing you to search for people not only by distance but by a variety of other characteristics such as hobbies, habits, personality traits and much more. There’s a great feature that allows you to search only new members so you can increase your chances by contacting people who are perhaps new to the online dating scene.

Membership

There is of course a free trial which is easy to sign up for and you can then take a look around the site. If you’re serious about online dating then it’s worth upgrading to a paid membership so that you can communicate with other members. You can pay by credit/debit card as well as PayPal and mobile payments. There are two membership types, Standard and Platinum. The Platinum membership comes with a guarantee where if you purchase a 6 month membership and don’t find love they’ll extend your membership for 180 days for free. We also love that there’s an Android app for dating on the move.

Does it work?

This site’s great for UK users due to its personalisation. It makes searching for people in your area so easy and the members appear to be genuine. We certainly were able to engage in genuine conversation with other users and were able to arrange dates.

The downsides?

To get the extended membership you actually have to contact the site yourself rather than it being implemented automatically. There is no payment option for direct debit or standing order must that’s not a huge problem for most users. The site also doesn’t offer the ability to save your search criteria for the next time you log in.

Should you sign up?

If you live in the UK then we recommend this site. It has its drawbacks but most of them are insignificant in comparison to the features that are on offer. We had a successful online dating experience with Date The UK. Take a look around yourself and visit the site.