Hampshire
Southampton Dating: Meet Singles in Southampton
Only London and the West Midlands have more Encounters.uk members than Hampshire. Pick the section that fits, then see who lives along the coast or up the M3.
Southampton singles, and the rest of Hampshire too
Dating in Southampton doesn’t stop at the city boundary. Southampton itself is home to more of our Hampshire members than anywhere else, with Portsmouth and Basingstoke next, and the rest live right across the county: Eastleigh just up the road, Fareham and Havant along the coast, Winchester and Four Marks in the middle, and Farnborough, Aldershot and Liphook in the north and east.
Hampshire is a big county, but the M27 and the main railway lines make it feel smaller, and a first date can happen in whichever town suits you both.
A first date in every corner of Hampshire
A few ideas, town by town, with Salisbury included for our neighbours over the Wiltshire border.
| Where | For a first date | From Southampton |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | A walk on the Common, the medieval town walls and the Bargate, or a drink by the boats at Ocean Village | You’re already here |
| Portsmouth | Gunwharf Quays, the Spinnaker Tower and a stroll along Southsea seafront | Direct trains along the coast through Fareham |
| Winchester | The cathedral, King Arthur’s Round Table in the Great Hall, and the water meadows walk to St Cross | A short train ride north on the main line |
| Basingstoke | A show at The Anvil, or the gardens at The Vyne just outside town | Further up the same line towards London |
| Salisbury | The cathedral close and the water meadows at Harnham | Direct trains from Southampton Central |
Good news if you’re over 45
Hampshire’s members are older than the site as a whole. Nearly half are 45 or over, with three in ten aged 55 or more. Nearly a quarter are 25 to 34 and just over a quarter 35 to 44, so younger daters aren’t short of company either, and the bars below show the full spread.
Ages of our members in Hampshire, all four sections together, today.
Sea air, ferries and the New Forest
Southampton is a port city, and plenty of good dates here involve the water. Mayflower Park looks out over Southampton Water close to where the Pilgrims set sail in 1620, and the Red Funnel ferry to Cowes turns a second date into a day on the Isle of Wight. A few miles down the eastern shore, the ruins of Netley Abbey and the Royal Victoria Country Park are made for wandering at your own pace.
West of the city the New Forest begins within half an hour’s drive: ponies on the verges, pubs in Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst, and miles of heath for a long walk and a longer talk. Back in town, the Mayflower Theatre and the bars around Ocean Village cover the evenings.
Getting around is simple. Southampton Central has direct trains to Winchester, Portsmouth, Salisbury and London Waterloo, Eastleigh is a short hop up the line, and the M27 ties Southampton, Fareham and Portsmouth together. Before you meet anyone, take a look at our safety advice.
Find the section that fits your life
Casual Encounters is the choice of about three in four Hampshire members, the adult section for people who know they want fun first. Nearly one in five have joined Mature Encounters, which suits a county with so many members over 45, and Single Encounters is smaller here but open to anyone after a relationship.
Portsmouth, Winchester and Salisbury: this page is yours too
Portsmouth and Winchester are both among the towns our Hampshire members come from, so if you searched for dating in either, you’ll find people close to home here. Salisbury is just over the border in Wiltshire and a direct train from Southampton Central, so widen your distance until south Hampshire is included. For anywhere else, our locations page has every city we cover, with Brighton the nearest along the coast and Bristol the nearest to the west.
Southampton and Hampshire dating, answered
Does dating in Southampton include Portsmouth and Winchester?
Yes. Both are home to members in our Hampshire area, along with Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Fareham and Havant, so a sensible distance setting brings in people from across the county.
Are Hampshire members older than average?
Yes. Nearly half are 45 or over, compared with about a third across Encounters.uk, and three in ten are 55 or over.
What makes a good first date in Southampton?
A walk on Southampton Common, a drink by the marina at Ocean Village, or the old town walls if you like history. For a whole day together, take the ferry to the Isle of Wight.
More cities within reach of Southampton
Start something new in Hampshire
Each section has its own sign-up. Find yours and say hello to someone nearby.