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Autumn Is Calling: Time to Meet Someone New

Wednesday September 30, 2026

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Cooler nights, cosy venues and plenty of opportunities to find a spark.

There’s something about autumn that makes staying in feel tempting. The evenings get darker, the jumpers come out, and suddenly a cosy night on the sofa sounds very appealing.

But autumn is also one of the best times of year to get back out there.

As October begins, London and cities across the UK come alive with cocktail nights, cosy pubs, seasonal events, markets and plenty of reasons to leave the house. And if you’re single, that means plenty of opportunities to meet someone new.

Forget the endless swiping

Dating doesn’t always have to mean spending your evening scrolling through profiles and trying to think of an opening line.

Sometimes, it’s much easier to meet someone when you’re actually in the same room.

A relaxed drink, a shared laugh or even a slightly awkward first conversation can tell you much more than a string of messages ever could.

That’s where real-life dating comes in.

Make the most of cosy season

Autumn gives you plenty of natural first-date settings. Think cocktail bars with low lighting, cosy pubs, seasonal markets or an evening event where you can dress up and have some fun.

And you don’t necessarily need to wait until you meet “the one” to enjoy dating.

Go out. Meet people. Have interesting conversations. See where the evening takes you.

Sometimes the best connections happen when you’re not trying to force them.

Ready to meet someone new?

Whether you’re looking for a serious relationship, hoping to expand your social circle or simply curious about who you might meet, autumn is a good excuse to give real-life dating a try.

Ready to get back out there?

Explore Original Dating events and find your next date →

ORIGINAL DATING IN THE PRESS
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HOW IT WORKS

The beauty of Speed Dating lies in its no-nonsense approach. You take an equal number of single girls and guys, put them in a room and give them a few minutes to chat with every other member of the opposite sex.

When you get there

Original speed dating events in London normally begin at 7.30pm. You will need to register with our hosts and to begin with they will issue you with a score sheet. This will help you to keep track of the singles that you would like to meet again and perhaps go on a date with. After a short period of mingling, your host for the evening who will run through detailed instructions and give you your starting position if you are a guy or table for the event if you are a girl.

Meet & Mingle

A London speed dating event is split into two halves, each lasting around an hour, there will be an interval at half time of about 15 minutes for speed dating London. You will have between 4 and 5 minutes with each person, after which you need to tick a box on your score sheet - "yes, I would like to meet this person again" or "no. Thanks but no thanks". Or "friend" if you'd like to get to know them platonically. Make sure that you do this after each date to keep track. Afterwards there is an opportunity for everyone to meet and mingle informally - this is often where the real action begins, so make sure you don't disappear too quickly!

Complete your score sheet

After the event you simply tick who you liked on the Original Dating website and the site works about your matches automatically. If the dates you have ticked as a "yes" have reciprocated you have a match. You will be able to view the first names and message them via our site online without revealing your email address until you are ready to. You'll be having proper first dates in no time.