Every love story is unique. Whether you met ‘the one’ online on a dating app, had a whirlwind holiday romance, or you locked eyes over your newspaper on the morning commute.
There is one thing, however, that most couples do have in common; they would go to nearly any length to be together.
As our soulmate is not always destined to live around the corner, or maybe even a bus or train ride away, we couldn’t help but wonder – how far is too far when it comes to love?
To find out, we asked 2,005 Brits about relationships and the lengths they would go to for love. Would they follow their lover to any place? If it’s Hollywood or Bishopsgate?
How far do Brits live from their romantic partners?
No matter how the love story started, the reality of keeping a relationship alive may involve a bit of a commute. So, we wondered, what is the average travel time for relationships in the UK?
Excluding lovebirds that live in the same household, the average couple lives 54 minutes away from each other. In fact, nearly two thirds (64%) of Brits live less than an hour away from their significant other. However, many lovers don’t have far to go at all, as the most common distance between British couples is just 11-20 minutes (21%). This may come as good news to singletons looking for love - your perfect match could be closer than you think!
Lovers in the South West benefit from a short commute too as 11-20 minutes is the most common distance between lovebirds in this region.
How much time would Brits spend travelling to see a romantic partner?
While we can see most British couples aren’t all that far apart from their partner, how much time would the nation be willing to travel for love?
When presented with a time scale ranging from ‘up to 10 minutes’ to ‘over 24 hours’, on averageBrits say they’re willing to spend 3 hours and 24 minutes travelling for love. While the most popular length of time amongst all respondents is to travel up to 1-2 hours, this higher average is thanks to a romantic 1 in 10 who would travel for nine hours or more to see their significant other. In fact, nearly 1 in 20 (4%) say they are willing to travel as long as 23 hours for love!
Generationally Gen Z (16–24-year-olds) are named the least flexible as the most common response amongst this age group is to only travel up to 31–59 minutes.
Looking for someone who can go the distance? Perhaps Exeter St Davids is just the ticket, with one in six people from Exeter happy to commit 23 hours travel time to see their beau.
What’s the maximum distance Brits are willing to travel for love?
While a surprising one in seven Brits say they have no interest in travelling at all for love, there are still romantics amongst us who are interested in going some distance.
When presented with options ranging from ‘as far as my local town/village’ to ‘beyond the UK’ Brits say they are most willing to travel the breadth of their county for love. Men, women, and transgender women alike say that anywhere within their own county is far enough for Cupid’s commute. The most common preference amongst those who identify as non-binary is to travel as far as their closest city. Keeping it local seems to be the trend amongst transgender males too as they prefer to stay within their borough for romantic encounters.
Generationally, the young lovers out there prove the least flexible again as the most popular choice amongst Gen Z (16–24-year-olds) is to only travel as far as their closest city. All other generations agree that the county bounds are the limit.
How far do Brit set their dating app radius?
There are plenty of fish in the sea, and with the world of online dating, it’s quite the pool.
While you can only join dating apps from 18 years old (our respondents were 16+), we found that on average Brits set their dating app profile to a 28-mile radius in pursuit for the perfect match. This roughly equates to a journey from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside or London to Thorpe Park. Very few romantics (2%) are willing to consider prospects up to 100 miles - the maximum distance you can set the radius.
When looking at preference by gender, women are most interested in looking between 6-10 miles. Men, though, are willing to look further afield to find true love, as they most commonly say they would stretch up to 21-30 miles. Transgender males would search further afield up to 31-40 miles, but setting the bar even higher, non-binary and transgender females will look for love 41-50 miles away.
Those in the South West are most likely to set a further distance than any other region, with nearly one in 20 (4%) maxing out the 100-mile radius. This choice is most popular in Exeter, with one in six choosing to look as far as 91-100 miles for their match.
What lengths are Brits willing to go for a relationship?
Walking
What is a better excuse to get the steps in than in the name of love?
Tied as the most popular form of transport amongst romantics, 84% of people would be willing to walk to their beau. On average these people are willing to walk for 1 hours and 38 minutes – that could be as much as 10,000 steps!
Car
A romantic road-trip, anyone? 84% are also willing to drive to see their romantic partners, and they would cruise for on average 3 hours and 12 minutes. Plenty of time to blast out love songs on repeat.
Train
Naturally our favourite form of travel, 72% of people would take a train journey to reach their lover. Of these people, on average they’re willing to commit 3 hours and 33 minutes on board to the destination of love.
Bicycle
Over half (51%) of Brits would hop on a bike for their partner. Perhaps interested in training for the Tour de France in tandem with their quest for love, on average Brits say they will peddle for 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Plane
Willing to take your love affair to new heights? Almost half of Brits (46%) would be happy to catch flights and feelings. Of these people, on average they are willing to spend a whopping 6 hours and 23 minutes on a plane for their partner. The ultra-romantics can’t be forgotten, with one in 25 Brits willing to fly 24+ for love.
Would Brits relocate for a partner?
Answering some of life’s trickiest questions when it comes to going the distance, here’s what Brits had to say about long-distance love.
If your partner moved away, would you follow them?
What if your partner suddenly left to pursue their dreams… would you follow them? Nearly one third (30%) declared they would go wherever needs be and relocate for their relationship.
Would you expect your partner to relocate if you had to move?
An email arrives offering you your dream job in the big city. What happens next?
Three in four people wouldn’t expect their partner to drop everything and move, but the remaining quarter would be disappointed if you weren’t willing to do so. It’s a similar story in the South West where over a quarter (26%) believe their partner should follow them anywhere.
Would you enter a relationship that is long-distance?
Our study shows that while many would be willing to follow their true love, only one in five (19%) would willingly enter a long-distance relationship from the outset.
Would the idea of long-distance make you consider ending the relationship?
When it all boils down, would the thought of being separated from your partner be too much to handle?
Cynics disperse and Romeos rejoice, a resounding 83% of people said distance would not make them consider ending their relationship.
