How to get spotted by a potential date on your daily commute

27th October 2023

We've all experienced the highs and lows of a tube crush. They make our morning commute much more enjoyable, and we can't help but feel a little glum if they aren't in their usual spot for whatever reason. But are you ready to take the next step and increase your chances of getting noticed by your tube crush (and maybe even a beautiful diamond ring in the future)?

Inspired by the Metro Rush Hour Crush, where those in the UK can submit details of their commute crush in the hopes that they'll be found, we wanted to find out more about what attracts and is attractive to a potential date in the UK commuting scene. 

So, by pulling data from the Metro Rush Hour Crush and finding the most frequently used words to analyse, we discovered the most common things that get people noticed. 

When & where?

No one wants to be riding the tube all day long in the hopes they might score a potential date, which is why we looked into the best days and times to be spotted. 

Best time & day to be spotted by a possible date

Fresh out of the shower with your hair and makeup done to perfection and your outfit looking sharp, it should be no surprise that the morning commute is when you'll most likely spot a crush. While you may feel a little tired, according to the Rush Hour Crush data, most messages mention that they spotted the person they want to get in touch with in the morning.



When it comes to the best day of the week to be spotted, Wednesday came out on top. It seems everyone is looking for a little hump-day fun, and a tube crush is the perfect mid-week pick-me-up to keep you cheerful and energised until the weekend.

The top 5 days to be spotted are:

1. Wednesday

2. Tuesday

3. Saturday

4. Thursday

5. Friday

Both Sunday and Monday are the least likely days to be spotted by a potential date, while the least likely time was the afternoon. 

The most popular place to find a date on your commute

If your daily commute travels through London, you're in luck, as the tube is the most popular place to be spotted by a potential date.



The top 5 tube lines to be spotted on are:

1. Victoria

2. Northern

3. Jubilee

4. Central

5. Piccadilly

Physical attributes

The data we scraped also included which physical attributes seemed to have the biggest impact on commuter crushes. From the clothes you wear to your height and even your hair colour, below are all of the things catching people's eye.



What clothing items are catching people's attention?

It isn't just your good looks, dazzling smile or air of mystery surrounding you that's grabbing everyone's attention. What you wear is also making a difference on whether someone sees you as a potential date or not.

Users writing in to the Metro Rush Hour Crush to find someone they'd spotted, describe them wearing these five items of clothing more than most:

1. Jacket

2. Coat

3. Shirt

4. Glasses

5. Dress

So, get your outfit all planned out the night before, ready to dress to impress your crush on your daily commute.

Interestingly, the person seeking you out could actually be wearing the same thing too. When describing themselves in the post, they also mention the same five clothing items. While these items of clothing are fairly common, it could also suggest that people are generally more attracted to people with similar styles.

Certain brands seem to be more noticeable and memorable than others to those seeking out a date. These are the five brands that have been spotted on potential love interests the most:

1. Nike

2. Dr. Martens

3. Converse

4. Adidas

5. Vans

Again, it also seems the messengers themselves are also wearing these same brands the most. But, rather than Dr. Martens, they're wearing Hilfiger. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for someone in these brands giving you—and your Dr. Martens boots—the eye!

Will blondes or brunettes be having more fun?

It's the age-old question: do blondes or brunettes have more fun? Well, according to our data, more messages have been sent our seeking someone with blonde hair the most (closely followed by brunettes). So it looks like blondes really do (if they accept the dates) have more fun. Although we're sure many brunettes will vehemently disagree!

It's also important to note that those putting out the messages looking for a blonde person they spotted on their commute are also more likely to describe themselves as blonde too.

Is height important?

Lastly, in terms of physical attributes, height seemed to play an important role for both men and women. Based on our data, males typically seek out women they saw who were 5ft 6in and below, while females call out men who are 6ft and over. 

It's no secret that, generally, women tend to prefer taller men and men tend to prefer shorter women, but these results should be taken with a pinch of salt as it can be difficult to gauge a person's height - especially if they're sitting down on the tube! Whether you're taller or shorter than what people seem to be seeking, don't pass up the opportunity to shoot your shot.

What dates are on the table?

From the messages senton  Metro Rush Hour Crush, 60%  suggested going on a date if the person they spotted happened to see the message seeking them out. 



The top five date suggestions included:

1. Drink

2. Coffee

3. Meet

4. Tea

5. Dinner

Keeping it casual with a quick drink on your way home from work or a coffee in the morning before you both embark on your commute is likely the best way to go when meeting a potential love interest for the first time. Though you may have made eye contact on the tube or exchanged smiles, a relaxed and easy-going date is a great way to get to know each other on a deeper level.

Conclusion

So now you know that to attract a potential date on your commute, you'll need to dress accordingly to first catch their eye in brands such as Nike, Dr. Martens or Converse and travel in the mornings most weekdays on the Victoria or Northern line to meet your match! 

If you and your tube crush hit it off after your casual coffee date, there are plenty of romantic spots in London to impress. From rose gardens and the Royal Observatory to strolls along South Bank and sophisticated bars, London is steeped in romance and offers some of the best places to propose too (hint, hint).

Methodology

Using the Metro Rush Hour Crush, we stored each message and user each day to create an aggregate list. We then found the most frequently used words (with the exception of English words found in sklearns list of stop words) and got a count of each of them. We then added each of those to a relevant overarching category to break down the list into clusters to be further analysed.

If you're lucky enough to find the love of your life from an innocent commute crush, take a look at our range of stunning engagement rings to pop the question with.

scroll-icon