'Tinder for elites' is coming to London because dating isn't already hard enough

Heaven help us all.
 By 
Rachel Thompson
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Just when you thought dating couldn't get any harder, a super-exclusive dating app for the crème de la crème of "ambitious intellectuals" is about to land in London.

The League -- which has been dubbed "Tinder for the elites" -- claims to cater to "the intelligent, educated and ambitious" who are looking for a "'power couple' dynamic in their partnerships."

Currently, The League is only available in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Boston. But, this is about to change, as the app announces its plan to expand into 10 international cities this year, with London first up on the agenda.

Hookup apps for everyone

AdultFriendFinder readers’ pick for casual connections

Hinge popular choice for regular meetups

Products available for purchase through affiliate links. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

The app, which launched in 2015, models itself on "private members only clubs like Soho House," with its highly selective admissions-based approach to dating. Potential users are screened based on their education and professional background prior to being granted -- or denied -- access. Those lucky enough to get in receive an email informing them they've been "drafted into The League."

If you're worried about bumping into your equally intelligent and ambitious co-workers on the app, then fear not. The app pools your LinkedIn data to block you from your coworkers, or those who self-identify as "currently" working for the same company as you. The app also blocks your Facebook friends using the same method, so you won't happen upon any existing connections.

In a statement, the dating app said London was chosen as its first international stop due to its "similarities to Manhattan" -- The League's "best market to date."

"London has an incredible pool of ambitious, well­ educated men and women that are looking for someone who shares their drive. There aren't many cities like London in the world," said The League's founder and CEO Amanda Bradford in a statement.

The League will officially launch in London on April 25, and the app says it will select just 2,000 from the 10,000 people currently on its waitlist to join its founding London community. The app is free to download, but current U.S.-based users have the option of purchasing a yearly subscription for $179 a year, which gives access to "more prospects" and invites to exclusive events.

Rachel Thompson, sits wearing a dress with yellow florals and black background.
Rachel Thompson
Features Editor

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.

A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.

Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
How to cancel your Tinder subscription
Silhouette of a hand holding a smartphone displaying the Tinder app.

All your Tinder questions, answered
tinder logo on a smartphone

New Tinder users in the UK will now need to scan their faces
Tinder on app store appearing on iPhone


Hinge tests facial recognition scans in these countries
hinge logo on iphone

More in Life

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!