Daylight does half the work
Outside, you can see faces, and a face does a lot of the talking. On a pavement, in a park or at the next table in a pub garden, it's easy to tell whether someone is open to a chat or in a hurry. Headphones in, phone out and a quick stride mean not now. A slower walk, a glance back or a smile mean you might have an opening.
Pick settings where people are already lingering: a market, a park on a sunny Saturday, the queue at a food stall, a festival field, the seafront on a bank holiday. People who are lingering have time to talk, and there is something to comment on. A dog makes an easy opener too, as long as you ask before you stroke it.
The street post is practical about the approach: come at them from the front so you don't startle anyone, say honestly why you stopped, keep the chat ordinary and suggest a coffee there and then, or ask for a number. Something like "Sorry to stop you, I liked your coat and wanted to say hello" does the job, and it leaves them a choice of a coffee, a number or nothing. Add two rules of your own. Keep your distance and your tone light, and if you get a no, say "No problem, enjoy your day" and walk on.
Turn a quick hello into a proper meet
The mask post has a neat outdoor tip: once you're talking, take a table in the sun so you can see each other smile. On a warm UK afternoon that's a beer garden; the rest of the year, a café window will do. A place with a bit of bustle also means neither of you feels cornered.
Outside is for meeting. Keep the rest for later, behind a closed door. If it's going well, suggest a time and a public place for a proper date, swap numbers only when you both want to, and tell a friend if you're meeting someone you've only just met. The hookup safety tips run through what to do before the first drink.
For more places to start, try places to hook up, and for what to say once you're talking, communication is worth a read. Not feeling brave? The near me page is a gentler way in: look for people near your own town first and say hello from the sofa.
Meet someone in daylight
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