The law

The legal age of consent for sex between a man and a woman in England, Scotland and Wales is 16. In Northern Ireland it’s 17.

The legal age of consent for anal sex between a man and a woman in England and Wales is 18. In Scotland it’s 16. In Northern Ireland it’s illegal.

The legal age of consent for anal sex between two men in the UK is 18, provided both men consent.

There is no law on the age of consent for sex between two women. However, certain laws suggest that both women must consent and be over 16, except in Northern Ireland, where they must be over 17.