The age of consent in the UK is 16, would a 16 y/o being in a 5 year age gap be okay?

I currently have a crush on someone who’s 5 years older than me. At first I thought I was just nervous and shy to talk to them and that I only wanted to be their friend but when I found out I actually had developed feelings for them a few weeks ago I started to question myself A LOT. I don’t want them to be seen as a weird person and I don’t want to be seen as weird either. The fact that we share a lot of interests and that they’re nicer than my ex-girlfriend makes me feel worse. I don’t want to end up losing them as a friend and I don’t want to ruin their life at all, I have insanely terrible luck in relationships I don’t even know what to do. We’re both in college and we’re both students in college but I still don’t know if people would frown upon this. I don’t plan on confessing to them just in case if some bad things happen but I think one of my friends might now know that I have a crush on them because of the way I reacted when they said that they weren’t referring to them and I dating (they said something that sounded like we were in a relationship and I commented on how it sounded wrong, we were both joking about). I’m starting to think that I’m a weird and stupid person. Again, the age of consent in the UK is 16 and we’re both British but I just don’t know if this is okay or not.

I currently have a crush on someone who’s 5 years older than me. At first I thought I was just nervous and shy to talk to them and that I only wanted to be their friend but when I found out I actually had developed feelings for them a few weeks ago I started to question myself A LOT. I don’t want them to be seen as a weird person and I don’t want to be seen as weird either. The fact that we share a lot of interests and that they’re nicer than my ex-girlfriend makes me feel worse. I don’t want to end up losing them as a friend and I don’t want to ruin their life at all, I have insanely terrible luck in relationships I don’t even know what to do. We’re both in college and we’re both students in college but I still don’t know if people would frown upon this. I don’t plan on confessing to them just in case if some bad things happen but I think one of my friends might now know that I have a crush on them because of the way I reacted when they said that they weren’t referring to them and I dating (they said something that sounded like we were in a relationship and I commented on how it sounded wrong, we were both joking about). I’m starting to think that I’m a weird and stupid person. Again, the age of consent in the UK is 16 and we’re both British but I just don’t know if this is okay or not.

It is fine, so long as you are fine with it. Its not massive gap and if they are nice why not.

Because there is a clear difference in the level of emotional maturity between a 16 vs a 21 year old. It’s not okay.

You are generalising. It depends on individuals. So you must have been aghast at President Macron marrying his teacher then ?.

It's not about the age difference, but rather so the ages when it happens. I'm not sure how old you are but after a certain age you realise it's weird & also predatory when people your age are 'dating' under 18s. There is a difference between a 15 year old & a 21 year old. Im 23, I look very young & have constantly been hit on by 17/18 year olds (unfortunately) & i myself know THERE is a maturity difference.
Yes, you're right. Not EVERY single individual will have this applied to them but in general, yes it's true. I'm not sure if you're a kid trying to delude themselves into thinking it's fine or an adult trying to justify it but either way, stop this, it's a quite dangerous mindset.

Here's my stance on this kind of thing (not everyone agrees with it, but, as I said, it's my personal view.)
I think it very much depends on the nature of the attraction.
For example if the two people in such a relationship could convince me that there was a genuine mutual connection, and they are naturally each others type (looks & personality-wise), they have similar likes and interests and they just happened to be their respective ages... personally, I would give them the benefit of the doubt. However, if it transpires that fact that the younger party's age is a major part of the attraction (e.g. the older person is looking for a 16-17 year old), then yes, I agree alarm bells should start ringing (before anyone starts, yes, I am aware no one is actually breaking the law... but it fuels the predatory arguments always assumed in these cases).

I understand & agree with you but I might be a bit bias. At my age, if someone is interested in someone under the age of 18, automatically red flags pop off in my head. Yeah, give them the benefit of the doubt and say they do have a lot in common with that person but so would with someone who is age appropriate. Unfortunately, most of the time, the age is a factor in attractiveness and not in terms of physical attractiveness, but more so the older person is emotionally immature and the younger person does not see this & is easier to manipulate. So even if OP is the younger one in this scenario, people would raise eyebrows (rightfully so) at the older person.
Maybe there is a reason why they cannot be with someone closer in age to them.

I currently have a crush on someone who’s 5 years older than me. At first I thought I was just nervous and shy to talk to them and that I only wanted to be their friend but when I found out I actually had developed feelings for them a few weeks ago I started to question myself A LOT. I don’t want them to be seen as a weird person and I don’t want to be seen as weird either. The fact that we share a lot of interests and that they’re nicer than my ex-girlfriend makes me feel worse. I don’t want to end up losing them as a friend and I don’t want to ruin their life at all, I have insanely terrible luck in relationships I don’t even know what to do. We’re both in college and we’re both students in college but I still don’t know if people would frown upon this. I don’t plan on confessing to them just in case if some bad things happen but I think one of my friends might now know that I have a crush on them because of the way I reacted when they said that they weren’t referring to them and I dating (they said something that sounded like we were in a relationship and I commented on how it sounded wrong, we were both joking about). I’m starting to think that I’m a weird and stupid person. Again, the age of consent in the UK is 16 and we’re both British but I just don’t know if this is okay or not.