6 ways to meet new people

Moving to a new city or country can be an isolating experience as it is not always easy to make new friends. London is one of the biggest cities in the world and there are lots of ways to meet new people. Here are our top six:

1. At university

As daunting as it may be, reaching out to your peers in lecture halls can be a great way to meet new people. Sit next to somebody new and ask them how their day was, about the next assignment or if they wanted to grab a coffee after class. Such small talk can lead to the greatest friendships. Be bold, brave and make the first move. Clubs, societies and volunteering opportunities are also a great way to meet people who have similar interests to you.

2. By becoming a regular

Shopping at your local shop or stopping by your local café for a coffee on the way home can help make you feel like you belong somewhere. Conversations with staff and others will soon begin to flow as they recognise you and get to know you over time.

3. By exercising and having fun

Keep fit and make new friends at the same time! Rabble is a unique initiative to have fun and get fit as a group. Exercise is disguised as games of dodgeball, British Bulldog, frisbee and many more!

You could also attend ParkRun, which is a 5km run that takes place at local parks around the UK every Saturday. The event is open to people of all abilities. You run, jog or walk it! With fellow ParkRunners cheering you on, you’ll be sure to make friends in no time. (You could also meet people from other areas as you go on a ParkRun tour around the country/world!)

4. By pushing your boundaries

Learn something new and meet some incredible people at the same time. You could learn things such as astrology, baking, calligraphy, public speaking, knitting and many more! You can check out Hotcourses to begin with.

5. Living in shared accommodation

Living with other people may seem frightening, but it’s a great opportunity to network. Co-living spaces for students and adults often have organised activities such as exercise classes, book clubs, language exchanges and hangouts – the perfect scenario to get talking to others.

6. On online platforms

Meeting people online should always be approached with caution but it can be a fantastic way to pair you up with like-minded people. Meetup is a platform where you find a group, join and then attend in-person Meetups. There are groups for thousands of interests, hobbies and occupations.

Thinking Bob is also a way of meeting new people through quirky and fun social events. Bond with others as you take part in escape rooms, murder mysteries, board games and treasure hunts.

If you want to change things up a little you could try CitySocializer. CitySocializer has all sorts of gatherings such as art and theatre trips, bike rides, jogging, cinema trips and weekends away!

By Ayesha Khan, Communications and Projects Adviser, Student Support and Wellbeing