How To Meet People And Make Friends In London | 10 Top Tips

Striking up new friendships can be super tricky, especially when you’re completely new to a place, for example if you’ve just moved into your student accommodation in London and don’t know anyone at all!

The good news is, you’ve already made a huge leap by choosing to go to university, a place where you will make friends for life.

The fact that you’re studying in a city like London is very handy too, with so much to see and do in this busy city, you’re bound to get plenty of opportunities to make some new pals.

Fear not though, because there’s a whole bunch of apps, clubs and societies you can join to help you meet new people and make friends in this city. We’ve made a list to give you a helping hand, you’ll be a social butterfly in no time!

1. Pick Some New Hobbies

keeping up painting as a hobby

Now more than ever would be a fabulous opportunity to find some new hobbies. Maybe whilst you were at school, you were always interested in a specific thing but never got the chance to pursue it? Well now’s your chance!

We’d recommend writing a list of all the things you think you’d be interested in and having a look online to see if there’s any clubs in your local area.

There’s no better time than now, to bond with those who have a similar interest to you.

Attending a class or club on a regular basis will give you plenty of time to get to know people, as well as the subject itself giving you a perfect topic of conversation (so no awkward silences!).

2. Get To Know Your Local Pub

grabbing a pint with your new friends

It’s always great to check our your local pub or bar as soon as possible! Are there any regulars you think you’d get along with? Do they seem like your kind of people?

We’re not saying you need to turn into some sort of inspector, but it’s always a nice idea to explore your local pub, because what breaks the ice better than an alcoholic beverage!

A drink or two might help to loosen your nerves and make you feel a little more confident when chatting to people, just make sure you don’t get on the sambuca shots too early.

3. Join A Society

playing football on a pitch

We’d highly recommend joining a society when moving to London to study, purely because it’s an incredibly easy way to make new friends!

Obviously whichever university you’re studying at will have different societies, but we can assure you, you’ll be spoilt for choice with plenty of societies wherever you are.

Take the University of London for example, they have a vast array of societies for you to sink your teeth into, from breakdancing to an orchestra society!

If you head over to your university website you’ll be able to find a list of all the societies available for you to join, all you need to do is sign up and you’re ready to go.

Typically, university teams will host regular socials which involve alcohol, so get ready to make lots of new friends (whilst being responsible of course!).

4. Download The Latest Apps

girl playing on phone chatting to her new friends

We’re totally aware that millennials are being actively encouraged to spend less time on their phones, but hear us out here!

There are so many cool apps you can download that are great for helping you meet new people in London.

Hey! VINA and Bumble BFF are popular choices that ensure your potential new friends have similar interests to you.

These apps are a great start to new friendships, and can be downloaded with one simple click.

Don’t worry though, you won’t get any Tinder weirdos (we hope!).

5. Bond Over Food!

people eating together and bonding over food

Everyone loves tasty food, so why not bond over a deliciously cooked meal?

Eatwith is a platform that allows pre-selected hosts to share their cooking skills with other members of the platform.

Each event is hosted in a whole bunch of different locations, from an edgy flat in Camden to a posh apartment in Kensington!

This platform is perfect if you’re into cooking too, giving you the perfect excuse to brush up on your culinary skills.

If you’re looking for something a little more boujee, why not head for a bottomless brunch in London? We have even collected a list of the top ones which won’t break the bank…you’re welcome!

6. Join An Exercise Class

making friends with people in london through exercising

We know exercise can be a bit daunting sometimes, but it’s a great way to make new friends when studying in London!

Whether its joining a club at your local gym and meeting likeminded people, or getting more creative with groups like Rabble or Project Awesome.

Rabble is a great way of disguising exercise and making it more fun, with games like dodgeball, British bulldog, and even a ‘zombie hunt’!

If you’re after more of a vibrant and colourful vibe, Project Awesome has no membership, no fees, and is a totally free and fun way of exercising in London.

All you have to do is show up, but if you’d prefer to give them the heads up, let them know via their website.

7. Mix With Your Friends’ Friends!

people eating food together and mixing friendship groups

This may seem like a bit of an obvious one, but mixing with your new friends’ friends gives you the perfect opportunity to broaden your circle.

Whether that’s by going on a night out, going for some lunch, or just a generally fun activity such as shopping, it’s all about being confident and mixing with people.

Whilst studying at university, you’ll be meeting new people every day, so if you actively try to get to know more people, you’ll be a social butterfly in no time. 

If going on a night out isn’t your thing, don’t worry! You’ll have plenty of opportunities to mix with different people in our common rooms, alcohol or no alcohol.

8. Socialise With Your Course Mates

friends laughing in London together

Mixing with your course mates is a great way to get to know people similar to you, with similar interests!

You don’t need to worry about awkward gaps in conversation, because you can always chat about the course, and even help each other out on studying!

Being friends with your course mates is super valuable during your time at university, because you can help each other out with studies, and form a great bond in the process.

This doesn’t mean that you have to be friends with your course mates though! If you don’t think there’s anyone on your course that could be your pal, there’s so many other ways to make friends.

9. Be Confident!

woman confident in her own skin whilst searching for friends

Make sure you’re nice and confident when attending university, we’re not asking you to put on a theatrical performance (but you can do if that’s your thing!)

In a city like London, it’s easy to become a little overwhelmed as it’s such a busy place.

You need to remember that you’re all in the same boat, and you’re all going to be very nervous, but that’s what makes it super exciting.

Perhaps you could arrange the first night out, or organise a group dinner in the shared kitchen? There’s plenty of ways to break the ice, you just need to be confident when doing so.

10. Find Your Passion

girl painting and finding her purpose

Once you know your passion, you’re one step closer to meeting like minded people who share your interests.

Say for example, you really love art, why not look online and see if you can find some art clubs near you?

Obby is a great website to find in-person classes and online classes in London, all tailored to suit your interests.

How To Make Friends And New People In London 2022

Overall, you’re seriously NOT going to struggle making new friends in London if you stick to these 10 simple tips. You’re guaranteed to find besties who you get along with, especially if you head down the hobbies/societies route.

Keep a positive mind, don’t get disheartened and make sure to use every form of communication where possible! It’s 2022 and our phones are basically attached to our hips – call people, text them, send them funny gifs! Making friendships is a two way street and we’re 100% certain you’re going to receive the same back. 

Table of Contents