How to Make Friends in London (2024)

Become a Regular

It doesn’t matter where - becoming a regular can build familiarity and bridge the gap between small talk and a genuine friendship. Do you recognise people in the gym, a local cafe, or your nearby pub? If so, strike up a conversation and see where it goes. The beauty is you don’t need to make a friend straight away. If they’re regulars too, you’ll probably see them again, and you can build a friendship - or even a social group - over time.

Volunteer

A great way to find friends in London with similar passions and interests is to volunteer for something you care about. Whether it’s an animal shelter, a centre such as the London wildlife trust, a sporting event or a museum, you’re sure to find like-minded people who love what you love, and a perfect opportunity to connect. By working together, you’re bound to start chatting over shared interests. What’s more, you can do some real good and give back to the wider community.

Join a Sports & Fitness Club

Joining activity-based social groups is a tried and tested method of meeting people in London. Whatever your preferred sport, there are teams that play weekly matches all over the capital. Not only are you guaranteed a regular meetup, but many of London’s sports teams tend to hang out for a drink or bite to eat afterwards. If you like sports, why not explore Go Mammoth? There’s plenty of activities to dive into, from football and hockey to more unique games like ultimate frisbee (our personal favourite) and softball.

Get Gaming With Cafes & Arcades

In the 80s, arcades were a booming social hotspot and a great place to meet new friends. Nowadays, you’d be forgiven for thinking arcades no longer exist. Modern arcades and gaming cafes are thriving however, and offer classics like Pacman and Donkey Kong alongside powerful gaming rigs and setups - perfect for tackling modern, team-based competitive games such as CS:GO, Rocket League, or Dota. Side Quest Hub has venues across London, and caters for gamers with frequent tournaments, meetups and community nights. The Loading Bar features a casual atmosphere and an assortment of activities, including 100+ board games.

Knit And Chat

The art of knitting, crochet, and embroidery is enjoying a popularity boost. Are we surprised? Absolutely not. These timeless art forms allow us to explore our creativity, and they also can be very therapeutic. Many people relish the comfort of knitting, using it as an opportunity to relax, but it can also be a social affair. Knitting groups across London catch up weekly to seek advice from fellow knitters, and work together on all sorts of projects. A shared hobby like this can be a great opportunity to bond and craft new friendships.

Attend Conventions

A big part of meeting new people in London is finding those you share interests with. Heading to conferences you’re passionate about will connect you with those who have a similar enthusiasm - and the events can be seriously fun too. Whether it’s Comic Con, the EGX gaming convention or London Craft Week, there’s something for everyone - and we haven’t even mentioned all the freebies that are given away at the different stalls and talks.

Bumble BFF

Although originally known as a dating platform, Bumble now also features a BFF (best friends forever) function that’s great for meeting new people. Using a familiar swiping formula, Bumble BFF matches you with Londoners who have similar interests and passions. Just set up your profile with a personal highlight about yourself so others can find you, and start making new connections.

Meet Up With ‘Meetup'

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter. The likelihood is at least one of these apps will feature in your daily life. Despite the name, social media can sometimes leave a person feeling disconnected. Meetup, another social media platform, is a bit different. This app focuses on real-life meetups, allowing users to host their own events and meet people who share their interests in the real world. From walking clubs to writing groups, there’s plenty to do - name the event and Meetup will host it.

VINA

This one’s for the girls only - sorry guys. Vina’s goal is to build a community of like-minded women, helping members to build genuine friendships along the way. The app lets you focus on key interests and passions so you can find people you’re more likely to click with, as well as events you’re sure to enjoy. Not convinced? That’s nothing an inspiring story can’t fix, and their Vina stories page is full of them.

Peanut

Pregnancy is an exciting, life-changing experience, but it can also be isolating at times. Peanut is an app for Mums - and soon-to-be Mums - to connect. With podcasts, group forums, and a swipe and DM system, the app offers a supportive social network for users to make new friends in London.

Looking to find more useful apps for Capital life? Dive into our list of the must have apps for London.