PEOPLE IN LONDON

Whether you’re Introverted or extroverted, humans are social creatures, yet we often find it difficult to make new friends, particularly as we get older. Our lives have a structure that prevents the space and ease of making new connections; instead, we move from work to home to prioritising our nearest and dearest on our cherished weekends. It is also a commonly known fact that cities can be lonely places, especially when it’s frowned upon to even look a stranger in the eye on the tube. Making friends is no longer an easy process. You can’t just decide to be someone’s friend like you did at school, adulthood has made us realise that in order to get to know new people, we need to put some time aside and actually put some effort in, research actually shows over half of Londoners are in fact lonely. Does this sound like you? Do you yearn for a new pal to share a new interest with? Do you feel like you need a single friend to party with? It’s clear that making friends has become a bit like dating, which we all know has its obstacles, so here’s some tips for connecting with new people.

If it’s been a while since you’ve made new friends, then we have got the perfect approach. Not now just for dating, apps have provided a fresh approach to meeting your new best mate. Now, you have something to be doing whilst you avoid eye contact on the tube. Nextdoor provides that community energy that places outside of cities have in abundance, encouraging people who live nearby to connect. How annoying is it when all your friends live on the other side of the river? Let’s recreate the friendships of University where we could pop in for a cup of tea (or a G + T) without taking off our PJs.

Casting a slightly wider net, head to Bumble BFF. The name says it all, and if you’ve ever used Bumble, you’ll know these guys are great at bringing people together so go check it out. Now, this one is just for females, but it comes highly recommended, Hey! VINA, is being called the tinder for (girl) friends, and it has built a great community of women so far.

Of course, apps aren’t the only way to get some new mates. Maybe you’re the more face to face type, or you want an excuse to try a new activity. There are tons of activities in the city to join, from running clubs like Your Friendly Runners, to a great platform like The Stack World, which is a community of book clubs, supper clubs, and workshops run by women for women. Another website is Meetup, which is for everyone, with online and in person events. So, if you’re learning a new language or fancy volunteering, head to their website and join, or, if you’re feeling brave, start a new group!