How to make friends in London

Making new mates can be tricky and you’d be forgiven if you were feeling slightly anxious about the thought of sparking new friendships.

It might be that you’re totally new to London, or your could be familiar with the city but want to expand your circle of friends. You might be a social butterfly, or perhaps you’re someone who’s more apprehensive about meeting new people. Whatever your circumstances, we promise, meeting people in London isn’t as daunting as you might think. 

If you’re wondering how to make friends in London, then here are a few tips:

Move into a co-living space

Moving into a co-living space presents you with a fast-track pass to meeting new people and striking up new friendships. ARK co-living studios in Wembley are all about building a community of diverse people, consciously designed to enhance and ignite those human-to-human connections.

The best bit? The hard work is done for you, thanks to ARK’s trendy social spaces, which provide the perfect platform for mingling. Grab a beer and get conversations flowing on the roof terrace. Or rustle up a meal with your neighbour in the communal kitchen. And of course, don’t forget about ARK’s carefully curated timetable of events, which includes summer HIIT sessions, baking lessons and regular yoga classes.

Take up a hobby or sport

Now is the perfect time to start a new hobby or join a sports team. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to give something a try. Well, now’s your opportunity! Or maybe you’re a total pro’ at playing football, and fancy joining your local five-a-side.

Honestly, getting stuck into a hobby or sport is a great way to make new friends and meet fellow enthusiasts. Plus, you’re almost guaranteed to meet like-minded people who have similar interests to you, which means engaging in conversation will be easy peasy.

With a schedule bursting full of events, lessons and fitness sessions, ARK co-living space has plenty to get you started. It’s also worth checking out The Yellow, a community hub based in Wembley Park, offering a calendar of workshops, clubs and classes, for all interests.

Get to know your local area

Whether it’s the local gym, your local pub or a nearby coffee shop, find somewhere that you like spending time at and become a regular. 

Soon enough, you’ll become familiar with those working there, and they will become familiar with you too - after all, a smile goes a long way when you’re new to a city. And, if you make an extra effort to go at the same time, the chances are, you’ll start seeing the fellow ‘regulars’ too - and before you know it, you can be regulars together. 

Join a friendship app

There’s more to dating apps than simply playing cupid. In fact, there are plenty of friendship apps available too, making it easier than ever to socially connect with new people. Here are some of our favourites:

  • BumbleBFF: Just like Bumble, but for pals. It’s female only, so perfect for growing your circle of girls.

  • Friender: Specifically centred around the activities and hobbies that you like, Friender connects you with others who have similar interests. 

  • Meetup: A platform for hosting in-person and virtual events, making Meetup ideal for those wanting to meet new people and make lasting friendships.