How to make friends in London

London can be the loneliest big city in the world. Nearly nine million people, and somehow you can go a whole week without a real conversation. The truth is friendships here don't happen by accident, everyone is busy and scattered across thirty different postcodes. But once you know where people actually gather and you start showing up, it moves fast. Here's exactly where to go and how to get from scrolling alone to being out with a group this weekend.

Where people actually meet in London

Skip the dating apps and the awkward pub small talk. In London people connect around a shared thing to do:

See what's happening in London this week

Where do people meet new friends in London?

Around shared activities: rooftop and market crawls in Shoreditch, wild swimming and walks on Hampstead Heath, culture nights on the South Bank, picnics in Peckham, and free parkruns every Saturday. Joining a planned activity beats going out alone.

Is it hard to make friends in London as an expat or newcomer?

It feels hard at first because Londoners are busy and spread out, but the city is full of people in exactly the same boat. If you join weekly activities, run clubs and meetups, you'll build a circle within a few weeks.

What can I do alone in London to meet people?

Go to a parkrun, a language exchange, a group walk on the Heath, a South Bank gallery night or a board game evening. These are all built for people who show up solo, and you leave with a group.

How does GooMit help me make friends in London?

GooMit shows real activities happening near you in London, a run, a walk, a drink, a gallery night, that you can join in one tap, then chat with the group about when to meet. You come alone, you leave with people.