AIBU to ask for tips on how to try new things and widen my social circle?

[FoxtrotGolf]

This might sound really sad but AIBU to ask you for ideas on how to widen my social circle?

To give a bit of background, I’m in my late twenties and work full-time in London, and have a few groups of friends who I get on really well with and enjoy spending time with.

A couple of years before starting my current job though, I went through a period of time where I freelanced whilst looking for full-time work (after giving up a teacher training course) and I felt really lonely and got very down.

I‘d like to get to know more people because I want to avoid that experience happening again and because I’d love to make the most out of living in London/a big city. Also because I think although I’m normally quite a shy person, and I’ve noticed that I’m becoming more independent and willing to go out of my comfort zone to try new things, and I’m keen to keep this up.

I’ve already started off by joining some groups on Meet Up (an app which shows social meet-ups in your area based around different hobbies and activities). I’d love to find out some more ideas. Do you have any tips please?

might you enjoy trying climbing? Lots of walls across London and it is a very social sport. You can start of with a short course to learn and then most the walls run social sessions that are full of all levels of ability looking to make friends to climb with. Climbers tend to be a lovely bunch of people IME. Much easier to make friends over a shared interest

Not sure how you would feel about this, but the best way I found of widening my social circle was when I started going to church! I went after I got my DC baptised. I am not overly religious at all but really enjoy the community feel and have made lots of friends that I socialise with.

Of course, you have to engage with the whole church/Christianity thing to an extent so it might be a non-starter if you are opposed to/uninterested in that, but if it's something you could think about trying there are several churches in central London I believe that have quite young congregations, or you could try an Alpha course? (Disclaimer: the Alpha course is designed with the hope of encouraging you to come to church).

Thanks for your reply squee! I completely agree that getting to know people through a shared interest is a great way to meet - that’s what made me think it would be a good idea to join Meet Up. I have tried climbing in the past a couple of times to give it a go, but I’m not great with heights unforturnately.

You could join Ladies Circle. I joined 4 yrs ago after moving house and knowing nobody. I now have a lovely group of local friends, and friends further afield I've met through events.
It is a friendship group, there are groups all over the world.
City of London is the closest to you. They have a facebook page with more information.
their website is: www.ladiescircle.co.uk

Ah gre, going to church sounds interesting, Dippy. I wasn’t brought up in a religious family, but I’m open to visiting a church to find out more so I’ll definitely look into it.

Not sure if I got ou right. Do you only want to meet more people or also try new things?

Try new things and widen your social circle.... maybe thats is an odd idea... but here is what I would do. I would try to think of the thing that none of your friends enjoys... you know the thing that does not play a role in your world.

Maybe none of your friends likes golf or jogging or painting - just as an example - and you think it must be boring and silly and everybody who enjoys it must be a square... and then I would try it... maybe you find out it really is boring and silly and people who enjoy it are really squares or just the opposite is the case...

Or you go the opposite route and do something you always enjoyed, join a club and meet a lot of people who enjoy the same thing. That’s pretty much fun too.

How about girl crew? They seem like a lot of fun.
www.girlcrew.com/girlcrew-london/

Thanks for your suggestion, Lucylugs :)

Not sure if I got ou right. Do you only want to meet more people or also try new things?Try new things and widen your social circle.... maybe thats is an odd idea... but here is what I would do. I would try to think of the thing that none of your friends enjoys... you know the thing that does not play a role in your world.

Flyingfish2019, I’d like to do both things, really - meet new people and try new things. Your suggestion sounds like a good idea - thanks :)