Moving to London as a singleton aged 55

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I am about to relocate back to London after a 25 year break and am looking for ways to get to know people. I live really centrally and most local things seemed to be geared to twenty somethings. I’m young at heart and full of beans, but I’m old enough to be their Mum. Need to find 40 somethings ideally. Any ideas? Thanks

I moved to a city alone at your age last year. I joined a rock choir, also some activities associated to my job through my employer. I joined a leisure club, I take myself off to theatre/gigs/restaurants etc alone and always get talking to someone. I have a dog which definitely helps as she strikes up lots of conversations with people and I’ve made friends thru her weirdly!!
i’m on the edge of the city I moved to and it’s got a bit of a village vibe the area I live in so I just joined all the local groups and if there’s anything going on that interests me I go along and get talking to people.

i’m not sure if any of that is relevant to you or will help, but just letting you know what I did. I’ve only been here less than a year and I’ve got a really good social life.

Meetup is v good.

I'm a runner, so I'd join a running group with a membership that skews older. My running group (not London or I'd recommend) is a real mix, but it's mainly aged 40-60 and it's a lovely, friendly group.

Exercise classes of all kinds and gyms can be friendly things to join. Crossfit is very social, for instance, although it's pretty hardcore! My local one has a good mix of ages though.

But yes to choirs, walking groups, environmental groups (litter picking, removing invasive species, etc), or look at Meet-Up for groups for all kinds of different interests https://www.meetup.com/find/gb--17--london/

Join a church, a choir, evening classes, special interest groups, a gym, sports clubs. Will you meet people through work? Have a house/flat share with a more mature person - you’ll meet their friendship group.

No-one bats an eyelid at people eating out alone, going to the cinema or events in London. There’s also Meet Up.

I have lived between London and a smaller city. I used a gym in both areas. What I found is that daytime classes had a lot more middleaged people attending them and there was a bit of a social scene. A lot of people network via religion, hobbies and professional organisations.

My dogs acted as ice breakers. I walked them (now one sadly) in the park at the same time and started chatting to the people I see every day. Then one asked me what street I lived on and got me on the street WhatsApp. Then told someone else about me who asked me round for coffee. They are at least a decade younger than me but our dogs are a common ground. I’ve tried workshops but unfortunately nothing that meets over time as yet, but will do that in the spring - I have my eye on a stained glass course.
You can volunteer at museums too - the V&A is always looking for example. I imagine there’s quite an opportunity to meet people there.

Tate Modern is open until 2100 every Friday, and there’s always a variety of people there, and a fair few appear to be solo

Is there a qualification you could usefully (or for entertainment) gain?

In my 50s, after about 15 years out of London, I undertook a Master’s degree at a London institution. The shared endeavour of the course brought me a whole new world of contacts and gateways into the life of the city. Obviously you’ll meet lots of people by joining a club or gym or whatever, but it’s working with people on a shared project that really breaks down boundaries and brings you closer together.

Thanks @Nugg . Not sure I have the singing voice for a choir, but I get the gist. Unfortunately I work for a very small start up - just me and my boss and work from home, so it’s not a source of getting out and about much. I’ll take your advice on going out and about on my own. I’ve only braved the cinema so far. And maybe I should get a dog? I live on 14th floor so not much fun for the dog! Thanks though.

That’s great as it’s very close by. I’ll try that.

I’ll have a think about a qualification. Not sure in what though.

Volunteering sounds interesting. I’ll enquire about that.

Unfortunately I work in a small start up so not much chance of meeting people through work and I have my own flat already. I’ll definitely try heading out to places on my own.

I’m a runner too. Have only managed to find a group with mainly young runners so far, but will keep looking.
I’ll keep trying Meetup too. Still a bit all over the place with what I want to be doing as just exiting a 25 year relationship.

It’s worth becoming a member since you get entry to exhibitions at all of the Tate Galleries, from St Ives to Dundee via Liverpool … and the Members Room is fab