How to fit it to the Metropolis!
When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.
Samuel Johnson
A few years ago now I moved to London and I love it however, whilst moving to a new city is an exciting personal challenge, it’s also very intimidating, especially for an Irish country bumpkin! I suppose It’s normal to feel a bit nervous about making new friends, especially in a city of more than eight million, let's face it London isn’t really known for its community spirit!
I consider myself fortunate to work in a job where new employees are welcomed from all over the world, as an immigrant myself I’m often asked; how do you make friends in this sprawling metropolis? Here’s some of the things I found useful. 1. Move into a share house Before I got a place of my own I moved into a shared house. Moving into a shared house was a great way of making new friends fast, one word of caution though, make sure you choose wisely! Make sure you pick flatmates who are sociable and enjoying hanging out together. A good place to start your search in a big organisation is their intranet notice board, likeminded people with an instant common bond! 2. Get to know your local Is there anything more quintessentially British than heading down to the local pub? Relaxing with a long pint of lager, (not ladylike I know but tell someone that gives a monkey’s!), on a balmy July day or, warming up with a hot spiced cider on a frosty February day is one of the easiest ways to get to know your neighbourhood and feel like a local! 3. Become a regular somewhere Stopping by at your local Starbucks or Costa on the way home from gym, taking some classes at the nearby Salsa club or joining the local netball team can help you branch out socially with the added benefit of getting fit! You’ll begin to feel part of the community and odds are you’ll get to know the staff and other regulars over time. 4. Pick up some new hobbies If you’re looking to meet new people, now’s the time to take a cooking course or learn a new language. Picking up a new hobby is one of the fastest ways to mix with like-minded people and make new social connections. 5. Get to know your friends’ friends Having your friends introduce you to their friends is an easy, no-stress way to branch out socially. When catching up for drinks or throwing a party, encourage your friends to bring someone along so you can meet new people. I have my own place now which I share with some friends, one of which was the friend of a friend so, you never know where these things will go!
6. Volunteer for something
I recently read an article in the local paper about a group of people who are helping clean up a local park following local government budget cuts. Sounded like a great way of getting some fresh air whilst doing some community good so down i popped! It was a lot of fun and I met some lovely people, one of which is a real keeper! 7. Take a London, (Insert your own city here!!), walking tour Taking a walking tour is a great way to get to know your new city with some like-minded people. Check out Free Tours by Foot, Free Tours of London or London Walks for a great day out and about in the city or, try something a little creepier like a night time Jack the Ripper tour! 8. Connect with other expats Connect with other expats by joining online communities. Jump on the London New Girl Facebook group to reach out to others and make a new friend or two in no time. Real friends aren’t always easy to find. To make it happen, try not to come on too strong too soon, stay true to who you are and make the effort to put yourself out there. Starting from scratch in a new place can be daunting, but don’t forget that many of us are new to the city too. London might be a big city but it doesn’t have to feel that way, after all, making great connections is the first step to truly feeling at home here.
