Making Friends as an Immigrant in the UK: Practical Guide

Why Making Friends in the UK Can Feel Difficult

If you have recently moved to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa, spouse visa, student visa, or any other route, you may find that making friends feels harder than you expected. This is not unusual, and it is not a reflection on you.

British social culture has several characteristics that newcomers often find challenging:

• Politeness does not equal friendship. British people are generally polite and will engage in pleasant small talk, but this does not necessarily signal an interest in becoming friends. The gap between "friendly acquaintance" and "actual friend" is wider in the UK than in many cultures.
• Established social circles. Many British people have friend groups dating back to school or university. These groups can feel difficult to break into as an outsider.
• The pub is a social hub. Much British socialising happens in pubs. If you do not drink alcohol or feel uncomfortable in pub settings, you may feel excluded from a major social channel.
• Understatement and indirectness. British communication tends to be understated and indirect. What seems like lukewarm interest ("we should do something sometime") may actually be genuine — or it may be politeness. Learning to read these signals takes time.

Practical Strategies for Meeting People

Join Clubs and Societies

The UK has an extraordinarily rich culture of clubs and societies for almost every interest imaginable. This is one of the best ways to meet people because it provides a shared activity (removing the awkwardness of socialising for its own sake) and regular contact (which builds familiarity over time).

• Sports. Parkrun (free, timed Saturday morning runs held at many locations), local football leagues, cricket clubs, swimming clubs, hiking groups, yoga classes, and climbing walls.
• Hobbies. Book clubs, board game groups, knitting circles, gardening allotments, photography clubs, and cooking classes.
• Creative. Art classes, amateur dramatics (am-dram), choir or singing groups, and creative writing workshops.

Volunteering

Volunteering is one of the fastest ways to build connections. It gives you a sense of purpose, puts you in regular contact with like-minded people, and is valued in British culture. Check your visa conditions to confirm voluntary work is permitted on your route. On a Skilled Worker visa, for example, GOV.UK says you can do voluntary work, but it must be unpaid — other than reasonable expenses such as travel — and for a registered charity, a voluntary organisation, an associated fundraising body, or a statutory body such as Historic England. Other routes carry their own wording, so read the conditions on your own permission.

Places to volunteer include local food banks, charity shops (Oxfam, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK), community gardens, hospitals, animal shelters, and environmental projects.

Apps and Online Communities

• Meetup. The most popular app for finding local interest groups and events. Especially strong in cities.
• Bumble BFF. A friend-finding mode within the Bumble app. Match with people looking for platonic friendships.
• Nextdoor. A neighbourhood-focused social network. Good for finding hyper-local events and groups.
• Facebook Groups. Search for "[your city] + [your nationality]" or "internationals in [your city]." These groups are often very active and welcoming.

Workplace Connections

If you are working in the UK, your colleagues are a natural starting point. British workplaces often have social events (Friday drinks, team lunches, charity events). Saying yes to these invitations, even when you feel tired or uncertain, is how workplace acquaintances become friends.

Community and Religious Groups

If you are religious, attending a local church, mosque, temple, gurdwara, or synagogue can provide an instant community. Many religious institutions in the UK have specific groups for newcomers or international members.

Non-religious community options include local community centres, libraries (which often host free events), and council-organised activities.

Understanding British Social Norms

• Queuing. The British queue for everything. Respect the queue and never push in. This is a core social norm.
• Apologising. British people say "sorry" constantly, even when something is not their fault. Adopting this habit helps you fit in.
• Small talk. Weather, traffic, and weekend plans are safe topics. Salary, religion, and politics are generally avoided in casual conversation.
• Reciprocity. If someone buys you a drink at the pub, you are expected to buy the next round. This "round system" is fundamental to British pub culture.
• Timekeeping. A few minutes late is usually fine socially; arriving well after the agreed time without a message is not. For work, be on time.
• Personal space. British people value personal space more than many cultures. Standing too close during conversation can feel uncomfortable.

Supporting Your Mental Health

Loneliness and homesickness are normal parts of the immigration experience. If you are struggling, you are not alone. See our mental health support guide for resources available to immigrants in the UK.

Practical steps to protect your wellbeing:

• Stay in regular contact with family and friends at home (video calls, messages).
• Maintain routines from your home country (cooking familiar food, celebrating your holidays).
• Set realistic expectations. Building a social circle takes time — be patient with yourself.
• Register with a GP so you can access mental health support through the NHS if needed.

For Partners and Spouses

If you have moved to the UK on a spouse visa, your partner may be at work during the day, leaving you at home without a social network. This is one of the most common sources of isolation for spouse visa holders.

Prioritise finding your own activities and social connections outside the relationship. English language classes (if needed — see our English language tests guide), parent and toddler groups (if you have young children), and local volunteer work are all excellent starting points.

City-Specific Tips

• London. Huge international community but can feel isolating due to its size. Meetup is very active. Focus on your neighbourhood rather than trying to socialise across the city.
• Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds. Strong international communities, more affordable, and often easier to build connections than London due to smaller size.
• Edinburgh, Glasgow. Large university populations, including many international students, so the student-linked social infrastructure is well developed.
• Smaller towns. Fewer international communities, but people may be more welcoming on an individual level. Local clubs and pubs are the main social venues.

Next Steps

Pick one activity you genuinely enjoy and go back to it regularly. Repeated contact with the same people is what turns acquaintances into friends, and a single visit rarely tells you whether a group suits you.

For settling-in basics, see our guides on opening a bank account, getting a National Insurance number, and registering with a GP. For official support services, the GOV.UK find a community support group or organisation service lists resources by area.

Questions and answers