Good activities someone could turn up and enjoy outside the house without pre-existing friends or family?
Posted by gintokireddit@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 22 comments
Well?
I've seen "board games", restaurants, bars, cafes, pub quizzes, play as a band. These are all made for groups generally (which makes sense economically and because it's common to have family/friends).
Already know: mma, dance groups, book clubs.
Bonus if it involves doing something or creating (creation of text, speech or physical activity), rather than pure consumption. Reading a book is pure consumption. Talking about a book involves creation.
Spadders87@reddit
Golf. As much as you could end up in a group of 4, vast majority of cases you can just book for yourself. Usually about a 6 mile walk among stunning scenery, with plenty of wildlife. Its a hard sport, so theres generally no expecation you have to be a certain level of good and theres plenty of scope to chase improving. And lots of friendly advice/encouragement. Can be expensive though. Memeberships can range from about £500 per year to several thousands. Rounds can be had for as cheap as about £20. Clubs can be bought second hand. Then theres the proffesional side of things. Can be great entertainment.
chroniccomplexcase@reddit
I’ve seen cinemas that are craft showings. Where the lights aren’t as dark and everyone is sat doing some sort of craft they’ve brought with them- knitting, cross stitch, colouring, felting etc. These look fun but I’ve never been to one personally.
Also, lots of pottery painting place near me do sessions where from say 6:30-9pm you turn up and it’s a sort of “natter and paint” session that I’m sure some go alone. They also do theme nights, so like a retro night where they watch a retro film and paint pottery in a retro theme.
Evening classes are another fun thing to join alone. In things like a level 1 in counselling, flower arranging, accounting, psychology, BSL, Spanish etc where you’ll meet new friends and learn a new skill. Either for fun for career progression. I’ve done a number of evening courses over the years (both for fun and career progression) and always joined alone and but soon made friends. Some I’m now good friends with.
Realistic-River-1941@reddit
Options seem limited if you already have GCSE Maths, are a native English speaker and have had UK citizenship since birth so don't need to apply.
LoudComplex0692@reddit
Huh? I’m white, British, degree educated, as are many of my friends and loads of us do evening classes. Off the top of my head I know people doing creative writing, ceramics, French, Spanish, counselling, cyber security.
What a weird statement to make.
Realistic-River-1941@reddit
Whereas the only person I know who does classes is someone who doesn't have a "normal" job so can do daytime things.
LoudComplex0692@reddit
The thread we’re talking on specifies “evening classes”.
Realistic-River-1941@reddit
Indeed. And I am saying they aren't relevant to a lot of people; the hobby style ones tend not to be in the evening, which focus more on life skills.
LoudComplex0692@reddit
Ceramics, creative writing, languages are all hobbies. Most sport sessions are run on weekday evenings. People who work 9-5 have hobbies too.
Remarkable_Winter-26@reddit
They’re not that limited and there’s always something new to learn. My mum did an adult education course for upholstery in her fifties! A lot of councils have adult education courses that include things like cooking classes or woodworking. Your options with those are usually some sort of physical craft or a language both of which broaden your horizon.
Realistic-River-1941@reddit
But they aren't much use if you work 9-5.
EmiaraUK@reddit
My Mom did upholstery too and I did astronomy.
shitthrower@reddit
Check out your local college for evening classes; my partner goes to an art course on Tuesday evenings which she loves.
They also do evening DIY courses on plumbing, plastering, electrics, carpentry, joining; I'm planning on doing some of those.
They're all quite cheap (I think the art course was £80), and if you're on a low income there is often free funding for it
ServerLost@reddit
Work on your communication skills first champ, you don't come across very well making pretentious demands.
HethersettWriters@reddit
Writing groups
EasyTyler@reddit
Have you thought about volunteering? There are multiple groups throughout London focused on combating loneliness and isolation.
You offer an hour of your time a week to call/see/visit someone in your community. You can specify all sorts of exclusions if you don't want to spend money or stroke cats while doing it.
Fatal-Eggs2024@reddit
There are classes and meet ups all over, creative writing, book clubs, gardening, join a choir, classes in storytelling or standup comedy, become an organist, bird watching, mushroom hunting, volunteering as an educator or a docent, cooking class, plein air painting, folk dancing … I’m exhausted just thinking of them all!
Realistic-River-1941@reddit
Round here they tend to be demographically focused (left handed Muslim women in AI), during the day, religious or dodgy (learn how to invest in property! Something that is clearly the Scientologists!).
LeonJersey@reddit
Drinking down the local park with the homeless. Good times.
dirtyqueenspace@reddit
try local meetups or workshops
Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit
depends where you live and what your transport options are. not everywhere has every hobby catered for. For example, i'd really like to get into rock climbing, but there's not a single climbing gym I can reasonably get to by public transport or cycling.
Make a list of things you'd like to do, research places to do them and find out how easy they are to get to, then go from there.
liltrex94@reddit
Museums, galleries, walking group, park run, literally any arts or craft groups.
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