The short answer: the best meetup groups London for newcomers are activity-based groups that meet often: walking groups (Metropolitan Walkers, Hike Together), running clubs with a social (London Social Runners, Islington Running and Social Group), board-game nights (London On Board, South London Board Games), language exchanges (London International Friends and Locals), and age-based social circles. Every group below had an event in the last few weeks and events coming up when we checked on 18 October 2026, because a big member count alone means nothing if a group has gone quiet. Pick one that matches something you’d enjoy anyway, RSVP, and go twice.
Moving to London is exciting and, for many people, surprisingly lonely at first. This list is designed for that moment: groups where newcomers turn up alone all the time, what to expect at each, rough costs, which suits which personality, a first-month plan and first-visit tips.
How we checked these groups
Lots of London Meetup groups have thousands of members but no events for months. For this list we only included groups that, on 18 October 2026, had at least one past event within the previous 60 days and at least one upcoming event listed on Meetup. Member counts are rounded and change daily. Event formats, fees and organisers change too, so always check the group page before you go.
Meetup groups London for newcomers: 15 active groups
| Group | Type | What happens | Cost (as listed) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Walkers | Walking and hiking | London walks and longer hikes in the South East | Check event page | Easy chat while walking |
| Hike Together | Hiking | Free group hikes outside London | Hikes advertised as free; pay your own travel | Weekend nature and new faces |
| Hiking in London | Hiking | Organised hikes, e.g. Chilterns and London parks | Upcoming hikes listed a £12 fee | Structured, guided hikes |
| Stunning £5 Walks in London and Countryside | Walking | Green walks across London commons and beyond | £5 walks | Low-cost weekend walks |
| London Social Runners | Running | Midweek runs with a drink; Saturday run and brunch | Check event page | Runners who want the social bit |
| Islington Running and Social Group | Running | Thursday 5km run, then the pub | Check event page | North London, all paces |
| London On Board | Board games | Regular gaming nights in pubs across London | Check event page | Games lovers and beginners |
| South London Board Games | Board games | Games sessions in south London venues | Check event page | South Londoners |
| London International Friends and Locals | Language exchange and social | Weekly language exchanges, games and socials | Check event page | Expats and locals mixing |
| Language Exchange London (Se Habla English & Spanish) | Language exchange | English–Spanish conversation sessions | Check event page | Spanish speakers and learners |
| Philosophical Fiction Book Club | Book club | Monthly discussions of a set novel | Check event page | Readers who like a good debate |
| London Museums A-Z | Culture | Group visits to museums and exhibitions | Check event page (venue tickets vary) | Gen Xers and millennials who like culture |
| World Citizens | Discussion and culture nights | “Discuss & Social” evenings on big topics | Check event page | People who like proper conversation |
| London Social Circle (20s & 30s) | Social | Weekly socials to meet new people (also a 30s & 40s circle) | Check event page | Making friends in your age group |
| From Shy to Social – London | Confidence and social skills | Workshops on conversation and meeting people | Some workshops are paid; check event page | Nervous newcomers |
Last checked 18 October 2026 on Meetup: each group had a past event within 60 days and upcoming events listed.
Walking and hiking groups
Walking groups are the gentlest way into London social life: you talk side by side, the route gives you things to say, and nobody minds if you drift between people. Metropolitan Walkers (around 10,000 members) runs both urban walks, such as park-and-canal routes across north London, and longer country hikes. Hike Together advertises free hikes out of London, while Hiking in London runs more structured hikes with a fee listed on its events. The £5 walks group runs low-cost green walks across commons such as Wandsworth and Clapham.
First-visit tip: arrive at the meeting point ten minutes early and ask the leader to introduce you. Bring water, comfortable shoes and a contactless card for the train home.
Running groups
Running groups with a social element are ideal if you want routine. London Social Runners (around 9,500 members) lists midweek runs followed by a drink and Saturday runs with brunch. Islington Running and Social Group runs a Thursday 5km followed by the pub. Both are a good fit if you’d rather chat after the effort than make small talk cold.
First-visit tip: tell the leader your usual pace so you can be put with a matching group, and stay for the drink or brunch afterwards; that’s where friendships start.
Board-game groups
Games remove the pressure of conversation: you have rules to learn, moves to discuss and something to laugh about. London On Board (around 15,000 members) lists regular gaming sessions in pubs across the city, and South London Board Games runs sessions in south London venues. Both are used to beginners.
First-visit tip: ask to join a “teaching” table or a short game first. Our guide to going to a meetup event for the first time explains what typically happens when you arrive.
Language exchange groups
Language exchanges are full of newcomers by definition. London International Friends and Locals (around 7,300 members) lists weekly language exchanges in pubs, alongside games and socials, and Language Exchange London runs English–Spanish conversation sessions. You don’t need to be fluent in anything; most exchanges switch languages every so often so everyone gets a turn.
Books, culture and conversation
If you’d rather talk about ideas than make small talk, these suit you. Philosophical Fiction Book Club (around 5,000 members) meets monthly to discuss a set novel. London Museums A-Z works its way through London’s museums and exhibitions as a group. World Citizens (around 31,000 members) runs “Discuss & Social” evenings on big questions, followed by drinks.
First-visit tip: for book clubs, finishing the book matters less than turning up; most groups welcome people who’ve read half.
Social circles and confidence groups
Age-based social circles are built for making friends: London Social Circle (20s & 30s) and its 30s & 40s sister group list regular socials described as ways to meet new people. If social nerves are what’s stopping you, From Shy to Social – London runs workshops on conversation skills and meeting people; some sessions are paid.
If walking into a pub of strangers feels daunting, our guide to going to a meetup alone and our scripts on how to start a conversation in a group will help.
Which group suits you?
| If you… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Feel nervous about big groups | A walking group or a board-game table, where there’s always something to do |
| Want routine and fitness | A running group with a weekly slot |
| Love ideas and conversation | A book club or a discussion night |
| Are new to the UK | A language exchange: everyone is from somewhere |
| Want friends your own age | An age-based social circle |
| Want to build confidence first | A social-skills workshop, then an activity group |
Location matters more than you’d think in London. A group that meets 20 minutes from your flat is one you’ll actually keep going to; one that needs two changes on the Tube usually fades by week three. Filter by area on the group’s event list before you commit.
A first-month plan for new Londoners
- Week 1: join two groups of different types (say, a walking group and a board-game group) and RSVP to one event.
- Week 2: go to that event, say hello to the organiser, and stay for the after-bit if there is one.
- Week 3: go back to the same group. Use names you remember: “Hi Jo, how was your week?”
- Week 4: try the second group, and suggest a coffee or drink to one person you’ve now met twice.
Four weeks, two groups, a handful of familiar faces: that’s a real start. If you’d like to understand how Meetup RSVPs, waitlists and fees work before you begin, our first meetup event guide covers it.
First-visit tips for London Meetup groups
- Check activity before you join. Look for recent past events with photos or comments, not just a big member count.
- RSVP and turn up. Popular events have limits and waitlists; if you can’t go, change your RSVP.
- Find the organiser first. Hosts are used to introducing newcomers.
- Go twice. The second visit is where people recognise you.
- Stay for the after-bit. The pub, café or brunch afterwards is where friendships form.
- Mix formats. One active group and one conversation group gives you two circles.
- Read the event description properly. It usually says where the group gathers, how long the event runs, the pace or level, and whether there’s a fee to pay; if anything is unclear, message the organiser before you go.
- Say hello in the event comments. A quick “First time coming, see you there!” means the host and regulars will look out for you when you arrive.
- Don’t over-commit in week one. RSVPing to five events and missing three helps nobody; one or two you’ll actually attend is a much better start.
- Dress for the activity. Comfortable shoes for walks, layers for pubs that get warm, and a waterproof most of the year.
- Stay safe. Public venues, tell a friend where you are, keep your own way home, and report anyone who makes you uncomfortable.
Meetup is one of several options. For a comparison with friend apps and dinner-matching services, see our guide to friend apps in the UK.
Prefer small plans to big groups?
Big groups suit some people; others prefer a handful of people around a table. Full disclosure: we’re the team behind MeetNow, our own app, where a host posts a small plan at a public place and picks who joins, and accepted guests get a group chat first.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live on the web and works in your browser, starting in Malta; the phone apps are not in the App Store or Google Play yet. Open MeetNow and see the plans posted in Malta.
FAQ
What are the best Meetup groups in London for newcomers?
Activity-based groups that meet often are easiest for newcomers: walking groups such as Metropolitan Walkers or Hike Together, running groups like London Social Runners, board-game groups like London On Board, language exchanges and 20s–40s social circles. All the groups in our list had recent and upcoming events when we checked in October 2026.
Are London Meetup groups free?
Many London Meetup events are free to attend, though you pay for your own food and drinks. Some groups charge a small event fee, for example some guided hikes and walks. The event page shows any fee before you RSVP.
How do I know if a Meetup group is still active?
Check the past events tab for events in the last few weeks and look for upcoming events with RSVPs. A large member count on its own doesn’t mean a group is active.
Is it OK to go to a London Meetup event alone?
Yes. Most people at newcomer-friendly London groups come on their own. Say hello to the organiser, mention it’s your first time, and join one conversation.
Are Meetup events in London safe?
Most are held in public venues such as pubs, cafés and parks. Tell a friend where you’re going, keep your own way home, don’t feel obliged to go on elsewhere, and report anyone who behaves badly to the organiser and through the app.
