What are your tips for meeting new people and making new friends? £200 voucher to be won

The most important thing when meeting new people is to be approachable and wear a smile. Listen to what they have to say and you will use instinct to suss out if you may have something in common. I met a great bunch of ladies doing aqua aerobics. We may not see each other socially but we have a coffee and catch up sometimes after the class
Most important - just be yourself!

After moving some 25+ years ago I joined two Arthritis Groups. One was very welcoming and I enjoyed that. The other was cliquey and I was treated as the new girl all the time..They thought they were posh. I did a lot for both but it was not “ seen” by the second group. Helped them make a lot of money. Donated a load of bric-a- brac for their sale ( stuff from mum) and sold more tickets than anyone for a do. Anyhow they closed shop soon after we returned to near where we had been before. So as someone said that there are a big difference in groups. So be selective and don’t hang around if it doesn’t seem right.

For those of us who might find it difficult to go to a ‘club’ for the first time - how about just going for a walk. Since lock down I’ve been walking regularly and there are always people who say ‘hello’ and this can sometimes break into conversations. This can be a simple way of gaining confidence with strangers and who knows how it might develop.

Moving to Wales on retirement enabled me to make new friends via language lessons. A few of us meet up once a month for lunch and a good natter. I also volunteer at my local library where I have found another group of lovely people. My husband, who is not a 'joiner' by inclination, was persuaded to try indoor bowls which he loves and has made friends whom I don't know personally and has , since, joined the local U3A and is going dancing with other people (not me, I have 'dicky' knee) monthly and thoroughly enjoying himself. I am so pleased with his new-found activities because I did worry, slightly, about how he would cope if I were to pre-decease him. Not, of course, that either of us going anywhere as far as we know.

I have met more people while walking my dog than I did in the previous 30 years at my current address. Getting a dog may not be a solution for everyone but it is a very sociable activity.

I joined a cross stitch club.And made lots off friends.

You need to be open to make new friendships. By that I mean a smile or pass the time of day with someone. Even just sitting on a bench in the park, strike up a conversation. It’s amazing how quickly friendships can be formed. If you’re able to join a local gym you will find others like you. Potential friends are everywhere if we are open to them.

We migrated to Australia in our sixties and found new friends by joining local social groups, joining a local quiz night, being prepared to chat to anyone, introducing ourselves to the neighbours by way of an invitation to come for a drink and nibbles, and by refusing to be discouraged. We were lucky enough to have nice neighbours to start us off!

Get involved in your local am dram group. You don't have to be a good actor. They also need people who are good at techy stuff, people to help with sound and lighting, costumes, prompting, helping out backstage, PR, sourcing props etc etc.
Everyone's skills and talents or just help are appreciated and if you want to tread the boards there's usually background and walk on parts.
You will meet some very talented and creative people, and also people who just enjoy the community aspect and being involved.

I too have made some lovely friends whilst taking our dog to the park for a walk, so much so we have formed a walking group for dog owners. Our mission is to visit a new park every week.

I have made wonderful friends just out dog walking - smile and the chats will follow. I've also found my local leisure centre a good place to make friends - chat to people in the gym and also at regular exercise classes. Volunteering is an excellent option too - win/win.

This won't work in cities or big towns, only where there is sparse public transport.
Sit at a bus stop where it is at least an hour to the next bus. It's surprising how many people will talk to you.
Make it a habit and you soon get to know people.

I think the best way of meeting people is getting out and about in your local area especially if you have a grandchild to take to the park or a dog to take a walk, they are amazing ice breakers & help conversations to begin naturally with people who you would likely otherwise never get chatting to. Joining a local walking club or run group where there’s a common interest to bond people together & start conversations & friendships is another good option.

I too recommend joining the U3A and thus meeting people with similar interests to yourself. I also suggest finding out about Inner Wheel which is friendship club for ladies who also raise money for a variety of charities. If you are active then joining a gym or attending zumba classes can lead to long lasting friendships. I first met a very good friend at the gym and persuaded her to join the U3A and she persuaded me to join Inner Wheel.

If you're an animal lover, think of adopting a rescue dog.

Since owning our own dog, while out walking him I've made so many new friends. Each day I chat to people out walking their dogs, and we have met up for coffee and lunch at each others' homes.

We have become a real community now, and it's a great way to meet like-minded people.

Pre pandemic, I was involved in so many of the activities already mentioned on this thread, from volunteering to U3A, exercise classes, walking groups, distance learning, concerts and socialising with old friends, making new friends via Gransnet meet-ups, etc.
Some interests continued via Zoom calls. Others fell by the wayside. I also moved house. Some friends and family have not survived.
Two years on, I'm aware that I'm no longer as confident nor as outgoing. Putting myself out there requires more of an effort. I won't pretend that it's as easy or as straightforward as it once was.
Someone else commented on the need to at least appear confident, outgoing, approachable. I'd second that. As I venture forth from my new home, I check in the mirror...and I smile....and it works

Getting older is inevitable, and getting older as healthy people is our responsibility, so getting out and about is good for us and everyone else . I enjoy singing in the choir, doing weekly dance and pilates classes, as well as being a part of a local walking group. All enjoyable stuff.

I found getting a dog was a fantastic way of getting out and about and meeting new people. My dog always stops to say hello when he meets another dog, so it's a lovely way to get to know people, I feel so much more part of the community now and have got to know so many new people.

Join a forum of like-minded people, it can lead to private messaging and meet-ups if wanted.

I’m another one to recommend U3A. Apart from the opportunity to meet and chat to like-minded people, it’s also incredibly good value for money. I’ve also started helping at a parent/grandparent and toddler’s group where I used to take my grandchildren. It’s really nice to keep up the conversations with the people I’ve met during the last six years I have been going.

Meetup groups. There are a variety of ages but it’s easy to find something you like doing, and you can dip in and out as time allows.

Question sponsored by ‘Ourtime’? In my experience online dating isn’t a good way to meet people.

If you look after grandchildren, take them to local playgroups and other activities whenever you can instead of staying in with them. There are always other grandparents to chat to and some could become good friends.

I use a local coach firm for my holidays. I always meet and enjoy the company of people from the same area. I have made long standing friendship as well as enjoying the holidays. Have never been lonely.

Can be hard when you are older but worth making the effort rather than sitting at home feeling lonely. A few suggestions: The WI or a local gardening group, instead of a Gym for general workouts when you are past leaping about to pop music, Pilates and/or Yoga are far gentler and help to keep you flexible, quite often people enjoy stopping for a tea or coffee afterwards. Book clubs, ramblers or a local walking group, Art or other craft classes.

We don't have a dog now but I find that when we take our daughter's family dog out for a walk many people who are walking their own will stop and chat quite freely. So my suggestion is to 'borrow' a dog if you don't have one of your own.