I thik the mosst difficult aspect of making new frineds lies not in the places to go the things to do, it lies in ourselves.
Quite often you will hear people who are struggling also turn down every suggestion that is made to them to help them.
You need to accept that you do not find making friends easily and try to analyse why and then grit your teeth and start with anything you can find. If there is a local WI join that. It was somethin I was prepared to consider it at one point, even though after reading the local WI reports in the parish magazine, it didn't sound as if I would want to join long term.
Be prepared to walk in confidently, keep your head up, look around and smile and try to make eye contact with someone.
You have the perfect opening gambit for aany conversation 'hallo, this is the first time I have come to a meeting, How ong have you been a member'. make an effort to go up to whoever seems to be in charge and introduce yourself. Say you are new.
Unfortunately, all the hard work has to be done by the friend seeker - and it does not always work. DH, the friendliest of people, left the local choir because it was too cliquey, he felt completely cut out, even though he went with our next door neighbour who was a long established member.
I have got a lot braver in recent years, after the deaths of two close friends and the near death of DH and I am already two friends the richer.