When I first moved to the UK from Egypt, I didn’t know a single soul. I had only my brother living there, and he was in another city that was super far away from me.. But slowly, things changed. I started meeting people in all sorts of unexpected ways and by the time I left, I had a bunch of amazing friends I still keep in touch with today. Here’s how it all happened:

My Flatmates Became My First Friends

To give you a bit of context I traveled to the UK in the first place to study my master’s, and I ended up staying in a student’s accommodation that was full of ensuite rooms. So, the only thing I shared with my flatmates was the kitchen, which also included a dining table and a couch with a TV in front of it.

Luckily, my flatmates were friendly and easy to talk to. We’d hang out in the kitchen, cook together sometimes, and chat about our days. We didn’t become instant besties, but over time, they became a super big part of my everyday life.

I Worked on Campus Instead of Remotely

Even though I usually prefer remote work, I turned down a remote part-time job to work with the university instead, and honestly, I’m so glad I did. I got to work on-site with other students and graduates, and it made it way easier to meet people.

I Can’t Recommend Bumble BFF Enough!!

I gave Bumble BFF a try and ended up meeting some AMAZING people. I looked for people I had things in common with, and we clicked pretty naturally. It felt a bit weird at first, like dating, but for friends, yet it turned out to be a great way to expand my circle.

Especially that I ended up moving from the city I was living in at the time (Liverpool) and moved to Manchester for work and having to start almost from scratch again with my social circle.

I Went to Events Where People Wanted to Socialize

One of the best things I did was go to events, especially language exchange meetups. Everyone there was open to chatting, and it was easy to bond over learning or teaching a language. I met people from all over the world, and some of those quick conversations turned into proper friendships.

Quick tip: If you want to find such events where you live, try Facebook events, MeetUp, and Internations.

I Moved Into a Co-Living Space

Later on, I moved into a co-living building that was set up to encourage community. There were common areas, a coworking space, and regular social events. It made meeting people easier. I got to know a lot of my neighbors over there, and some of them became really close friends.

This is the building that I stayed at in Manchester: if you’re looking for something similar.

Looking Back…

When I first arrived in the UK, I had no idea how I’d build such a social life from scratch. But looking back, I’m glad I took those small steps: joining events, chatting with flatmates, saying yes to opportunities that brought me around people. Bit by bit, strangers became acquaintances, and acquaintances turned into real friends.

If you’re starting over somewhere new, just remember: you don’t need to have it all figured out. Be open, take your time, and give people (and yourself) a chance. The connections will come often in ways you don’t expect.

Be active and do things that you love, try new things, and trust that your people are out there. Sometimes, all it takes is showing up and taking small steps.

Whether it’s making friends through flatmates, work, apps, or random events, every small step you take will lead you to someone new.