Building a social network as an expat in London is vital to achieving the perfect work-life balance. The people you choose to spend time with will help you maintain and improve your well-being. Your friends would often bring you out of your comfort zone and create a safe emotional space as you settle into a new city. A robust social network in London will help you feel connected to your new place and give you a sense of belonging.
Practices to develop your social network in London
Join social media
As an expat in London, a highly tech-friendly hub, you should create a profile (if you don't already have one) on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Social media helps you connect instantly with people you meet at work events and parties, through other acquaintances, etc., and reveal a lot of information about the profile of these connections: their interests, routine, employment status, etc. At the same time, you build your visibility too and become available for new social interactions, which may begin with a 'like' on one of your photos and evolve into a conversation about the best ongoing modern art exhibitions in London, for example.
Apart from the prominent social media brands, there are dedicated platforms for expat life, hosting forums and encouraging open conversations among expats and expats-to-be. At Expat.com, we support expats and expats-to-be from the beginning of expatriation all the way to the completion of their project and even repatriation. Whether you are looking for first-hand, practical information about the formalities or the job market in London or to connect with other expat working mothers in London, creating an Expat.com account gives you access to endless information and international networking possibilities.
Tip:
Obtain a UK phone number as soon as possible to make it easy for your new contacts in London to reach you. Most mobile phones take two SIM cards, so you can have your home country's SIM and your UK SIM and switch between them easily.
Express your interests
When meeting new people or creating your online profile, share some of your interests so that other like-minded people can approach you regarding a volunteering opportunity in the refugee sector, a jewellery-making workshop, or a pub crawl night in London, for example. Follow organisations and causes on social media, post in their groups, and don't hesitate to send private messages to people you would like to get to know better. The things you are passionate about are opening the networking doors widely and often without much effort.
Organise a party
Expand your network by taking some serious action; throw a housewarming or birthday party at your house, and encourage your colleagues or close friends to bring their acquaintances. When your guests are around, be yourself, wear a big smile, and showcase your hospitality skills by speaking with everyone and making them feel welcome. Naturally, you won't be able to connect with everyone meaningfully. However, there's a possibility that you will make at least one new good friend based on something you have in common, such as a hobby or a personality trait.
Accept invitations
The more yeses you say, the more your network grows. Of course, not all days and nights are good for social interaction, and, understandably, some evenings, all you want to do is relax on your sofa with a glass of wine and your favorite Netflix series. However, sometimes you should make this extra effort, attend a dinner, or join a few friends in the pub for after-work drinks to show that you care about spending time with the people in your network, keeping up with their lives so you feel included. When meeting with people from your network, you will likely meet other people, especially if the occasion is significant, such as a wedding or a birthday party.
Tip:
Expats in London tend to celebrate their country's holidays with other expats of the same nationality. For example, attending a party for the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) or the Notting Hill Carnival is an excellent opportunity to meet international people in London.
Volunteer your time
Another way to meet new people in London while doing some good for your community or serving a cause is through volunteering. Unfortunately, many people believe that it's not worth it unless they can dedicate themselves to a purpose on a full-time basis. However, we say that every little helps and something is always better than nothing. Research what is going on in your community and what are the most profound needs that match your interests to do some good for the world while interacting with people from all walks of life and exchanging views about activism and life in general.
Are you environmentally and climate change conscious, or do you wish to promote and support young artists? Are you into scientific research and medical developments such as curing and treating rare diseases, or do you wish to stand by people with disabilities? London has thousands of operating local, national, and international charities, covering all the good causes that may come into your mind.
Good to know:
With a breadth of volunteering opportunities to choose from, you can use this website to filter according to the interest/cause, location, and distance from the location, making it easy to find precisely what you are looking for.
Useful links:
London volunteering opportunities
Social etiquette in London
All the above tips about meeting new people and expanding your social network aren't of any use unless you apply the correct and widely accepted networking rules to your social interactions in London. From punctuality and queuing to over-politeness and appropriate behavior in public spaces, Londoners appreciate good manners, even on not-so-formal occasions such as riding the tube or drinking in the pub.
London is the busiest city in Britain, and coffee shops, pubs, clubs, and public transport are some of the most crowded places you will find yourself in. Thus, it's essential to be aware of the number one British habit: patiently waiting for your turn. For example, if you are trying to push through the crowd at the bar to order first, don't expect any of the people queuing to approach you to get to know you better because, unfortunately, you haven't made a good impression.
Being in the middle of doing something important or in a hurry is not an excuse for Londoners to skip using basic politeness signifiers such as 'please' and "thank you". If you want to make London friends, remember that they don't like to be ordered to do things; they want to be kindly asked. Of course, they can kindly refuse to do something, too. "Sorry" is another frequently used word; never too many sorries are spoken during your time in London and the UK. Even if someone bumps into you aggressively, tell them you are sorry!
Good to know:
"Please" is usually put at the end of a request, which begins with "could", "can", and "would". However, "please" can also be inserted at the beginning or middle of a question.
Tip:
If you have guests over, send text messages or give calls the next day to express your gratitude for showing up and spending time with you.
When dining out with a group, etiquette says you must wait until everyone's food arrives before you start eating. We understand that this can be frustrating, especially if your food smells nice or you are starving, but show patience unless you want people to give you dismissive looks or never invite you again.
Social kissing isn't common in Britain; it will be amongst women if you ever encounter it. However, a good handshake (not too firm) is the norm in social interactions among acquaintances, friends, and colleagues. Also, medieval chivalry has made it to modern society, and London men are still expected to offer their seat to a lady, open the door for her, offer to carry a bag, or provide their jacket.
When socializing with someone you don't know very well, one of the main concerns is finding exciting conversation topics. The British have found the best ice-breaker — the weather! Especially Londoners, who get some of the most unpredictable weather conditions in the world, love to talk about the weather, and it's the safest topic one can choose to set the stage for more meaningful conversations.
Attention:
Discussing how much you earn or the costs of things you own is considered rude and taboo. Never ask a person how much they earn; you will make them genuinely uncomfortable.
Finally, to gain more London friends, take your tea seriously, as it is part of most British people's daily routine and social life. Enjoy a "cuppa" with others, and if you are served a pot, pour tea for your friends before you do so for yourself (milk and sugar are added afterward). Your tea should not be blown on or slurped if it is too hot.
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