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🤝 Where to Make Friends in Leeds

Leeds is a vibrant and welcoming city with a strong sense of community. Whether you’re new to the area or looking to expand your social circle, there are plenty of ways to connect with people and form meaningful friendships.

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Join Social and Activity Groups

🎲 Special Interest Groups

Leeds has social groups focused on everything from hiking and photography to board games and fitness. Meetup and EventBrite are good sources of groups and activities. For a comprehensive list of activities by area of interest, have a look at our Things to do in Leeds guide to find like-minded people.

🌳 Walking and Hiking Social Groups

If you love walking and nature, check out our list of walking and hiking social groups for organized group hikes and walks in beautiful surroundings.

⚽ Sports Clubs

Leeds is home to many sports clubs. Whether it’s football, running, or climbing, you’ll find like-minded enthusiasts to connect with. Bouldering is an excellent way to meet new people in a social, active environment. Check out our list of sports clubs and activities in Leeds.

Explore Creative and Cultural Spaces

🎭 Theatre and Performing Arts Societies

Leeds has a variety of theatres, music halls, and unique spaces that cater to all performing art tastes. Our comprehensive list of theatre and performing arts societies is a good starting point to find creative social groups.

🖼️ Visual Art Networks and Organisations

Leeds boasts a thriving art scene, from world-class galleries to contemporary exhibitions and public art installations. Our list of art spaces and visual art networks can help you find like-minded art enthusiasts.

Take a Class or Workshop

✍️ Learn a New Skill

Sign up for workshops like cooking classes, pottery, or writing. The Leeds Cookery School and Sunken Studio, Yorkshire's largest independent ceramics centre, are great places to start. If you're interested in writing or literature, have a look at our list of writing and poetry groups in Leeds.

😂 Improv Leeds

Join improv comedy classes to boost your confidence and meet fun, creative people.

Connect over Board Games and Tabletop Games

The board gaming and tabletop gaming communities in Leeds are welcoming and diverse. Whether you're into classic board games or strategy-heavy wargames, have a look at our list of board gaming and tabletop gaming groups to find one that aligns with your interest.

Volunteer in the Community

Volunteering is an excellent way to meet people while giving back to the community.

🚑 Leeds Cares

Support healthcare initiatives by volunteering with Leeds Hospitals Charity, an organization connected to local hospitals.

❤️ Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL)

Visit the Doing Good Leeds website to find a wide range of volunteer opportunities across Leeds, from helping at food banks to supporting community projects.

For more volunteering opportunities check out our guide on Where To Volunteer in Leeds.

Attend Professional Networking Events

The following are some of the professional networking opportunities available in and around Leeds:

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