BY RACHEL THOMPSON From Mashable

LONDON — Living in a city can be a lonely experience at times, particularly during the winter months.

Making friends might have been fairly straightforward during adolescence, but meeting new people during adulthood is a very different story. As the nights draw in, the prospect of braving the cold and the dark solo can become less and less inviting.

Research carried out by the Mental Health Foundation suggests 18 to 34 year olds are more likely to feel lonely more often than the over-55s, while last year the Office for National Statistics found London to be the loneliest capital city in Europe.

If you want to try make new friends over the winter months, here are five groups you could join:

1.The Friend Zone

The Friend Zone is an event for ‘social skydiving’; also known as forcing yourself to talk to strangers. If you’re feeling bold, go along to The Friend Zone, where you’ll play Jenga and Twister to break the ice with fellow attendees. The event makes socialising unavoidable, which would be scary if it weren’t for the fun games. Events are hosted every week in locations around London, and tickets cost £5 online or £7 on the door. More info here.

2. Thinking Bob

Thinking Bob members enjoying an outdoor social in London.

IMAGE: THINKINGBOB / FACEBOOK

Going out is fun, but it can be intimidating to do it alone. Thinking Bob hosts lots of events to bring people together through shared activities. Upcoming events include a hula hooping class, a Christmas jumper bar crawl and a ukulele lesson. There are over 60 socials a month to choose from, including group excursions to museums, exhibitions and Christmassy events across London. Membership from £9 a month. More info here.

3. London Shyness Social Group

This is a social group for people who want to make friends in London. Founder Steve Light set it up to help people who are shy, lonely or socially anxious to make friends. Events include group meditation sessions, canal-side walks and stargazing events at Hampstead Observatory. Free to attend. More info here.

4. Friends in London

This is one of the largest and best-attended friendship groups in London. There are a lot of activities to choose from, including live music gigs, trips to galleries and museums, and picnics. There are usually two events each week, and upcoming events include a Christmas meet-up with live music, and a late-night trip to the Tate Modern. Most events are free to attend, but some events require a ticket purchase. More info here: https://www.citysocializer.com/london

5. CitySocializer London

CitySocializer offers a social calendar packed with events across London

IMAGE: CITYSOCIALIZER

CitySocializer is perfect for London newcomers who want to combine making friends with discovering what the city has to offer. This site lets you see what events are happening in your area, and which of the site’s members are attending. Whether you want to discover London’s best pubs or visit Kew’s Twilight Illuminations; you can explore the city’s highlights while meeting new people. Free to join.

For more on this story go to: http://mashable.com/2015/12/07/london-loneliness/?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_cid=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher#myO88yQRIOqX