How do I make friends in the USA?
People in the US are often quick to chat and invite, but a friendly first meeting isn’t yet a friendship. Most newcomers find real friends come from doing the same thing with the same people every week.
In 30 seconds
- Expect a busy start, then a dip a few months in when the paperwork is done and the UK feels far away. It’s normal, not a sign the move was wrong
- Regular, repeated activities work best: parkrun, social sports leagues, volunteering, school and kids’ sport, and clubs
- The UK is 5 hours ahead of New York and 8 hours ahead of California for most of the year, so fix a regular call time that suits both
The first-year curve
Many people describe the same pattern. The first weeks are full of paperwork, house hunting and novelty. Then, a few months in, there’s a dip: colleagues go home to their own lives, weekends feel long, and family news from the UK arrives while you’re at work. Distances can make it harder: in many US cities people drive everywhere, so you see fewer people by chance. Friendships need deliberate effort, especially in the first year.
- Say yes to every invitation in the first six months, even the dull-sounding ones: a barbecue, a work happy hour, a child’s birthday party
- Suggest a specific plan (“coffee Saturday at 10?”) rather than “we should get together sometime”
- Holidays matter: an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner (26 November in 2026) is a real gesture of friendship, so accept it if you can
Where friendships start
| Where | Why it works |
|---|---|
| parkrun | A free, timed 5k walk, jog or run every Saturday morning, with no time limit. parkrun started in the US in Livonia, Michigan in 2012 and now has 102 events. Volunteering is the quickest way to get to know the regulars |
| Social sports leagues | City parks and recreation departments run adult leagues: Austin’s, for example, organises basketball, flag football, indoor volleyball and softball for men’s, women’s and mixed teams at different levels. Ask your own city’s parks department |
| School and kids’ activities | For families, the main way parents meet. Join the parent–teacher association, help at events or volunteer as a coach |
| Work | Join after-work drinks, sports teams and volunteering days early, but don’t rely only on work |
| Volunteering | Food banks, parks groups, museums and charities need regular helpers, and you meet locals rather than other newcomers |
| Faith and community groups | Places of worship, libraries and community centres run social events, classes and groups for newcomers |
| British groups | Societies and clubs for British people exist in many cities. In New York, the St George’s Society hosts over 20 events a year and helps immigrants from Britain and the Commonwealth |
Online groups and meeting people
Social media groups for British people in your city, neighbourhood groups and apps such as Meetup are useful for practical tips and someone to watch the football with. Treat advice in them as opinion, not fact, and check rules on official sites. They work best as a bridge to local friendships, not a replacement.
- Meet people from online groups or apps in a busy public place, and tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back
- Be wary of anyone who quickly asks for money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or personal details. Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- In an emergency, call 911
Keeping in touch across the time difference
The eight places our calculators cover sit in three time zones: Eastern (New York, Boston, Washington DC, Miami), Central (Chicago, Austin) and Pacific (Los Angeles, San Francisco). The US changes its clocks on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November, different dates from the UK, so the gap shrinks by an hour for a week or two each spring and autumn. Arizona and Hawaii don’t change their clocks at all.
| Period | New York, Boston, DC, Miami | Chicago, Austin | Los Angeles, San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Until 25 Oct 2026 | 5 hours behind | 6 hours behind | 8 hours behind |
| 25 Oct to 1 Nov 2026 | 4 hours behind | 5 hours behind | 7 hours behind |
| 1 Nov 2026 to 14 Mar 2027 | 5 hours behind | 6 hours behind | 8 hours behind |
| 14 to 28 Mar 2027 | 4 hours behind | 5 hours behind | 7 hours behind |
| From 28 Mar 2027 | 5 hours behind | 6 hours behind | 8 hours behind |
On the East Coast, a call in your lunch break catches the UK in the early evening. From California, an 8am call is 4pm in the UK, and by your evening the UK is asleep, so weekend mornings often work best. Pick a regular slot and stick to it. For phones and calling home, see Phones, internet and staying in touch; for a partner who isn’t working yet, see The partner at home.
What to do next
- Find your nearest parkrun or social league and go this week
- Say yes to the next three invitations you get
- Agree a regular call time with family in the UK that works across the time difference
Keep going
- parkrun USA
- City of Austin: Athletics (adult recreational leagues)
- St George’s Society of New York
- FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- NIST: Daylight saving time
- NIST and US Naval Observatory: time.gov
- GOV.UK: When do the clocks change?
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline