Socialising in the UK: how adults connect and what’s holding them back
Youngest and oldest generations show higher levels of social activity
The average UK adult socialises or goes out with friends, colleagues, or their wider social circle around 50 days a year. This varies by age, with the youngest and oldest generations being the most socially active. Gen Z (born between 1998-2007) reports the highest frequency of social activity, averaging 88 days, while Millennials (born between 1982-1997) average 59 days. Meanwhile, the Boomers (1947-65) and Gen X (1966-81) are the least socially active, averaging 37 and 30 days respectively, highlighting a significant divergence in social behaviour between the younger and older populations.
Over half (52%) of adults meet with friends, colleagues, or their social circle only once a month or less. This is less common among Gen Z, with only 23% limiting their social outings to this frequency. By contrast, this figure rises to over three-fifths for both Gen X (62%) and Boomers (64%).
Furthermore, around one in six (16%) of Gen X and one in five (22%) of Boomers say they never socialise or go out with their friends or wider social circle, revealing a concerning portion of the population who are completely disengaged from social outings.
Gen Z prefers at-home socialising, while other generations favour restaurants and cafes
Of all age groups, Gen Z shows the most diversity in how they prefer socialising with friends, with their top favoured method being staying in with friends (34%). Gen Z are also significantly more likely to prefer socialising online with friends, such as by playing video games or engaging in video calls than the UK average (23% vs 11%), and also more likely to socialise at fitness or wellness activities such as yoga and dance (16% vs 10% average).
Going to restaurants and cafés is the most popular way for people to socialise with their friends or wider social circle, with 45% of adults favouring this option. This figure rises to half of women (52%) and drops slightly to under two-fifths (38%) of men. It is particularly preferred among Boomers, with 52% favouring it compared to 33% of Gen Z.
The second most popular way to socialise is going to bars or pubs, with over a third (35%) of adults choosing this. This is notably more popular among men (42%) than women (28%). The third most common way to socialise is staying in with friends, with 28% of people enjoying this, particularly women at 34%.
Difficulty meeting new people preventing many from socialising as often as they would like
Nearly a third of Brits say they’d ideally like to socialise more often (30%) – particularly Millennials (37%) and Gen Z (32%) – the two most social groups, and those in London (37%). A third (33%) also say they wish their social circle was bigger – especially those in London (42%).
Fewer than one in ten (8%) of UK adults wish to go out less often than they currently do, indicating that the desire to socialise and go out more is a common sentiment across all age groups.
Despite this general enthusiasm to socialise more, two in five (43%) UK adults say they find it difficult to meet new people, highlighting a key barrier that prevents many from going out more often. This challenge is more pronounced among Millennials and Gen Z (53% and 44% respectively) and less common among Boomers (37%). Additionally, a third (31%) of UK adults admit they do not feel a strong connection with their friends, rising to 38% of Londoners, underscoring the widespread longing for more meaningful social interactions.
Money woes keep half of Londoners from socialising as much as they’d like
Financial limitations are a major factor restricting social activities. Two in five (39%) say their financial situation limits their ability to socialise as often as they would like, with this figure rising to 42% among Gen Z and 47% for Millennials, compared to 30% for Boomers. For those living in London, financial constraints are particularly significant, with half (50%) agreeing it limits how often they would like to socialise.
Over four in five (82%) UK adults report facing barriers to going out or socialising with friends. When asked about the biggest obstacles, 29% of adults cite financial constraints as their main hindrance. A quarter (25%) say feeling too tired or having low energy prevents them from going out, a challenge that is more prominent among women at 29% compared to 20% of men. Lack of time is also a key issue, with 23% of people mentioning it, though it is more of a hindrance for Millennials (36%) and Gen Z (28%) compared to just 11% of Boomers. Across most barriers, Millennials are more likely to report them as a barrier to socialising.
Brits crave more social interaction but face significant hurdles
Many Brits want to socialise more but face significant obstacles. Over 80% of adults encounter barriers to meeting their social needs, with nearly a third (30%) explicitly wanting more social interaction. Financial constraints affect 39% of the population (rising to 50% in London), while a quarter cite fatigue as their main obstacle.
This social disconnect is particularly evident among younger generations and urban residents, with 37% of Millennials and Londoners desiring more social activity. Meanwhile, 22% of Boomers report never socialising with friends or their wider circle.
The desire for connection is clear: 43% of adults find it difficult to meet new people, a third wish their social circle was bigger, and 31% don’t feel strongly connected to their existing friends. Addressing these issues requires more accessible and affordable social opportunities, community-building initiatives, and innovative approaches to helping adults form meaningful connections – bridging the gap between social aspirations and reality across the nation.
By Kieran Vaughan, Senior Research Executive
