I want to meet you. If you from London. And are creative. And not too pretentious.

May 9, 2009 3:49 PM

I'm an undergraduate from the US studying abroad in London for the Fall semester. I'd really like to befriend some fun, non-pretentious Londoners who are both 1) my age and 2) interested in some form of the arts (literature, music, visual art, theatre, etc.).

I'm not exceptionally talented at anything, but I like to being creative and surrounding myself with other creative thinkers. It'd be fun to hang out with people who know of cool artists, venues, clubs, classes, etc. to do in London besides just whatever is listed in the guidebooks.

Do you know how/where/if I could get to know such college-age Londoners? I will not be enrolled in any particular university, though I will be a registered member of the University of London student union.

posted by Alligator to Society & Culture (5 answers total)

Find meetings, clubs, anything that sounds like it will let you meet these kinds of people. Look for flyers posted at the Unis or ask around if you're living in student housing. Get invited to go for drinks after. Let the befriending ensue. Even if you don't like the first few you meet, you could meet their friends and branch out from there.

Did you mean not pretentious in general or not pretentious for artsy types?
posted by JauntyFedora at 4:06 PM on May 9, 2009

I assume ULU is like other universities in that there will be a fresher's fair, a night or two in the union building where the various universitiy clubs and societies will set up tables to introduce themselves to the incoming class and recruit members (link to the ULU 2008 fair). Different clubs/societies will have different rules and degrees of sticking to those rules, but I bet that even if they are restricted to enrolled students many would be happy to bend a rule for one foreign student registered at the ULU union. Many exist purely as an efficient way to get like-minded people together to drink and socialize amongst themselves and the actual organized-group-activities are almost an afterthought.
posted by K.P. at 4:26 PM on May 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

2nding the ULU.

If you're living in a dorm, or even if you're not, get to know non-Americans. It'll make your experience much richer.

Also look into getting an internship.
posted by k8t at 4:40 PM on May 9, 2009

I'm a bit-past-college age non-pretentious Londoner interested in the arts etc. I don't know about fun though... I tended to meet people at college or work. There'll doubtless be compatible folks at your uni classes - just strike up conversations. Americans are always interesting objects to British college kids.

FWIW, the more outwardly pretentious hipsters tend to hang out in the easterly reaches - the Shoreditch/Old Street area is getting a bit passe, but is still rammed with curious haircuts. They've migrated to Dalston, London Fields, various parts of Hackney etc. Browse around for independent art openings and exhibitions, go to interesting non-indie concerts and free club nights.

Have fun!
posted by Magnakai at 5:30 PM on May 9, 2009

Try couchsurfing.com. It's usually used for finding couches to crash on, but is filled with a collection of generally young, travel-oriented, liberal types. When you do a couch search, you can even select for individuals who don't have a couch available, but are "open to meeting for coffee or a drink".

I've used it a bit to meet people while in foreign countries, and have been quite impressed with the people listed.
posted by gushn at 6:59 PM on May 9, 2009