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But having a rewarding social life doesn’t have to mean filling every spare hour with plans. Something as simple as coffee with a friend, a weekly class, or a monthly day out can give you something to look forward to. Retirement can also be a great opportunity to return to old hobbies and interests, meet new people, or try activities you never had time for before.
To help you explore where to start with this, we’ve partnered with Oddfellows, a not-for-profit friendly society with local branches across the UK. There are around 815 online and face-to-face events held each month, from coffee mornings, walks, and talks to meals, quizzes, and days out. You don’t need to commit to a packed programme either; you can become a regular, pick the occasional event that interests you, or simply try something new.
So, whether your diary is looking emptier than you’d like or you’d just like to bring more variety to your week, here are 10 ways to fill your social calendar in retirement.
1. Meet for coffee
Sometimes the simplest plans are the most enjoyable. Meeting for coffee gives you a reason to get out of the house, enjoy a change of scenery, and spend time with other people without taking up the whole day. The relaxed setting can also make it an easy, low-pressure way to meet someone new.
You could arrange a weekly café date with a friend, invite a neighbour over for a cup of tea, or look for an established coffee morning nearby; libraries, community centres, churches, charities, and local groups often run them. If you keep going to the same one, you’ll soon start recognising familiar faces, which makes it much easier to get chatting.
Coffee mornings are a common feature of Oddfellows’ local events calendars. To see what’s available in your area, just check the listings.
2. Join a quiz or games night
Quiz and games nights are a fun way to exercise your brain and enjoy a bit of friendly competition. Joining a team gives you an instant reason to start talking, and you certainly don’t need to be an expert…half the fun lies in the wild guesses.
Quizzes feature in Oddfellows’ programme, which includes both online and face-to-face events. And because everyone has something to focus on, they can be a good choice if you’re keen to get out more but don’t enjoy walking into a room just to mingle.
Pub quizzes are another popular option, or you could look for local bingo, bridge, board-game, or card groups. If you enjoy hosting, why not invite a few people over and ask each guest to bring a favourite game? Taking turns choosing what to play can keep the evenings interesting and introduce everyone to something new.
Where will you belong in retirement?
Retirement isn’t just about having more free time. It’s about staying connected. Discover friendship, shared experiences and a welcoming community with the Oddfellows.
3. Join a walking group
A walking group is a wonderful way to combine exercise, fresh air, and good company. Walking can also make meeting new people feel more natural; the conversation may ebb and flow, but a quiet spell rarely feels awkward when you’re moving or admiring the view.
Joining an organised walk means you can explore somewhere new without having to set off alone or plan the route yourself. Many groups are free to join, so it can be an affordable way to make your week more sociable (and active), too.
Try to look for a group that suits your fitness level and how long you’d like to be out. Some organise longer countryside hikes while others prefer local routes with plenty of stops. Oddfellows branches arrange all kinds of countryside walks, so check the event listings to see what’s available near you.
4. Get creative
Creative hobbies can easily become solitary, but joining a group turns them into something you can enjoy with others. You could try painting, knitting, photography, pottery, flower arranging, calligraphy, or a craft you’ve never considered before. And it doesn’t matter if you don’t think of yourself as artistic; nobody is expecting a masterpiece.
A class can help you learn the basics, while an informal group gives you the freedom to work on your own projects. You can swap ideas, ask for advice, admire what other people are making, and enjoy a chat as you work.
There are plenty of craft sessions arranged by Oddfellows, although what’s available varies around the country. You can request a free information pack and local events diary to find out what your nearest branch has planned.
5. Learn something new
Retirement might mark the end of working life, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of learning. One of the joys of having more time is being able to explore a subject just because it interests you, whether it’s history, gardening, languages, literature, cookery, technology, or genealogy.
You could sign up for a course, attend a one-off talk, or see what lectures your local museums and galleries offer. If you’d rather learn from home, an online event allows you to explore a new subject without travelling.
Oddfellows’ programme also includes talks and demonstrations, with both online and face-to-face activities available. What’s on varies between branches, but whatever interests you, you might find you enjoy the social aspect as much as the talk itself.
Where will you belong in retirement?
Retirement isn’t just about having more free time. It’s about staying connected. Discover friendship, shared experiences and a welcoming community with the Oddfellows.
6. Share a meal
Eating with other people can make an ordinary day feel that bit more special. This doesn’t have to mean booking a fancy restaurant or cooking an elaborate meal at home; a lunch deal, afternoon tea, picnic, or monthly supper club can all offer the simple pleasure of sitting around a table together.
Food and drink events have their own category at Oddfellows, and lunch clubs are among the most popular. An organised meal can be especially enjoyable if you live alone, are newly retired, or simply don’t want to wait until a friend is free.
If your friends are often difficult to pin down, why not try putting a recurring date in the diary? A regular lunch on the first Friday of each month, for example, is easy to remember and gives everyone plenty of notice.
7. Make a date with culture
When work is busy, trips to exhibitions, concerts, and the theatre often get pushed to the back burner. Retirement gives you more opportunity to make these outings part of your life, and weekday visits and daytime performances can be quieter – and cheaper – than evenings and weekends.
Why not take a look at what’s on at your local theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries, libraries, and music venues, and choose one event to attend each month? Free exhibitions, library talks, community concerts, and matinee showings can all help keep costs down.
You could also make it a monthly date with a friend and take turns choosing where to go. As well as making you more likely to follow through, this could introduce you to a film, exhibition, or performance you’d never have chosen yourself.
From culture and history to live music, there’s lots to browse in Oddfellows’ events listings.
8. Plan a day out
A day out can make the week more memorable, and you don’t need to travel far. You could explore a nearby town, visit a stately home, wander around a garden, take a boat trip, or discover an attraction that’s been on your doorstep for years.
It can be useful to keep a list of places you’d like to visit so you have ideas ready when a free day comes around. And if somewhere particularly appeals to you, you could suggest it to other people rather than waiting for an invitation; they might be just as keen to go.
If you’re looking to expand your social circle and don’t enjoy organising, you can also look under the ‘Trips’ category on the Oddfellows website to see what your nearest branch has planned.
Where will you belong in retirement?
Retirement isn’t just about having more free time. It’s about staying connected. Discover friendship, shared experiences and a welcoming community with the Oddfellows.
9. Volunteer for a good cause
If you miss the sense of purpose and camaraderie that came with having a job, volunteering can be a rewarding way to spend some of your time. It offers the chance to use skills you already have, learn new ones, and meet people who care about the same things. Having somewhere you’re expected to be can also bring some welcome structure to the week.
There are roles to suit all sorts of interests, abilities, and schedules. You could help out at a charity shop, community garden, animal rescue centre, food bank, museum, or local event. Some organisations need volunteers every week, while others are looking for occasional help, or even have tasks that can be done from home.
Oddfellows members can also volunteer within their local branch in a way that fits around their schedules. This might mean helping to host an event, making a welfare visit, fundraising, promoting local activities, or helping to shape how the branch is run. Even giving an hour now and then can help you get to know people and feel more involved in your community.
10. Take a group holiday
For many people, retirement brings the chance to take trips they never had time for before. But travel can feel less appealing if you don’t have a companion, or if nobody you know shares your interest in a certain destination. On a group holiday, however, you’ll have people to enjoy the experience with, while much of the practical planning is taken care of for you.
Oddfellows Travel runs group holidays hosted by a member and operated by experienced travel partners. The holidays are only open to members and their family and friends, while all partners must be ABTA, ATOL, or ABTOT protected. If you feel hesitant about the idea of travelling alone, having a host and a group alongside you can make that first trip feel much less daunting.
Group holidays come in all shapes and sizes, from short coach breaks and seaside stays to walking holidays and longer trips abroad. Before booking, check what’s included, how much free time you’ll have, and whether the pace and activity level will suit you.
Final thoughts…
There’s no right way to fill your social calendar in retirement. Some people enjoy having somewhere to go most days, while others need plenty of time to themselves.
For you, the right balance might be one weekly activity, a monthly outing, and plenty of room for spontaneous plans. Why not start with something that sounds genuinely enjoyable, whether that’s a coffee morning, country walk, or day trip, see how it feels, and go from there?
And if health, transport, or caring responsibilities make getting out difficult, an online talk, quiz, or social event can still bring company and variety to your week.
Oddfellows has branches across the UK and organises hundreds of online and face-to-face activities each month. You can search for events near you or request a free information pack containing a local events diary, with no obligation to join.