DIGITAL NOMAD MEETUPS IN LONDON - FOR BUSINESS & LOVE
Building a Community
Living as a remote worker can be freeing and fulfilling, but it’s not without its challenges. The great advantage of not being tethered to a workplace or traditional work hours can actually be seen as a bit of a disadvantage in one particular category: community-building. How is a person supposed to make meaningful connections with their colleagues if they rarely get to meet those people face-to-face? Outside of the workplace, the people that we work with often end up being our friends, too.
Given the lifestyle of a digital nomad, things can get a bit lonely if you don’t devote some time to building and maintaining your friend group. For single digital nomads, things can feel even more lonely and isolated. How are you even supposed to meet someone you like and get to know them if the nature of your work is to be on the go? Fortunately, digital nomadism has been getting more and more popular throughout the past few years, and people who have faced this loneliness have come up with some resources and solutions for you.
For example, let’s take a look at London: one of the world’s most thriving major cities with a bustling digital nomad community. People just like you have gone there to work, and in their search for business and romantic connections, a few great tips about meeting people have emerged. Check them out below:
Co-Working Spaces
London is already a hotspot for tourists and travelers, and as digital work gets more popular, you can rely on the fact that a ton of co-working spaces will be up and running there. If you’re looking for the perfect place to knock out a few of your latest projects, these should definitely be your first stop. Along with having all of the amenities you could need to comfortably work, these co-working spaces will often host networking events and workshops. There’s no better or easier opportunity to start building your digital nomad community in London than getting right to the source of where they live and work.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll even meet a fellow digital nomad and feel the spark of a romantic connection! At the very least, you’re bound to have a fair bit in common with anyone you meet there because of your similarly nomadic lifestyles.
Try checking out Uncommon (a chain of workspaces with on-site bars and cafés that are great for meeting up after work), Work & Play (located in the bustling and social Finsbury Park), or Fora (big & bright work rooms, right in the middle of the popular Shoreditch neighborhood). Chances are you’ll meet many new people, and some might just become new friends and collaborators.
If you’re a professional in any particular field, you probably already know about the power of LinkedIn when it comes to connecting with other professionals. LinkedIn remains the most popular resume-hosting/sophisticated social media site, and it is a perfect way to connect yourself with applicable jobs, internships, and people.
Spend a bit of time on your profile page (the more professional it looks and the more information it contains, the more likely you are to land the job you’re hoping for). Then, go ahead and explore! There’s a thriving community of all kinds of working people on LinkedIn, so you’re almost guaranteed to find what you need there.
Online Communities and Social Media
Sign in to your favorite social media app, search whatever your particular niche or workstyle is, and see what groups already exist in London. Given the amount of people that live and work here, there’s bound to be at least one group that can connect you with a bigger community. Outside of social media, look for forums and online communities where you can ask questions and engage with other nomads in the area.
For a general starting point, try out this Facebook group that’s open to any London digital nomads. Don’t be shy. Make a post to introduce yourself! You might find that people are very open to meeting up and showing you around the city.
Dating Apps
At this point, most people who are currently looking for love are looking online. Dating apps have become a very popular way for people to meet, and as a digital nomad, it’s a great way to connect with people that you might not otherwise run into. It’s also really handy for keeping in touch with new potential partners, even when you aren’t in the same part of the world.
Be sure to be transparent, though! It’s important to communicate clearly to the people you go out with about your nomadic lifestyle and your dating goals. Spend some time figuring this out, and by the time you get onto Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge, you’ll quickly be able to find people with the same goals in mind.
Local Cafés and Bars
This one may be a more personal approach based on what you like to do. If you’re a coffee drinker, try making it a social opportunity. Get out of your comfort zone and ask out that cute person you keep noticing in your co-working space. Most people will be pretty open to grabbing a cup of coffee with you, and from there, it could blossom into something more!
See what’s going on at the bars and pubs in your area as well. London has a thriving bar culture, with tons of interesting places to sip some suds (a quick internet search will give you plenty of options). If you fancy a pint after the working day is done, try inviting someone from a digital nomad social media group to meet you there. Again, most people will be pretty open to drinks if you ask them, and this can create a comfy, low-pressure environment where everyone can loosen up and get to know each other.
In a city like London, you can find almost anything you could possibly need. As long as you stay open and approachable and be respectful to the people you meet, you’ll have a thriving social circle in no time.
Whether you’re looking to work on exciting new projects, create strong friendships, or start a new chapter in your dating life, London has the potential to deliver. All you have to do is get out there and see who you meet!