Bored? Here are 20 Activities You Can Do With Your Friends Today

Looking for something fun to do? Here are 20 ideas to do right now!

Boredom can strike when we least expect it. So much so, that it can scramble our brains just thinking of ways to curb it.

Fortunately, we’ve thought of a ton of ideas you and your pals can literally do right this second. All of the activities we’ve mentioned are low cost (and free in some cases!), so there’s something to suit all budgets and tastes.

Whether it’s a night out, a fright in the London Dungeons or a DIY photoshoot, here are some fun things to do with your friends right away.

Pro tip: Check out our Groupon student discounts so you can save on the activities mentioned on our epic list!

Jump to:

Go thrift shopping
Look up free gigs in your area
The Gin to my Tonic Festival
Explore local nature trails
Plan your own food tour
Get the adrenaline going
Host a cheese and wine night
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Rearrange your entire student house
Learn a TikTok dance
Become professional wine tasters
Sell your stuff at a car boot sale
Host a pot-luck-feast
Collect antiques
Have a clothes swap
Write letters to your future selves
Pet Alpacas
Host your own bake-off
Have a photoshoot

1. Go thrift shopping

While it might be tempting to shop the latest TikTok-trending leggings or tops, it can get a little costly. If you’ve got a ton of charity shops and thrift stores in your area, why not organise a trip out with your pals? You’d be surprised what hidden gems you can dig out.

Plus, getting a second opinion on your thrifty finds can help get the creative juices flowing. It’s a plus if one of you knows how to sew, too!

More importantly, thrifting is a super sustainable activity to indulge in, and you can find something no one else has.

2. Look up free gigs in your area

Watching live music is always a hit with a group of friends. Plus, it can expand your musical taste and knowledge of bands in the area.

Find out which venues are around your campus and see if any tickets are going. Some are even free if you do a little digging! Perfect if you want a relatively cheap or free night out.

3. The Gin to my Tonic Festival

You might want to get in on this one fast, it’s selling like hot cakes!

The Gin to my Tonic Festival, which is currently running up to the 10th December, is a celebration for all things gin and craft spirits. If you want to discover new distilleries and sip on some gorgeous drinks, then this is the perfect activity for you and your pals.

Psst, at the time of writing, the remaining cities hosting this festival are in Cheltenham, Swindon, Bournemouth and Brighton.

4. Explore local nature trails

Into your hiking and outdoorsy adventures? Planning a hike can be a really fun activity that can increase the bonds in your friendships, keep you fit, and keep costs low if you need a free activity to do!

We love to use Wildlife Trust to get insight into local trails and hikes, but there are many other sites you can use too. Pro tip - if there’s a hiking society at your uni, consider joining or asking them for recommendations!

5. Plan your own food tour

Always wanted to try out local restaurants and cafes in your area? Draft your own food tour or look for a local one in your area! Be sure to check the prices for each and divide it amongst your friends. It’s the perfect way to sample what your local area has to offer and find your favourite spots to eat.

6. Get the adrenaline going

Do you guys like a certain sport, or want to try something totally new like watersports? Groupon sports offers showcase a wide range of deals for games, stadium tours and water sports.

7. Start learning a new skill

If your friendship group has a common theme of interest, consider getting your group together to learn a skill related to that thing. Maybe you’re all into Korean dramas or anime, you could start a language learning course to fully appreciate those media. Or, it could be a sport you all watch. See if there’s a society or local club you can all try out.

8. Host a cheese and wine night

Non-alcoholic wine has gone a long way too, so don’t rule this out!

Cheese and wine nights have long been a fun activity to indulge in. It doens’t have to be expensive either. Simply get each person in your friendship group to buy a different block of cheese, and pitch in for some wine to pair with them.

9. Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, particularly if you’re a student in the north of the UK, is a number one day trip destination. Situated on Blackpool’s shoreline, you’ll find rollercoasters (The Big One, the Big Dipper, Infusion, Valhalla, Ice Blast, and their latest addition, Red Arrows Skyforce., 40 attractions and of course the stunning promenade to walk along.

10. Rearrange your entire student house

Is your uni house looking like, well, a uni house? While there’s totally nothing wrong with that, there’s something super refreshing about changing up your environment.

Get your group together and plan how to rearrange the rooms in your house. Are there any areas you can repaint, decorate or replace? Simplicity goes a long way, but be sure to check out our home student discounts to save cash on any new additions to your uni house.

Plus, you can bag yourself a serious bargain with Groupon shopping deals. Check out the Groupon home and garden range to get inspired.

11. Learn a TikTok dance

Nothing cracks up a laugh more than learning bizarre TikTok dances. There’s no doubt that at least one of you is obsessed with a dance on the platform, so get your space cleared out for a dancefloor and get practising. Post it on TikTok, if you dare.

12. Become professional wine tasters

Are you and your pals big fans of good wine? Put your knowledge (and taste buds) to the test with a group wine tasting deal with The Wine College.

This seven-hour wine appreciation course comes with tasting, serving and storage tips, a final evaluation and a certificate of completion. It’s a fun way to sample tons of wine and get rewarded for your appreciation for fine wines!

13. Sell your stuff at a car boot sale

Decluttering the house for that home decor activity? Or if you’ve generally had a clear-out, why not make some extra cash out of your old stuff?

Look for car boot sales in your local area, find out how much it is to pitch up a table and divide it up with your friends. Just keep in mind that car boot sales typically take place on a Sunday.

14. Host a pot-luck-feast

Want to throw a feast but keeps things on the cheap? Ask every person to bring one dish to the dinner table. This way, you sample a ton of different meals and share your cooking skills. Be sure to coordinate somewhat though, so you don’t end up with a ton of pasta bakes! Or don’t, if that’s what you’re into.

15. Collect antiques

Want to spruce up your uni house, or add to a collection of memorabilia? A group outing to the International Antiques and Collectors Fair is one of the best ways to hunt for some hidden treasure. Set a small budget and see what you guys find, from fashion to jewellery to some seriously cool furniture too. See it as a formal treasure hunt!

Plus, entry starts from £2.80 and is available at a variety of locations.

16. Have a clothes swap

Fancy some new threads but don’t have the cash to spare? Why not host a little clothes swap with your friends? Grab some things of yours you wouldn’t mind swapping with others. You’d be surprised at what you can get. Maybe you can finally stop “permanently borrowing” your housemate's favourite hoodie for real now!

17. Write letters to your future selves

Where do you see yourself in 1, 2, 3 or 5 years' time? Get your group together and write letters to your future selves. You can have a right laugh with these, or alternatively, get some seriously encouraging vibes. It’s a wholesome and cost-free activity for those nights in.

Here are some prompts to get you started:

Decide on an age or a year that you want your future self to read the letter
Talk to yourself like you would talk to the friends around you
Sum up your life currently
Explore your fears and doubts of the future
Set out your goals and ambitions
Offer advice and any lessons you’ve learned.

18. Pet Alpacas and spot Meerkats

If your group is a lover of animals, then you’re going to love what Groupon has on offer.

Willow Tree Family Farm is giving away hour-long tours walking and feeding cute Alpacas with up to a group of four, plus a cream tea to enjoy after. Or, if you want to do the Meerkat tour instead (or both!), you can visit a little family of them and get to feed them too.

19. Host your own bake-off

It’s Bake Off season, so we bet you’re super inspired to bake something you’ve seen on the show.

Have a little friendly competition with your pals by each baking a speciality. You don’t actually have to judge each other's baked treats, it’s just a sweet activity to indulge in.

But if you are on the competitive side, absolutely get as many people as you can to join in and allocate your (hopefully unbiased) baking judges.

20. Have a photoshoot

Feeling a little extra? Sometimes a new profile pic can feel pretty refreshing. Get dolled up in your favourite outfit, find a spot with plenty of light, decorate if you must, set up your phone camera (or DSLR, if you own one!) and snap away. You could even invest in a phone lens to really up your photography game.

What other activities have you done on the day with pals? Let us know! Don’t forget to sign up to Student Beans to claim our Groupon student discount and much more on our platform.

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Groupon.