It’s finally summer!
While the British weather may not always be the brightest, summer is the perfect time to see friends and plan fun activities.
Whether outdoors or indoors, spending time with your loved ones is so important. Hopefully this list will give you some inspiration for unique things to do with friends to help you create some precious memories this summer.
1. Cocktail Night
A classic.
A cocktail night can be held indoors or outdoors so it’s a great idea for the unpredictable British summer.
Always good fun and popular on TikTok, we’d recommended adding some theming for a fun twist.
Themes could be:
- Cocktails inspired by your careers
- Cocktails matching the first letter of your names
- Fairytale inspired cocktails
- Drinks inspired by your favourite films
- Your favourite cocktails
- Cocktails inspired by inside jokes among your friends
To make the night even more entertaining, have everyone create a completely new cocktail. No piña coladas or espresso martinis, each drink should be a unique creation to test your friends’ creativity. You could then give each drink a rating to add some competitive spirit.
Mocktail nights are just as fun for those who don’t drink!
Always make sure you’re equipped with plenty of snacks throughout the night and complete the vibe with a good playlist and some comfy seating.
2. A Picnic
Great fun on its own but why not add a twist?
Depending on your friend group, you could switch up the traditional picnic in all kinds of ways!
Make it a fairy picnic and dress up in your cutest outfits for a lunch in a nearby forest. Daisy chains, flower crowns and a wicker hamper full of delicious picnic food, this theme makes for some especially cute photos.
You could also have a posh picnic complete with smoked salmon, champagne and matching crockery sets. Wear sundresses, suits and sunglasses and feel as though you’re living life in luxury!
Alternatively, you could change what a picnic means altogether! A lot of food delivery apps nowadays actually let you order to public spaces as long as you give the driver proper instruction and meet them as close to the road as possible. This means you could order hot food from your favourite restaurant and enjoy it outdoors with friends.
3. Make friendship bracelets
Not just for children, friendship bracelet making evenings have become hugely popular in the last couple of years (largely due to Taylor Swift and the Swifties).
It’s a fun girly way to indulge in some childhood whimsy and make lasting memories with your friends.
You can buy kits from Amazon or shop around your local craft stores for beads, lettering and some elastic thread.
Whether you fill them with your friends names, inside jokes, song lyrics, or movie references, the bracelets you make will always serve as a lovely reminder of the day you spent making them and the people you made them with.
Set up some candles, snacks, drinks and music to complete the day (or buy one of our traditional hampers full of artisan British treats!)
4. Sip and Paint
As someone who once spent a day painting in a field with friends, I can guarantee that this idea is a lot of fun!
You’ll need:
- Paints
- Something to paint
- A picnic blanket
- Suncream
- Hats
- A water pot
- Paint brushes
- Pencils
- Snacks
- Drinks
- A playlist full of childhood hits
You can paint anything and everything - be creative. You could choose to paint on a canvas or do something a little different like glass painting, painting a pair of shoes, or painting a jacket.
Choose the appropriate paint for whatever it is you decide on - if you’re unsure, acrylic is usually a solid choice but do some research first.
Then get stuck in!
This activity should be about having fun and spending time with friends, don’t worry about creating the perfect masterpiece. Experiment, paint something silly, use every colour you can find, just enjoy yourself.
Complete the day with a food and wine hamper full of gourmet British snacks and award-winning wine.
5. Powerpoint Night
Another great idea that’s gone viral on TikTok!
This one takes a bit of prep work but it’ll be a night to remember.
Ask all of your friends to prepare a presentation on anything they choose; the funnier the better. This could be a tongue-in-cheek review of their past relationships, a lore breakdown of their favourite shows, or a compilation of ridiculous moments from the course of your friendship.
Then set up a cosy environment with a screen (or even a projector). Complete it with cushions, wine and soft lighting, and get presenting!
The audience don’t have to stay silent throughout - make jokes, ask questions, just have a good time while watching each other’s presentations.
You could even add a drinking game into the mix as long as you drink responsibly!
6. Afternoon Tea
An afternoon tea is perhaps the most British way to spend time with friends.
Whether you go out or organise one at home (perhaps using an Afternoon Tea Hamper), it’s a great way to spend time gossiping.
Ensure you’re equipped with tea, coffee, soft drinks, and perhaps even champagne.
You’ll also need:
- Cakes
- Sandwiches, cut into small sizes
- Scones (With cream and jam or butter)
- Other sweet treats
- Crockery
- A three-tiered stand
- Decorations
If the weather looks nice, it’s even lovelier to enjoy an afternoon tea outside on a garden table decorated with flowers.
7. A Beach Day
There’s no better way to enjoy the summer than heading to your nearest beach!
This one is a little more dependent on where you live but if it’s far away, why not make a mini road trip out of it?
Take a picnic basket or get some classic fish and chips while you’re there, and make sure you’re prepared with suncream and raincoats for the unpredictable weather.
Then spend the day on the beach. Build sandcastles, read, catch up with your friends, splash in the sea, just have fun!
If the weather is a little more miserable, check out the seaside attractions. These will depend on where you are but you can usually find some arcades, fairground games, eclectic shops and more.
Just be prepared to spend money on things you don’t need, especially if you decide to go to the arcades.
8. Bake-Off
This one is a great idea year-round.
You’ll need to be willing to sacrifice your kitchen for a day and we’d recommend a smaller group of friends to minimise the chaos.
To keep it simple, have everyone bake a ‘showstopper’ cake. Let your creativity run wild with flavours, decorations and other small baked goods.
Before you start the bake-off, it’s fun to go ingredient shopping with your friends too. Get the basics like flour, eggs, and sugar but also look around for some inspiration especially in the baking section.
Then start a timer and get baking!
Depending on your collective experience, it’s even more fun to attempt to bake a cake without a recipe. You can either end up with masterpieces or with barely edible abominations, and that’s what makes this activity a good time.
Once you’re done, do a taste test and score each cake on taste and appearance. It might also be good to have an impartial judge to do a blind taste test and crown your winner.
9. A Mini Staycation
Out of everything on this list, this one takes the most planning and organisation but it’s so worth it.
Whether you arrange a weekend getaway or a two-night break during the week, taking a trip with friends is a lovely way to spend time together.
Try and choose something that takes everyone's interests into account; a city break for those who enjoy nightlife, a trip to York for those that love history, a stay in Scotland for the outdoorsy people in your group. Whatever you decide, make sure you plan out plenty of activities in that area.
You could even go to a holiday resort like Center Parcs, Haven, or Butlins.
Plan travel routes (car, train or bus), arrange a hotel or BnB, and book your meals. Complete your trip with a staycation hamper.
Happy travels!
10. Local Activities
Potentially a bit broad, this covers anything and everything near you.
Some examples might include:
- Bowling
- Mini golf
- Spa day
- Shopping
- Ice skating
- Board game cafes
- Arcades
- Escape rooms
- And many more!
If you live in a big city, you’ve probably got a lot of options. It’s worth looking for new pop up events or new exhibitions near you.
We hope this guide gave you some inspiration for unique things to do with your friends this summer.
At the British Hamper Company, we believe in bringing people together through a shared love of gifting. If one of your best friends can’t make it to the activities, why not send them a gourmet hamper straight to their door?
If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to share it and we hope you have an amazing summer with your loved ones!
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