Stuck for ideas?
Friendship ideas: days out, gifts & gestures
Whether you have a free afternoon, a birthday coming up or a mate who needs cheering up, here are ideas for every budget, including plenty that cost nothing at all.
Days out with mates
The best days out with friends aren't necessarily the most expensive. What matters is enough time to talk, something to laugh about, and ideally a stop for food.
A proper walk with a pub at the end
Pick a circular route you've never done, pack snacks, and time it so you finish somewhere with a fire. The walking bit is where the best conversations happen.
Charity-shop challenge
Set a budget of a fiver each and find the most ridiculous outfit for the other person. Wear it for lunch. Photos compulsory.
Picnic and a park
Everyone brings one thing. Add a frisbee, a pack of cards and a flask. Classic for a reason.
Pub quiz as a team
Pick a name you'll regret, come dead last, go back next week. It gives a regular reason to meet.
Board game afternoon
Snacks, a pile of games and at least one friendship-threatening round of something competitive.
Escape room
An hour of shouting at each other about padlocks. You will learn a lot about who takes charge in a crisis.
Learn something together
A pottery, cookery or dance class. Being rubbish at something new, side by side, is brilliant bonding.
A weekend away
A cottage, a city break, a caravan by the sea. Time away from normal life is where lifelong in-jokes are born.
Want something closer to home? Search for days out near you, then just pick a date and send the invite.
Gift ideas for your best mate
The best friendship gifts say "I know you" rather than "I spent a lot". A few approaches that tend to land well:
The in-joke
Anything that refers to a shared story, nickname or ridiculous moment. Personalised mugs, prints or cards work brilliantly here. Nobody else will understand it, which is the whole point.
The memory
A photo book or printed collage of your best moments together. It takes an evening of scrolling to make, and they'll keep it forever.
The pick-me-up
A letterbox parcel of treats for a mate going through a hard time: tea, chocolate, a face mask, a note. Proof that someone's thinking of them.
The handwritten note
Honestly? Often the best gift of all. A letter telling them what they mean to you costs the price of a stamp and gets kept in a drawer for decades.
Small gestures, big difference
Most of what makes a friendship feel strong costs nothing. Here are ten little things to try this month:
Send an old photo with "remember this?" and nothing else.
Drop their favourite snack through the letterbox or leave it on the doorstep.
Write a proper card that says what they mean to you. Not on their birthday; just because.
Offer something specific when they're struggling: "I'm dropping a lasagne round Thursday" beats "let me know if you need anything".
Remember the big day (interview, scan, exam, anniversary of a loss) and text on the morning.
Make them a playlist of songs that remind you of them, with a short note for each.
Babysit, dog-sit or plant-sit so they can have a night off.
Ask about the thing they mentioned last time. It shows you were actually listening.
Introduce them to someone they'd get on with. Good mates share their mates.
Say "I'm proud of you". People hear it far less often than they deserve to.
Ideas for the whole group
- An annual tradition. Same weekend every year: a Christmas curry, a summer barbecue, a walk on Boxing Day. Traditions do the organising for you.
- A rotating host. Take it in turns to host a monthly dinner. Whoever hosts picks the theme, however questionable.
- A group game night. Party games get even quiet mates joining in. Find games for groups.
- The group challenge. Train for a charity walk or fun run together. Shared goals, shared blisters.
- Our quiz, but for everyone. Take turns doing the best mate quiz about each other. Keep a league table. Hold grudges.