Fun for £50: 25 Low-cost, High-joy Ways to Spend Time with Friends in May

Finding fun things to do shouldn't mean checking your bank balance with one eye closed! As May brings longer days and that gorgeous spring energy, it’s the perfect moment to gather your favourite people for some much-needed reconnection. If you’ve fallen into the pub-or-cinema trap, it’s time to shake things up with some affordable things to do with friends that spark real joy and creativity.

Whether you’re planning budget friendly day trips or just looking for a midweek pick-me-up, we’ve found 25 ways to fill your calendar without emptying your wallet. From messy pottery sessions to serene nature walks, these pocket-friendly activities prove that the best memories are made when you’re trying something new together.

Why it's so important to find new ways to spend time with friends

Let’s be honest: life gets busy, and sometimes our social lives end up on autopilot. While a quick coffee is great, exploring fresh ways to spend time with friends helps deepen your connection and gives you something to talk about besides work! Stepping outside your comfort zone together builds a unique kind of bond that you just don't get from scrolling through your phones in the same room.

• Break the routine: Trying new bonding activities for friends keeps your friendship feeling fresh and exciting.
• Create lasting memories: You’re much more likely to remember the time you made a wonky clay bowl than another standard night at the local.
• Reduce stress: Engaging in creative or outdoor activities with friends is a proven way to lower cortisol and boost those happy endorphins.
• Discover shared passions: You might just find a new hobby that you can continue to enjoy together for years to come.
• Low-pressure connection: Focusing on a task –like painting or cooking – takes the pressure off the conversation, allowing for more natural, relaxed heart-to-hearts.

Food and drink: Delicious ways to spend time with friends

Let’s be honest, most of our best memories revolve around a table full of treats! If you’re tired of the same old "shall we just go for a drink?" routine, shifting your focus to a foodie experience is a game-changer. It’s all about sharing flavours, learning new skills, and – most importantly – enjoying the delicious rewards together.

1. Enjoy some matcha tea appreciation

Skip the standard latte and dive into the vibrant world of matcha! Learning the traditional whisking techniques is a peaceful way to spend an hour, and it’s one of the most trendy affordable summer activities to keep you refreshed.

Try this workshop: Matcha tasting workshop

Location: London

Price: £35 - £40

2. Get stuck into wine tasting on a budget

You don't need to be a sommelier to enjoy a cheeky vintage, and joining a wine tasting class is far more social than just grabbing a bottle at the shop. Many local experts offer introductory sessions, where you can learn to sniff, swirl, and sip like a pro in a relaxed environment.

Try this workshop: Sicilian wine tasting with dinner

Location: Manchester

Price: £38 - £40

3. Head off on a walking tour and beer tasting expedition

Combine a bit of local history with a cold pint! Craft brewery tours are super fun places to hangout with friends, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how your favourite ales are made.

Try this workshop: Historic walking tour with beer tasting

Location: Edinburgh

Price: £46

4. Master the art of chocolate making 

Get stuck into the sweet stuff! Learning to temper chocolate and pipe ganache is a deliciously messy way to bond, and you’ll leave with a box of handmade truffles that (hopefully) make it all the way home.

Try this workshop: Chocolate truffle making class

Location: Birmingham

Price: £45

5. Spend time at a local pizzeria  

Ditch the delivery app and learn to toss dough like a pro. Pizza making is one of the most social ways to spend time with friends, mostly because you get to sit down together and eat your hard work at the end!

Try this workshop: Pizza making masterclass

Location: London

Price: £45

Arty experiences: Get colourful with your crew

There is something incredibly therapeutic about picking up a paintbrush or swirling ink, especially when you’re doing it with your favourite people by your side. You don't need to be the next Picasso to get stuck in; in fact, the less perfect you try to be, the more fun you’ll have! 

6. Enjoy a lively evening at a paint and sip night

Grab a brush in one hand, a glass of bubbly in the other and get ready to get creative! Whether you work together on a group canvas or host your own painting competition, it’s a great way to spend time with your besties. 

Try this workshop: Bottomless neon sip and paint class

Location: London

Price: £45

7. Craft some eco-resin homewares

Create trendy terrazzo coasters or trays using eco-resin. It’s fast-setting, non-toxic, and incredibly satisfying – a top-tier choice for affordable things to do with friends who love interior design and want to feather their nest.

Try this workshop: Eco-resin home accessories workshop

Location: Manchester

Price: £40

8. Get creative with watercolours

If you fancy something a bit calmer, why not head off to an architecture watercolour workshop? It’s a gentle, meditative way to spend an afternoon and capture the beauty of the city.

Try this workshop: Beginners ink and watercolour workshop

Location: Leicester

Price: £30

9. Go on a photography walk

Grab your cameras (or just your phones!) and hit the streets. A guided photography walk helps you see the city in a new light and is one of the best outdoor activities with friends for capturing memories. Don’t forget the Insta-worthy group shot!

Try this workshop: Edinburgh Old Town photography walk

Location: Edinburgh

Price: £29

10. Try paper marbling

Marbling is a fantastic, low-cost way to create bespoke stationery and is incredibly easy to pick up, meaning you and your mates can focus on experimenting with bold colour palettes and psychedelic patterns without any artist's block getting in the way. You’ll leave with a stack of unique papers that are perfect for framing or gifting!

Try this workshop: Chinese water marbling workshop

Location: Bristol

Price: £38

Creative crafting: Hands-on hobbies for May

If you love the idea of making something cool, these budget friendly activities are calling your name. There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from getting your hands messy with clay or carefully carving a lino block while catching up on the latest gossip. Crafting together allows for those wonderful, slow-paced conversations that you just don't get in a noisy bar!

11. Experiment with punch needling

It’s like drawing with thread! Punch needling is incredibly easy to pick up and very therapeutic. It’s one of the most relaxing ways to spend time with friends who love a bit of slow crafting.

Try this workshop: Punch needle workshop

Location: London

Price: £40 - £45

12. Get adventurous with a glass blowing taster

Think you can't try glass art for under £50? Think again! Taster sessions for making glass charms or small ornaments are out there and offer a thrilling, fiery adventure.

Try this workshop: Glass blowing experience

Location: Manchester

Price: £45

13. Try your hand at lino cutting and printing

Carve out some time with your crew for lino printing! This old-school craft is making a huge comeback: it’s a tactile, rewarding way to spend a Saturday and create your own custom prints or cards.

Try this workshop: Lino cutting and printing

Location: Birmingham

Price: £18

14. Get messy with pottery hand-building

Forget the ‘Ghost’ pottery wheel for a second – hand-building with clay is where the real fun is! Creating pinch pots or coil vases is a grounded, earthy way to connect with your besties.

Try this workshop: BYOB hand building pottery class

Location: Bristol

Price: £34

15. Explore the world of polymer clay jewellery

Add a pop of colour to your jewellery collection, and learn to design and bake your own clay statement earrings or keyrings. This is a brilliant budget-friendly  activity that lets everyone’s individual personality shine through their designs – a great one for anyone who loves their accessories! 

Try this workshop: Polymer clay earrings workshop

Location: Edinburgh

Price: From £38

Health and wellness: Soul-soothing sessions

We all know that daily life can feel a bit go-go-go, so why not use your next get-together to actually slow down? Choosing wellness-focused ways to spend time with friends is a beautiful way to show your crew you care about their ‘me-time’ as much as your ‘we-time’. From the transformative vibrations of a sound bath to the aromatic bliss of candle making, these sessions are all about recharging your batteries.

16. Relax with a group sound bath class

If you’re looking for fun places to hangout with friends that don't involve shouting over music, a sound bath is the answer. Lie back, relax, and let the vibrations of gongs and bowls wash over you. Heaven!

Try this workshop: Midweek sound bath class

Location: London

Price: £38

17. Learn the art of aromatherapy and massage

For a sweet-smelling afternoon with your besties, team up and learn the basics of essential oils and simple hand massage techniques. It’s a lovely, nurturing way to spend time together and pick up some self-care tips for later.

Try this workshop: Aromatherapy and massage workshop

Location: Manchester

Price: £30

18. Try a cacao and meditation ceremony

Experience the heart-opening magic of a cacao ceremony – think deeper conversations, soulful bonding and the ultimate in relaxation. This is the perfect option when you’re looking for meaningful ways to spend time with friends.

Try this workshop: Art experience with cacao and meditation

Location: Birmingham

Price: £40

19. Show love for the planet with eco-friendly candle making

Ditch those shop-bought candles for your own handmade version with soy wax and natural essential oils. It’s a sustainable and soothing craft that smells as good as it feels!

Try this workshop: Candle making class

Location: London

Price: £47

20. Level up bathtime with aromatherapy and bath crafts

From fizzy bath bombs to luxurious salts, making your own spa products is great fun – and good for the environment! It’s a high-joy, low-cost afternoon that guarantees everyone leaves smelling like a dream.

Try this workshop: Aromatherapy and bath crafts workshop

Location: Manchester

Price: From £45

Nature and the outdoors: Fresh air and foliage

May in the UK is the height of spring, so it would be a crime not to make the most of it! Getting stuck into outdoor activities with friends is the perfect way to soak up that vitamin D, and working with nature is an instant mood-booster. Whether you’re dipping your hands into soil to build a terrarium or arranging spring's best blooms, it’s time to celebrate the longer days with a little seasonal creativity!

21. Boost your gardening skills at a sip and plant class

What’s better than gardening? Gardening with a drink in hand! Don’t have any green-fingered pals? Not to worry – these classes make great activities to meet new friends, combining plant knowledge with a relaxed, social atmosphere.

Try this workshop: Sip and plant workshop

Location: London

Price: £50

22. Explore the world of kokedama making

For something a bit different, grab your gang and try your hand at the Japanese art of moss balls. It’s a unique way to display plants and a very ‘zen’ way to spend a few hours in a lovely garden studio.

Try this workshop: Kokedama plant workshop

Location: Birmingham

Price: £42

23. Get stuck into eco-friendly dried flower arranging

For something that lasts forever (and is good for the planet!), try working with dried stems. It’s a trendy, sustainable craft that’s perfect for creating everlasting wreaths, bouquets or wall hangings.

Try this workshop: Mini dried flower bouquet workshop

Location: Manchester

Price: £35

24. Try some indoor gardening with terrarium making

No garden? No problem – you can bring the outside in with a glass terrarium. Building these tiny ecosystems is a hugely budget friendly activity, as you get a long-lasting piece of decor to take home and all the skills to make some more!

Try this workshop: Open top terrarium making class

Location: Glasgow

Price: £40

25. Embrace the seasons best blooms with flower arranging

Learn the ‘rule of threes’ and how to make a floral arrangement that blows supermarket blooms out of the water. It’s a fragrant, joyful way to celebrate the peak of spring with your closest friends.

Try this workshop: Flower arranging taster workshop

Location: Bristol

Price: £49

Go on, get the group chat buzzing!

Finding ways to spend time with friends that are actually affordable doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the ‘wow’ factor. Whether you're getting your hands messy in a pottery studio, sipping wine while you paint, or exploring a local park for a photography walk, May is the perfect time to embrace these budget friendly activities with your besties.

The most important thing isn't how much you spend, but the laughter and shared experiences you walk away with. So, pick an activity, message the group chat, and get ready for a May filled with high-joy, low-cost adventures!