If 2020 has taught us anything, it would be the importance of adapting. From redesigning our lifestyles and developing new routines, this year’s ongoing challenges have certainly taught us to be more spontaneous and productive, in the safest ways possible.
From our experiences dealing with government restrictions this year, we learnt to appreciate the immense value of creating memories and beautiful moments with our loved ones, which is why we have listed some of our favourite activities that can be enjoyed with friends during these restricted times.
From picnics in the park and safe visits to the spa to bike rides and online classes, we have an excellent list of fun and memorable activities that you will be able to safely enjoy with all your loved ones during lockdown — we hope these activities inspire and motivate you.
Visit art galleries or museums
With art galleries and museums opening their doors again, they remain an excellent activity to enjoy either alone or with your friends. Of course, with the government restrictions in place, visiting public spaces in England requires you to wear a face mask at all times.
For peace of mind, we recommend that you check the website of the art gallery or museum that you wish to visit, as they should all have guidelines on how to have an enjoyable experience whilst remaining safe and protected.
Remember that if you wish to spend the day exploring an art gallery or museum with your friends, it is best to book ahead as most of these exhibitions will have a timed entry system in place to help things run smoothly.
A day at the spa
As spas reopened following the governments easing of lockdown in August, the opportunity to enjoy a day of self-care alongside your friends is still something worth taking advantage of.
With all the challenges that 2020 has brought us so far, it is completely normal to feel highly strung and anxious, so the ultimate spa experience is quite necessary and a perfect way to indulge and temporarily forget all of your worries.
Host a games night
There’s nothing more entertaining than playing games with your friends, so why not host your own games night?
From board games to more imaginative versions like charades, rest assured that a games night will certainly cheer everyone up. If you fancy something a bit more exciting, then why not find some online casinos, where you can embrace the popularity of slot machines and online games such as poker for the evening?
With so many options to choose from, a games night is an excellent activity to enjoy from the comfort of your own home, so you’ll certainly feel safer and more comfortable — the perfect choice for those who are slightly too anxious to leave their homes.
Picnic at the park
Although autumn has started and winter is around the corner, the good weather is still lingering, so why not make the most of a sunny autumnal day by heading down to a park with your friends and enjoying a wonderful alfresco picnic together?
Simple to do and easy to plan, a picnic at the park is a great way to enjoy a day out with friends whilst staying safe and practising social distancing. Why not also suggest that everyone brings a snack or addition to the alfresco meal? This will help your friends feel more included and helpful.
A day at the beach
A visit to the beach has always been a great way of spending time with friends and making memories. Whilst this is easier to do if you all live close to the seaside, it is still something that you can plan for and effectively achieve.
During these trying times you’ll likely be looking for ways to makes these moments special and lasting, and one way to do this is through photos and videos. Capture these memories with your friends on film and trim videos online, right on the beach, to create a small clip about this day. This memory will definitely stay with you for a long time.
A day at the beach is a great alternative to a picnic at the park — perfect for those who wish to have an enjoyable swim after their alfresco picnic or barbecue. Whilst being outside is a less restrictive way of spending time with friends, there are still important rules to consider, such as maintaining a safe distance between you and others on the beach.
Hosting a movie night
Is there anything more relaxing than enjoying a movie night with your friends and loved ones? We think not!
Although you have to remain to a limit of six people at this time, a movie night can still be an excellent way of getting together — for those that can’t make it due to the rule of six, you can always ask them to join via a zoom call or FaceTime.
If you have an outdoor area, then why not create a cosy outdoor cinema for the evening? This way you’ll be able to stargaze and enjoy the fresh autumnal air whilst you watch your chosen movies.
Play a sport
Feeling active is an important factor when trying to have a healthy lifestyle, especially during these difficult times, so why not participate in some sporting activities with your friends?
Whilst there are restrictions on sports, you can participate in an ‘organised indoor sport or exercise class in larger numbers, provided that groups of more than six do not mix’, so it is worth double-checking if you wish to take a sporting class. However, you can still enjoy a game of tennis, for example, so it does depend on the sport you wish to play.
Enjoy a bike ride
An excellent way to explore and exercise with your friends is to ride a bike. Effortlessly freeing, a bike ride will certainly improve your mood and will be a wonderful way of spending time with your friends.
Keep note that social distancing measures still apply and can be difficult to maintain whilst riding a bike, but if you’re feeling confident that you can safely distance, we recommend giving this idea a go. If you live in the countryside, then there will be plenty of cycling routes for you to enjoy, and if you live in the city and wish to have a day exploring the rural areas, then rent a bike (don’t forget your face mask and hand sanitiser) and head off with your friends — an adventure awaits.
Recreate your favourite restaurant meal
Nowadays, there are endless amounts of cooking classes and recipes online in a variety of difficulty levels. Whatever you fancy, you’ll certainly be able to find, so why not try recreating one of your favourite restaurant meals with a friend one evening?
You and your friends can each bring ingredients for the chosen recipe and you can certainly find a recipe and/or cooking class that will guide you. Fun, creative and memorable, recreating a favourite meal at home is a great idea and will certainly be enjoyable. Follow this up with your movie marathon and games night for the perfect day with your friends.
Try a new skill
As previously mentioned, there’s an endless number of online courses in a variety of topics for you to choose and partake in, and whilst you can easily do them on your own, attempting to do one with your friend is much more entertaining.
Whether it’s a light-hearted session of learning how to make delicious cocktails, or more self-invested skills such as learning to speak a new language, rest assured that you’re bound to find the perfect online course for you. Websites like Masterclass host a variety of educational courses taught by experts and celebrities in any given field, so why not take a look and see what you find?
Learn how to make floral arrangements
Flowers can easily transform any space in your home and can easily put a smile on anyone’s face. We suggest bringing the outdoors in by making the most of your time at home and learning how to make beautiful floral arrangements.
Head to your local florists — remember to stay safe, social distance and wear a face mask — team up with your friends and compete with each other to see who can create the best arrangement. Truly a fun activity to do with your friends.
Host a book club
Lockdown has certainly given everyone plenty of time to slow down, so for our last activity, we suggest starting a book club.
Every month, you and your friends can take it in turns to choose a book for everyone to read, and then you can get together one evening and discuss your thoughts and opinions. We think book clubs are an excellent way of unwinding and encouraging inspiration during difficult times and can often become a cherished pastime for many.
Trust us, this may be the perfect activity for you, your friends and loved ones to enjoy together.
