What can a teenager do in London? Where to meet people?

Are there places or schools in London in the summer where I can meet English people?

• I'm planning to go to London this summer for about three weeks and I was wondering if there are places, hangouts or, even better, schools I can join. I usually go for English courses in the UK, hoping to meet English people, instead they are also always foreigners. So my goal is to actually meet English people.

• Answer:

  Oooohh, just the odd few thousand. London has around 250 nationalities amongst it's millions of people. It's one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. There are American and other clubs and bars, outreach programs in schools and local authority establishments, and thousands of coffee bars, young people's clubs, interest and hobby clubs, all sorts of ways to meet folks. When you get here go to the local library and ask what clubs there are. They keep records of what's happening in the area, shows, clubs and societies, etc. Then just go along and join in. How well you do depends mostly on you. Be easy to know, stay cool, take an interest in the folks around you, you'll be be OK. There are more than 5000 Americans living permanently in London. Some areas of London get a bit rough like any city. Usual street sense and be aware if tensions rise or somebody starts trouble. Same as at home, some places there's always one stupid kid to spoil things. If in doubt, walk out. There are hundreds more places. Find a sports stadium or a hall with some local event going on. Join the crowd, be part of where you are. Also, get out of London a few times. See the local towns and cities and hang around where you see groups of folks in the coffee bars and clubs. See some small villages, the backbone of any country's 'real' people unaffected by city life. North of London, St Albans is 22 minutes away on the train. A local bus to Redbourn or Markyate or out to the lovely Dunstable Downs on the same number 34 bus from the station is a real treat, only 30 miles from the centre of London. Get off in Dunstable and walk the two miles to the downs, easy route straight up West Street, or get another bus if walking isn't fun, plenty of them. Here's a guy with a gun on the Downs....a real quick shooter,haha 40 rubber bands a second! . 1920's Chicago here we come,,,yipppeeee,,,gimmee a film role.... Scroll down for a video and more pics. That's where I grew up, in the lovely Chiltern Hills which are pretty well all English haha. http://hackedgadgets.com/2008/01/16/disintegrator-rubber-band-gun/ Same south of London on the South Downs and the North Downs. Lovely places, lovely towns to visit and close enough to get back to London in the evening, Meet some English folks in rural England. That's nice. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/leith-hill/ See the castle at Tonbridge, walk the old historic streets, eat and chat. http://www.tonbridge-kent.com/Tourists/t_town.htm There are dozens more places you can visit easy. Too late for this in Redbourn and why didn't they play English music instead of Scottish? Oh well, great day for the village anyway http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=redbourn+&pq=redbourn%2520&sc=8-9&sp=-1&sk=&mid=FCC3A84D505B142BBC42FCC3A84D505B142BBC42&FORM=LKVR18 You can see this though. There are loads around London every year and all over the UK.. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=redbourn+&pq=redbourn%2520&sc=8-9&sp=-1&sk=&mid=D99454F53BADF627F41DD99454F53BADF627F41D&FORM=LKVR26 Where events are happening there are people. Go along and be a part of it. You'll soon find some some folks who like to chat and meet people themselves. You'll be the meet-able one for them and interesting new company, just as they are for you. Have a great time.