14 Nostalgic Things To Do With Friends
Nothing beats the kind of fun you used to have before life got busy. You know the stuff—staying up too late, eating junk food, laughing over the same inside jokes every time. If you’re looking for a simple way to spend time with your friends, going back to the classics is where it’s at. No need for anything fancy.
Just you lot, doing what you always used to love.
Watch The Films You Grew Up On
There’s something really comforting about rewatching the old favourites. The ones you used to put on every weekend without getting tired of them. Grab some snacks, pull the curtains, and stick on a few throwbacks. Go for things like Matilda, Clueless, The Parent Trap, or whatever reminds you of school holidays and sleepovers. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Just pile onto the sofa and let the nostalgia do its thing.
Dig Out Your Old Games
If someone’s still got their childhood console, bring it out and plug it in. Whether it’s a PS2, Wii, or an old Xbox, just loading up those old games brings back a whole load of memories. Take turns playing Mario Kart, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Crash Bandicoot, or anything you remember spending hours on. It doesn’t matter if you’re rusty. That’s part of the fun.
Build A Fort (Yes, Really)
You’re never too old to throw a blanket over two chairs and crawl inside with snacks. Set up a little fort in your living room, chuck in some pillows and lights, and just sit around chatting like you used to when you were younger. It’s a bit silly, but that’s what makes it good. The weirder it looks, the better.
Print Off Your Photos
Most of us have thousands of pictures stuck in our phones. Pick some out, get them printed, and make something with them. A scrapbook, a photo wall, or just a few pictures stuck on your fridge. It doesn’t have to look nice or be organised. The best part is going through them and remembering stuff you’d forgotten.
Board Games Never Get Old
You probably haven’t played Connect 4 or The Game of Life in years, but they’re still solid. Get everyone around the table and play like you did when you were kids. It might start off slow, but give it ten minutes and someone will be way too competitive about Uno or Jenga. That’s when you know it’s working.
Try Some Old Computer Games
Remember when you’d sit at the family computer, pretending to do homework but really playing minesweeper? Load it up again and have a go. Pair it with a few other old favourites like solitaire or pinball. You can find loads of them online. Most are just as addictive now as they were back then. It’s weirdly calming and hilarious when no one remembers how to play.
Do A Grown-Up Sleepover
You might not call it a sleepover now, but the idea’s the same. Invite your mates to stay the night, wear your comfiest clothes, order takeaway, and stay up chatting nonsense until you all crash. It’s low effort and always worth it. No one needs to be anywhere early, so you can take your time and just enjoy hanging out.
Make A Playlist For Each Other
Used to be burned CDs, now it’s just sharing a playlist link. Same feeling though. Make one full of songs that remind you of old holidays, nights out, or random moments that always come up in conversation. It doesn’t have to be serious. The cheesier the better, to be honest.
Go Skating Or Bowling
You don’t have to be good at it. In fact, it’s usually funnier if you’re not. Find a place that still does roller skating or an old-school bowling alley and book a couple of hours. It’s loud, slightly chaotic, and feels exactly like being a teenager again. Chips, fizzy drinks, and everyone wearing those daft hire shoes included.
Karaoke At Home Works Too
Don’t worry about going out to a karaoke bar. Stick a YouTube playlist on the TV, pass someone a wooden spoon as a mic, and start singing. Choose songs you all used to love—boy bands, girl groups, early 2000s bangers. You’ll be surprised how fast it turns into a full-on sing-along.
Cook Something From Back Then
You know the meals you begged for as a kid? Beans on toast, fish fingers, smiley faces, chicken nuggets. Make those again. It’s not exactly gourmet, but that’s the point. Eat dinner like it’s a school night, then follow it up with a jelly pot or some angel delight. Feels like home in the best way.
Make A Time Capsule
Get a shoebox and have everyone throw something into it. It could be a note to your future self, a photo, an old receipt, or anything that means something right now. Seal it up and write a date on it. You’ll forget what’s in there within a month, but it’ll be amazing when you open it years later.
Recreate Your Old Photos
Find that awkward group photo from Year 9 or your first night out, then try and recreate it as closely as you can. Same pose, same outfits if you’ve still got them, and the same expression. Put the two side by side and have a proper laugh about it. It’s one of those things that seems silly but always ends up being your favourite photo.
Just Talk About The Old Days
Sometimes all you need is time to sit around and talk. Bring up old stories, weird memories, school gossip, and random things that still make you laugh years later. Someone always remembers something you forgot. It’s easy, doesn’t cost a thing, and it always leaves you feeling closer.
The best memories are usually the simple ones. You don’t need much to bring back the laughs—just good friends, a few throwbacks, and time to enjoy it all. So pick something from the list, get together, and press rewind.
