It’s a new academic year at university; the final-year students have moved on, and you’ve been put in charge of your society’s next social.
Whether it’s a fresher’s week icebreaker or a mid-semester mixer, surely you can do better than yet another pub crawl or quiz night?
The best uni socials centre around activities that ensure everyone’s engaged, feels welcome, and isn’t stuck making awkward small talk for the whole evening.
Short of ideas? Luckily we've put together a list of 5 Edinburgh activities that could be perfect for your next society social, from the relaxed to the more thrilling...
Crafts have gained in popularity in recent years, and Sip & Paint events are a low-pressure way to get creative people together and chat. Buy some cheap art supply sets, a few cups and drinks, and set the room in a circle or grouped tables to encourage people to chat to each other, with a buffet for everyone to get up and grab a drink.
Practical tip: Keep it casual, or switch it up by changing the craft, setting a theme, or getting everyone to swap canvases every 5 or 10 minutes to lower the stakes for the perfectionists in the room.
Ideal for any creative society and works well in a university teaching room with minimal setup.
A board game café set-up is an easy way to make sure no one is left out and freshers get to engage with existing society members. Get a few board games and create four or more tables around your venue, whether it’s a teaching room or a hired venue. Games that last around 30 minutes with easy-to-grasp rules are best to get everyone started quickly and allow time for them to change game tables a few times. Some simple examples can be Dobble, P for Pizza, Bandido, and the classic Uno card game.
Practical tip: If you don’t already own games for the event, you can borrow some from the Edinburgh Board Game Library with an affordable student membership.
Get everyone outside and introduce freshers to Edinburgh with a scavenger hunt. Stay together or split into teams, then choose a good spot to meet up, debrief, and enjoy a drink afterwards. This works for any kind of society, but try to plan an accessible route or accessible workarounds so that those with limited walking capacity can still participate despite Edinburgh’s hilly landscape.
Practical tip: DIY your scavenger hunt to fit your society's theme, or book with a local business like Escape the Past, who offer an outdoor escape room-inspired city trail for large groups.
Ideal for any kind of society, and a great introduction to Edinburgh without feeling like a generic tour.
Whether your society is centred around wellness or outdoor activities, a sunrise walk up Calton Hill is a picturesque way to start the day, meet new people, and keep the walk accessible to a wider range of fitness abilities.
Practical tip: Bring a few thermos flasks for tea and coffee at the top of Calton Hill, or plan to end the walk at a coffee spot or a park, and pack a card game for anyone who would like to play.
Ideal for societies with little to no budget looking for a low-pressure event, and a great option for people who find nights out overwhelming.
If you’re looking to add theatrics and drama to your event, you could create your own scenario-based game, like a murder mystery or Traitors’-inspired evening. But for a genuinely immersive event with no organising effort, take everyone out for an immersive group experience like Synergy 1.0 offered by Team Machine in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
These escape room-inspired experiences work incredibly well with larger groups - there's no space for small talk as 8 to 24 strangers come together to work as one team. Whether you kick off the year with an immersive experience or keep it for your next big society social, it’s perfect for building team spirit and genuinely having fun together.
Practical tip: Book in advance and make it a ticketed event with a small fee to reduce no-shows and boost the budget.
Ideal for societies that thrive on co-operation and excitement, from drama clubs to team sports and games societies, but genuinely it works for any group looking for a memorable experience.
Here at Team Machine, we've been perfecting the craft of creating large-group experiences that combine collaboration and laughter every day. That’s why our team experiences are great for Fresher’s Week and society socials, as you get an immersive experience without your committee having to write and design the entire event.
If you’re working with a really tight budget, then a Board Game Café or a Sunrise Walk up Calton Hill are low- to zero-cost options, and the university can most likely provide a room to host your event or meet up before setting off. If you’re looking for the kind of event people will keep talking about in the following weeks, our Team Machine large-group activities do the heavy lifting for you.
However you plan it, the best socials are the ones where no one is left standing alone at the buffet, and where both freshers and society regulars actually mix, talking about something more than ‘So what course are you in?’ before the awkward silence sets in.
Pick an activity that fits your society’s energy, book as early as you can, and keep an eye out for anyone standing alone so you can include them in the group.
Find out more about our Synergy 1.0 experience, and book or get in touch to see how we can tailor the session to your group.
Bring your group together for an unforgettable, energising experience - perfect for work teams or celebrations.