Free, no-pressure and open to any man who wants company, Shoulder to Shoulder is a walking group that meets in London's Hyde Park for gentle walks and honest conversation. The idea is simple: side-by-side movement makes it easier to talk, and no one is put on the spot or asked to sit in a circle and share.
Groups like this have grown fast across the UK in recent years, as more men look for low-key alternatives to formal therapy or lonely scrolling. A park walk costs nothing, needs no booking or commitment, and fits easily around work. You can turn up once and never come back, or make it a weekly routine — either is fine.
Hyde Park itself is a good host for it. It's one of London's largest royal parks, with wide paths, the Serpentine lake at its heart, and plenty of quieter corners away from the busy bayswater and marble arch edges. It's easy to reach by Tube (Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge all sit on its perimeter), which keeps it accessible from most of the city.
For visitors, this is a nice angle too. If you're staying in London and travelling solo — especially as a man who finds trips a bit isolating — walking groups like this can offer genuine company for a couple of hours. Check the group's social media before heading over, as meeting points and times can shift week to week.
Even if you don't join a walk, the story is a reminder that London's parks are working spaces, not just scenery. Hyde Park on a weekend morning is full of run clubs, open-water swimmers at the Serpentine Lido, and community meetups. Bring a coffee, join in, and you'll see a different side of the city from the usual tourist circuit.
Who's it for? Locals who want a weekly reset, solo travellers after low-stakes company, and anyone who finds it easier to open up while walking than face to face over a table. No kit required beyond sensible shoes and a coat if the weather's typical.