Find Urbex Friends: Explore Abandoned Places Together

Abandoned places fascinate many people: old factories, closed hospitals, bunkers, military sites, abandoned hotels, forgotten train stations, industrial ruins and places slowly being reclaimed by nature. But anyone who takes urbex seriously quickly realizes that good research, preparation and respect matter more than a random coordinate.

That is why many people search for urbex friends, urbex groups, abandoned place groups or people to explore abandoned places together with. Going alone can be risky, confusing and often less rewarding. With the right buddies, it becomes easier to prepare a route, compare information and share impressions directly.

This guide explains how to find urbex friends, what to look for in groups and how to plan shared urban exploration tours responsibly.

Why urbex friends matter

Urbex is not just about finding abandoned places. It also involves research, history, photography, documentation, orientation, safety and respect for property, nature and the surrounding area.

Finding other urban explorers can help in several ways:

• you can assess a place more carefully before visiting;
• you can compare photos, notes and experiences;
• you can prepare a tour in a more structured way;
• risks are often noticed earlier;
• impressions can be shared directly;
• shared lists make planning easier.

This works especially well when places are not collected randomly, but connected to an abandoned places map, regional pages, categories and information from the community.

Important: having urbex friends is not an invitation to enter places without thinking. A good group does not replace personal responsibility. Before any tour, you should check whether access is allowed, whether there are restrictions and whether there are real dangers such as collapse, hazardous materials, open shafts or secured areas. You can also find useful basics in the FAQ about the map, safety, app and groups.

What urban explorers are really searching for

Many searches mean the same thing at their core: people are not only looking for places, they are also looking for other people with the same interest.

Typical searches include:

• find urbex friends;
• urbex friends near me;
• explore abandoned places together;
• abandoned place groups;
• public urbex groups;
• urbex groups near me;
• abandoned places near me;
• abandoned places UK;
• abandoned places London;
• urbex Manchester;
• urbex Scotland;
• abandoned places USA;
• urbex New York;
• urbex Los Angeles;
• parkour groups London;
• parkour spots near me.

These searches show that the community side of urbex is just as important as the map. Many people do not only want a list of abandoned places. They want exchange, shared planning and contact with people who take safety and responsible research seriously.

This is where urbex groups, public profiles, lists and regional pages become useful: they connect places with people, topics and planning.

How to find urbex friends

The best way is not to randomly ask for coordinates. It is more useful to connect through shared interests, regions and topics.

A good starting point is a public urbex profile. There you can show what types of places interest you:

• industrial ruins;
• bunkers;
• abandoned hospitals and sanatoriums;
• abandoned hotels;
• military sites;
• parkour spots;
• rooftops;
• tunnels and drains;
• abandoned place photography;
• historical documentation.

The clearer your profile is, the easier it becomes for the right people to find you.

Public urbex groups are also useful. A group can focus on a region, for example abandoned places in the UK, urbex London, urbex Manchester, abandoned places in Scotland, abandoned places in the USA, urbex New York or urbex Los Angeles. Other groups can be topic-based: abandoned factories, bunkers, old hospitals, industrial sites, rooftops or parkour spots.

It is important not only to search, but also to contribute. Comments, photos, lists, useful notes and respectful questions show others that you take research seriously and are not just looking for quick coordinates.

Abandoned place groups: public, private or topic-based

Not every group has the same purpose. A good urbex community can benefit from different types of groups.

Public abandoned place groups

Public abandoned place groups are useful for first contacts, regional questions and general research. Users can understand what a group is about before joining. On Urbex Buddies, these groups can be discovered through urbex groups.

Examples:

• urbex groups UK;
• abandoned places London;
• urbex Manchester;
• abandoned places Scotland;
• urbex friends in a specific region.

Private groups

Private groups work better for concrete tour planning, sensitive information or small teams that already know each other. Especially with abandoned places, not every detail should be shared publicly.

Regional groups

Regional groups help with local searches such as:

• urbex London;
• urbex Manchester;
• urbex Birmingham;
• abandoned places near me;
• abandoned places Scotland;
• urbex New York;
• abandoned places California;
• parkour groups London;
• parkour spots near me.

Regional groups fit well with the regional pages on Urbex Buddies, such as countries, states, provinces and cities inside the abandoned places overview.

Topic-based groups

Topic-based groups bring together specific interests:

• industrial abandoned places;
• bunkers and military sites;
• abandoned hospitals;
• old hotels;
• parkour spots;
• urban climbing;
• urbex photography.

This structure is more useful than random chats. Users find the right people faster and sensitive information stays better protected.

Exploring abandoned places together: what to clarify before a tour

A shared urbex tour should never be limited to a location and a time. A few things should be clear before anyone heads out.

1. Safety and rules

Everyone involved should share the same basic principles:

• do not force doors open;
• do not damage fences;
• do not take anything;
• do not leave trash behind;
• do not publish sensitive details;
• do not enter restricted or dangerous areas;
• respect property, nature, neighbors and the history of the place.

If a place is private, closed or dangerous, that must be respected. Urbex Buddies is built around responsible research and separates public orientation from protected planning. You can read more in the FAQ about safety and web features.

2. Goal of the tour

Before heading out, it helps to know what the group wants to do:

• photography;
• historical research;
• documentation;
• parkour;
• urban spots;
• regional scouting;
• exploring together without publishing details.

Photographers often need more time. People who mainly want to compare a region or prepare a route may plan differently.

3. Gear

Depending on the place, these things may be useful:

• sturdy shoes;
• flashlight;
• charged phone;
• power bank;
• water;
• basic first-aid kit;
• weather-appropriate clothing;
• clear meeting points;
• agreed rules for cancelling or leaving.

For dangerous or unclear places, the most important rule is simple: leaving is better than taking an unnecessary risk.

Why lists help with urbex tour planning

Many urbex tours fail not because of a lack of interest, but because of poor organization. Places end up scattered across chats, screenshots, notes, old links or private messages. A shared list turns loose ideas into a plan.

A good urbex list can collect multiple places by region, category or route.

Examples:

• abandoned factories in the UK;
• abandoned places near London;
• bunkers and military sites in Europe;
• old hospitals and sanatoriums in Germany;
• parkour spots in Manchester;
• abandoned photography locations near me.

Public abandoned place lists are especially useful when a group wants to decide which places are truly relevant, which ones should be saved for later and which ones are not suitable because of condition, legal limits or distance.

A list becomes more than a bookmark. It helps structure route ideas, topics, regions and shared research.

Parkour groups and urban spots

Urbex Buddies is not only useful for classic abandoned places. Parkour spots, street spots, urban training locations and urban climbing challenges also need community and local orientation.

People searching for parkour groups London, parkour groups Manchester, parkour spots New York or parkour spots near me usually want public places, training opportunities and people with similar interests.

In this area, the community aspect is especially important:

• spots can be assessed better together;
• new training locations are easier to find;
• local groups can share experience;
• public usability can be understood more clearly;
• respect for residents and surroundings stays visible.

The same principle applies here: public accessibility, safety and respectful behavior are essential. Parkour spots are not an invitation to enter private or dangerous areas.

If you are interested in more than classic abandoned places, you can discover other types of urban spots through urbex types.

How Urbex Buddies helps with friends, groups and tours

Urbex Buddies connects maps, places, categories, regions, lists, profiles and community features. This means you can not only discover abandoned places, but also understand better which places match your search and how to connect with other people.

With Urbex Buddies, you can:

• open the abandoned places map;
• browse public abandoned places;
• discover urbex groups;
• find urbex friends;
• view public urbex profiles;
• use lists for tour planning;
• discover parkour spots;
• read comments and view media;
• compare places by region and category;
• prepare shared tours.

The main advantage is that research and community are not separated. A place does not appear alone in a list. It is connected with a region, category, media, comments and possible buddies.

Good urbex friends are not defined by secret coordinates

In the urbex scene, people often talk about secret locations. But good buddies are not defined by how quickly they share coordinates. Responsibility, patience and respect matter much more.

Good urbex friends:

• ask for context;
• care about safety;
• respect property;
• do not publish sensitive details without thinking;
• document places without damaging them;
• accept when a place should not be visited;
• plan carefully instead of taking unnecessary risks.

If you want to find people to explore abandoned places with, do not only look for people with many addresses. Look for people who think in a similar way: calm, responsible, curious and respectful.

A good first step is to build your own profile, contribute public context and become visible through profiles, groups and lists.

Conclusion: urbex is better with the right buddies

Exploring abandoned places alone can be fascinating. But with the right people, urbex becomes more organized, safer and often more valuable. Friends, groups, lists and shared planning help you understand abandoned places better instead of simply collecting coordinates.

Whether you want to find urbex friends, explore abandoned places together, join urbex groups or find parkour groups in your city, the most important step is a community that does not only search for places, but treats them responsibly.

Start with a region, a category or a group. Share useful context. Ask good questions. Prepare your next tour with safety, respect and documentation at the center.

The best starting points are the abandoned places map, public urbex groups, urbex friends and abandoned place lists.

Frequently asked questions

How can I find urbex friends?

The best way is through public profiles, groups, comments and shared lists. It is important not to ask only for coordinates, but to show your interests, regions and responsible attitude.

Are there public abandoned place groups?

Yes, public urbex groups are useful for exchanging information, researching regions and making first contacts. Concrete tour planning or sensitive details should stay in private groups or protected lists.

Is it recommended to explore abandoned places alone?

Exploring alone can be risky. A well-prepared tour with people who take safety, legal limits and respect for the place seriously is usually the better option.

Can I also find parkour groups?

Yes. Besides classic abandoned places, parkour spots, street spots and urban training locations are also strong community topics. Local pages such as “parkour groups London” or “parkour spots near me” can be good entry points.

What is the difference between urbex groups and abandoned place groups?

Urbex groups can be broader and include parkour, rooftops, tunnels, urban spots or photography. Abandoned place groups focus more on forgotten locations such as factories, hospitals, bunkers, hotels or old industrial sites.

How do I plan a shared urbex tour?

Start with a region or category, collect suitable places in a list, check safety and legal limits, agree on clear rules and use groups or chats for preparation. Sensitive details should not be shared publicly.

Where should I start on Urbex Buddies?

For first research, use the abandoned places map. If you are looking for people, start with urbex friends or public groups. For tour planning and collections, abandoned place lists are the best starting point.