I have taken several group holidays and the women in the groups have often shared with a travel buddy. Some with a friend who lived locally, some that only ever get together to go on holiday, they obviously have common interests but it seems to work well.
Also there is also a Travel Buddy organization across the U.K. there is probably a group near you, again mostly women that get to know each other with regular meetings before actually going away.
Just google “Travel Buddy Oxford” or what ever you local town is.