A truly Herculean task.

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How about trying more formal practice at being a friend? I was in a 12-step group for survivors of all kinds of odd family situations, and we used to have picnics, go bowling, etc, just to practice acting normal with each other. I also found a councellor who is something like a paid surrogate friend, or a trusted older sibling. Lately, I've found some video clips from the TV show "The Big Bang Theory" and watching "Sheldon" has helped me see how I too was difficult to socialize.

Did you practice with people who were aware that it was practice, and trying to help? If you are not "up to speed" with a regular, existing group, you'll just get teased until you leave. You might also try caring for a small animal, or volunteering to help with disabled people. Just don't get taken for granted and used for anything long-term if you are not learning what you want.

That sounds like depression talking, which can be a vicious spiral. Of course it takes more effort to find structured, therapeutic situations, but the regular, easy ones are a waste of time and optimism. Sometimes, all you can do is wait. I had a dozen therapists before finding much of a match.
Have you tried reading some of the other threads here? Maybe someone closer to you on the spectrum has some relevant experiences posted.

people were simply putting up with me

I have only one person in my life who could be considered close to a friend but ... I think she only comes to see me out of obligation.

I can't get people sufficiently interested in me to wish to establish a deeper relationship...

most people are so boring

about friendship:
Seeing each other regularly (for good friends anyway), enjoying the other persons company, being there for them in a crisis perhaps.

Making friends would seem to be a relatively simple activity which everyone I know manages with ease yet for me it proves to be, as stated in the subject, a truly Herculean task.

Unlike many of the other people posting here, I've never really been overtly bullied. I often felt in school that people were simply putting up with me. I was invited to join people's tables on occasion which is a big deal back in secondary school but then I would be ignored and when I would try to participate in the conversation they would continue on as if I'd said nothing or simply stay quiet. I always thought this was strange, I thought about this repeatedly and the only conclusion I can find is that they invited me as an act of charity but then simply didn't want to do any more than that. I should note that I hadn't been diagnosed in school so I wasn't autistic, I was just weird.

I was able to converse, even become friendly (at least, I think) with some people during school and throughout sixth form but I've never really been friends with anyone. I was never really invited to anything outside of school or sixth form. There seems to be some sort of formula to lasting friendship but it is one that continues to elude me while everyone else I know seems to be quite proficient in its use. Even the "awkward" people bond with other "awkward" people, I can't even manage that.

I've read so many books on body language, Psychology etc. and numerous "self help" types about developing stronger relationships, relating to people and so on. All Psychology books tend to either be pseudo-scientific nonsense based on completely subjective perspectives or empirical and reasonable results derived from excellently designed studies which offer absolutely no valuable insights whatsoever. For the record, I think the only valuable insights into human behaviour will be derived from statistical analysis of many people (which will offer no insight into what each person will do, just what the average person would do and is therefore quite limited itself). Many of the books on non-verbal behaviour have been comprehensive, well laid out etc. but it seems to me that there is only so much proficiency which can be gained by conscious practise - the majority is the ability you're born with.

After finishing my A-levels, I decided to take a gap year (I am attempting to work on many aspects of myself as well as learning to drive to help travel to university). Since college ended, I have had pretty much no contact with anyone aside from close family. I stayed in the house for a few months doing essentially nothing, I am now trying to get out of the house more as I find staying in only serves to foster my depression; I leave for my driving lessons and I sometimes accompany my mother when she does the weekly shop but I still have no concept with my "peers". I have only one person in my life who could be considered close to a friend but she went straight to university and I don't get to see her very often but to be honest, every time I do see her I feel guilty, I think she only comes to see me out of obligation, there are better things she could be doing with her life.

To go back to my initial remark, I am feeling like making friends is a truly Herculean task. I feel depressed all the time (despite being prescribed medication to help me sleep which are supposed to be anti-depressants but they haven't affected my mood at all, if anything due to the progression of my depression, I am more depressed. Does anyone else actually find it this hard or is it truly just me?