Where and How To Make Friends in the West Midlands

The West Midlands mixes major cities with rural counties, so meeting people looks very different from one postcode to the next. Find the approach that matches where you live.

Laughter on the living-room floor as four friends play backgammon – from our West Midlands page on growing a circle of friends

6.2M+

West Midlands residents, mid-2025 (ONS)

Almost 1 in 5

Residents under 16, the highest share in England (ONS)

Local authority areas, from Shropshire to Warwickshire

Meeting People Across the West Midlands

Almost one in five people in the West Midlands is under 16, a higher share than in any other English region, so for many women here the first new friends arrive through school gates, toddler groups and junior football. The region’s 6.2 million residents are split between the Black Country, around Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich, and much quieter counties such as Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, where market towns like Ludlow and Ledbury set an easier pace. If you don’t have children, or yours have grown up, the same principle still works: choose something weekly and local, such as a walking group around Malvern or a class in Shrewsbury, and keep turning up. Our pages below cover towns right across the region, from Telford and Kidderminster to Solihull and Warwick.

From Our Blog: Real Stories & Real Advice

Debbie and Carita’s Real Friendship Story: A Genuine Connection 560 Miles From Home

Debbie had just moved 560 miles from home when she re-downloaded Gofrendly hoping to meet new people. Here’s how she found Carita – and a friendship that quickly became essential.

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What Is UK Friendship Month? A Genuine Guide to Circling September for Connection

UK Friendship Month is a genuine, 200-year-old September tradition — not a marketing invention. Here's what it is, why it's trending now, and simple ways to take part.

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Meet the Editorial Team

Claudia Gard and Ulrika Lilja are the editors behind this West Midlands page. They focused on a region with more under-16s than anywhere else in England, and on routines that work whether or not you have children.