- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 17, 2026
Make Friends in Richmond upon Thames, Kew to Twickenham
More than six in ten Richmond upon Thames households own their home, so from Kew to Teddington people stay a long time, and a regular habit is the way into settled circles.
196,000+
people living in Richmond upon Thames at mid-2025 (ONS)
62%
of homes are owner-occupied; the London average is 45% (Census 2021, ONS)
16%
of Richmond residents are 65 or older, against 12% in London (Census 2021, ONS)
Richmond upon Thames friendships follow the parks
Making friends in Richmond upon Thames is mostly about one green space and a fixed weekly slot. Parkrun every Saturday in Bushy Park, a swim at Pools on the Park in Richmond or a walk in Richmond Park puts you next to familiar faces every week. Start with the place closest to home. Gofrendly is another route to women in Richmond upon Thames who want to meet.
Common questions about Richmond upon Thames
Are established circles in Richmond upon Thames hard to break into?
Sometimes, because many Richmond upon Thames residents may already have friends nearby. Clubs and volunteer groups are the way in: they rely on new members and give you a reason to keep turning up. After a few weeks, you stop being the newcomer.
What can you do outdoors in Richmond upon Thames to meet people?
Parkrun in Bushy Park every Saturday, walking groups in Richmond Park, rowing and paddleboarding on the Thames and volunteering at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes all bring people together. In Richmond upon Thames, outdoor activities are the easiest way to meet people across age groups.
Where can retirees meet new people in Richmond upon Thames?
Daytime groups are plentiful: libraries, community centres, walking groups and volunteering all suit people with free weekdays. Richmond upon Thames has a higher share of over-65s than London overall, so it is worth trying more than one daytime group until you find the right fit.
How do you keep a new friendship going in Richmond upon Thames?
Agree a regular plan close to both your homes, such as a monthly walk in Richmond Park or a standing coffee in Twickenham. Gofrendly, a women-only app for making friends, shows you women close by in Richmond upon Thames, so repeat plans are simple.
Life in Richmond upon Thames
Richmond upon Thames is green, settled and spread along both banks of the Thames. Most households own their home, and a larger share of residents are over 65 than in London as a whole. Richmond, Twickenham and Teddington have busy town centres, while Barnes, Kew, Ham and the Hamptons feel more like villages, each with its own green and its own clubs.
That settledness means circles can look closed from the outside. The way in is through activities with membership lists: rowing and running clubs, choirs, garden volunteers and amateur theatre groups all rely on new people to keep going. Parks are the borough’s great leveller, because people of every age walk, run and cycle in them. If Richmond upon Thames feels lonely despite its beauty, pick one activity and give it a full season. Give it two or three months before you judge whether it is working, because that is how long a new routine takes to feel familiar. Where to start:
1
Bushy Park, home of the original parkrun, held every Saturday morning.
2
Richmond Park, with deer, ponds and long walking and cycling routes.
3
Pools on the Park in Richmond, with indoor and outdoor pools in Old Deer Park.
4
The Orange Tree Theatre, playing its current season at St John the Divine church in Richmond while its building is redeveloped.
5
The London Wetland Centre in Barnes, a nature reserve with volunteers and walks.
LOCAL TIP
Choose one and keep the same day for it every week.
How to
Your four-step plan for Richmond upon Thames
1
Join a weekly fixture with a crowd, such as parkrun in Bushy Park or a swim at Pools on the Park.
2
Volunteer with a group that always needs help, from park friends’ groups to the London Wetland Centre.
3
Find women near you in Twickenham, Teddington or East Sheen on Gofrendly and propose a walk by the Thames.
4
Say yes to the coffee after the activity. That is where acquaintances become friends.
Our recommended reads
About our editorial team
Gofrendly’s editors and founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja wrote this guide for Richmond upon Thames women hoping to find their way into the borough’s clubs, parks and settled neighbourhoods.
Friendship looks different at every stage
More guides for women in this area – each with its own local advice.
Friendship looks different at every stage
More guides for women in this area – each with its own local advice.
Find women near you
See who’s nearby and say hi — it’s free to start.