- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Cambridge, from the Market Square to Jesus Green
In Cambridge over 19% of people fall into the 18 to 24 bracket, over twice the regional share, so the city has plenty of people starting out somewhere new.
149,800+
Cambridge residents, mid-2025 population estimate from ONS
19%
of the Cambridge population was 18 to 24 years old in 2021, compared with 7% in the wider East of England (ONS census)
31%
of Cambridge households rent privately, against 18% for the region (ONS, Census 2021)
Cambridge has a market every day of the week
There are plenty of chances to make friends in Cambridge outside university life. The Market Square trades seven days a week, the Fitzwilliam Museum on Trumpington Street opens Tuesday to Sunday with no admission charge, and Jesus Green has an outdoor lido and grass tennis courts. Milton Country parkrun meets every Saturday at Milton Country Park, just north of the city. Gofrendly adds another way for Cambridge women to meet.
Cambridge: making friends in the city
Does the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge charge for entry?
No. The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge has no admission charge; it opens from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and from 12pm on Sunday, and closes on Mondays. The museum café makes it simple to stretch a short visit into a longer meet-up.
Where is the parkrun for Cambridge?
Milton Country parkrun, formerly Cambridge parkrun, takes place at Milton Country Park, just north of the city, at 9am each Saturday. People walk, jog or run it, and parking can be limited, so cycling out from Cambridge is an easy option for a weekend routine.
Is Cambridge Market open every day?
Yes. Cambridge Market trades on the Market Square seven days a week. The square has planning permission for a rebuild that could start in early 2027, when stalls would move to nearby streets, so check the council website before meeting a Cambridge friend there.
How can women new to Cambridge make friends?
Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, connects women who have recently come to Cambridge with others in their neighbourhood. Proposing a museum morning or a Saturday parkrun is a relaxed first plan, whether you are here for a year or for good.
Cambridge, a city on the move
Cambridge is a university city on the River Cam, with a historic centre of colleges, commons and green spaces. The 18 to 24 bracket accounts for over 19% of residents, and private renters account for more than 31% of households, well above the levels seen across the region. If you have arrived for work or research, or stayed on after a course, the people you meet may move on, so it pays to build friendships outside your workplace or department, with people who are settled here too.
Even a city this busy can feel lonely when your social life hangs on one group. Cambridge has free museums, open commons and a daily market, all within walking or cycling distance of each other. The Market Square has planning permission for a rebuild, with works that could begin in early 2027, so check where stalls are trading before you arrange to meet. Places to start:
1
The Fitzwilliam Museum, open Tuesday to Sunday, with no admission charge.
2
Cambridge Market on the Market Square, trading every day.
3
Jesus Green, with a lido, grass tennis courts and a kiosk.
4
Cherry Hinton Hall park, supported by a Friends group.
5
Parkside Pools on Gonville Place, with eight lanes, flumes and a diving pool.
LOCAL TIP
Choose one indoor and one outdoor place and visit each weekly.
How to
Cambridge: meeting people off campus
1
Walk or run Milton Country parkrun just north of the city and get a coffee with others afterwards.
2
Meet a new friend at the Fitzwilliam Museum and pick one gallery to explore together.
3
Search Gofrendly for Cambridge women and plan a summer swim at the Jesus Green lido.
4
Buy from the same market stall every week until the traders know your name.
One real story, and when friends part ways
Cambridge page, written for life after the course
Gofrendly founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja wrote the Cambridge page alongside the editors, with women in mind who came to the city for work or study and want friends beyond it.
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
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