- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Great Yarmouth, from Market Place to North Beach
Around 38% of homes in central Great Yarmouth are privately rented, roughly double the regional share, so saying hello to a neighbour is worth the effort.
28,900+
Great Yarmouth built-up area population, excluding Gorleston, 2021 census (ONS)
38%
of households in four Great Yarmouth town wards rent privately; East of England: 18% (Census 2021, ONS)
16%
of households across the same four wards are lone-parent families; region 10% (2021 census, ONS)
Great Yarmouth has a new library on Market Place
A good way to make friends in Great Yarmouth is The Place on Market Place, which opened in 2025 with the library, adult learning and college courses under one roof. Stalls return to the north end of Market Place for the Wednesday and Saturday market, the Venetian Waterways have a boating lake, and North Beach parkrun runs every Saturday. Gofrendly helps Great Yarmouth women meet.
Great Yarmouth by the sea: common questions
Where is the library in Great Yarmouth now?
Great Yarmouth library moved in 2025 to The Place at 37–39 Market Place, a former department store that also hosts adult learning and college courses. It is staffed on weekdays and Saturdays, so it is an easy central spot for meeting people in Great Yarmouth.
Which days is the market on in Great Yarmouth?
Stalls trade every Wednesday and Saturday, and on some Fridays, at the north end of Market Place in Great Yarmouth, where the market returned after the square was redeveloped. Buying from the same traders each week helps you start recognising faces.
Does Great Yarmouth have a seafront parkrun?
Yes. Great Yarmouth North Beach parkrun starts on North Drive every Saturday at 9am, and there is a separate parkrun on Gorleston Cliffs to the south. Walkers are welcome, so the seafront course suits anyone in Great Yarmouth wanting a sociable weekly routine.
Just moved to Great Yarmouth? How to make friends
Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, lets women who are new to Great Yarmouth see others in the area and write first. A seafront walk or a coffee close to Market Place makes a simple opening plan, and it can turn into a weekly habit.
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk's seaside port
Great Yarmouth is a seaside resort and port on the Norfolk coast, between the River Yare and the North Sea. In its four central wards, around 38% of homes are privately rented and lone parents head around 16% of households, well above the East of England levels. Renters may move more often, so it is worth assuming that a neighbour may be looking for company too, and being the one who says hello first when you pass on the street.
A resort town can feel lonely once the summer crowds leave. Great Yarmouth has regular fixtures all year: the library and courses at The Place, two market days, the seafront parkrun and the Marina Centre on the seafront. St George’s Theatre, in a Grade I former church, adds performances and tours. An adult learning course puts you in a room with the same people every week, which can help friendships begin. Places to start:
1
The Place on Market Place, with the library and adult learning courses.
2
Great Yarmouth Market, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the north end of Market Place.
3
The Venetian Waterways, restored gardens with a boating lake.
4
Great Yarmouth North Beach parkrun, every Saturday at 9am.
5
St George’s Theatre on King Street, in a Grade I former church.
LOCAL TIP
Sign up for one course at The Place and keep going.
How to
Great Yarmouth: how to meet women nearby
1
Enrol on an adult learning course at The Place and get to know your classmates.
2
Walk or run North Beach parkrun and talk to the volunteers afterwards.
3
Get in touch with Great Yarmouth women through Gofrendly and wander the Venetian Waterways together.
4
See a show at St George’s Theatre and suggest a drink nearby afterwards.
A true story, and the honest answer on having no friends
Our Great Yarmouth page
Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja, who started Gofrendly, joined our editors to write the Great Yarmouth page, aimed at women who rent, are raising children or are new to the Norfolk coast.
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.