- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Norwich, from the Forum to Eaton Park
Single-person homes make up almost 39% of Norwich households, far above the regional level, so many neighbours may also welcome company.
145,600+
residents of the city of Norwich, mid-2025 (ONS estimate)
39%
of Norwich households have one person living alone; the East of England average is 29% (ONS, Census 2021)
16%
of Norwich residents fell in the 18–24 age range in the last census, over twice the regional 7% (ONS, 2021)
Norwich has a market six days a week
Norwich Market, with more than 190 stalls, trades from Monday to Saturday and is a lively place to make friends in Norwich. The Millennium Library at The Forum reopened in July 2026 after a refurbishment, Norwich parkrun starts in Eaton Park on Saturday mornings, and the Sainsbury Centre at UEA welcomes visitors on a pay-what-you-can basis, from free, except on Mondays. Norwich women can also meet through Gofrendly.
Norwich: your questions on friendship
When is Norwich Market open?
Norwich Market trades from Monday to Saturday, 8.30am to 5.30pm, with more than 190 stalls in the city centre. A redesign is planned, but the market is due to stay open during the works, so a regular market lunch remains a dependable way to get to know Norwich traders and shoppers.
Is the Millennium Library in Norwich open?
Yes. The Millennium Library at The Forum in Norwich reopened on 29 July 2026 after a refurbishment. Staff are on hand from Monday to Saturday, with self-service opening on Sundays, so it is a central, free place to spend time and meet people.
Which park hosts Norwich parkrun?
Norwich parkrun takes place in Eaton Park, a Green Flag park in the west of the city, at 9am on Saturdays. A café sits beside the course, so Norwich runners and walkers can stay on for a drink and get to know each other after the finish.
Living alone in Norwich: where do you meet friends?
Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, links women living on their own in Norwich with others nearby. A walk in Eaton Park or lunch at the market is an easy opening plan, and the city has plenty of free places to meet again.
Norwich, a city of many neighbourhoods
Norwich is a cathedral city in Norfolk, with a medieval centre, a university and neighbourhoods stretching from Eaton to Mousehold Heath. Single occupants account for close to 39% of households and 18 to 24-year-olds for about 16% of residents, two shares that sit far beyond the regional ones. With so many students, young professionals and people living on their own, if you would like more company, a regular group makes a sensible first step.
A busy city can still feel lonely when your evenings are quiet. Norwich has a six-day market, a central library at The Forum, six Green Flag parks and a theatre that runs take-part sessions for adults in some seasons. The Friends of Eaton Park run a gardening group on the first Thursday of the month, a friendly way to meet people while you work outside. The market is central, so it can be easy to fit a meet-up into a lunch break. Places to start:
1
Norwich Market, with more than 190 stalls, open Monday to Saturday.
2
The Millennium Library at The Forum, reopened in July 2026.
3
Eaton Park, home to a café, Norwich parkrun and a Green Flag.
4
The Sainsbury Centre at UEA, with pay-what-you-can entry, closed on Mondays.
5
Mousehold Heath, a Green Flag heathland with views over the city.
LOCAL TIP
Pair a weekday market lunch with a Saturday in Eaton Park.
How to
Norwich: city ways to meet new people
1
Join the Friends of Eaton Park gardening group on the first Thursday of the month.
2
Walk or run Norwich parkrun in Eaton Park and stop at the café afterwards.
3
Use Gofrendly to arrange a Sainsbury Centre visit with a Norwich woman.
4
Ask Norwich Theatre about its take-part sessions for adults and try one.
Choosing an app, and a fresh start in a new city
The people behind our Norwich page
Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja, the Gofrendly founders, wrote the Norwich page jointly with our editorial staff, thinking of city residents who live alone, have moved for work or study, or want a wider circle.
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.