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- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in South Shields, from The Word to The Leas
Social housing makes up 30% of South Shields homes, well beyond the regional level, in a seaside town with four Green Flag parks.
73,300+
South Shields built-up area, people counted in 2021 (ONS census)
30%
of homes in nine South Tyneside wards covering South Shields (pre-2026 boundaries) are socially rented; regional 22% (ONS)
39%
of South Shields households in the nine wards are one person, against 34% for the North East (ONS, 2021 census)
South Shields has a crochet group at The Word
The Word, the National Centre for the Written Word on Market Place, hosts a crochet group every Wednesday afternoon and is a welcoming place to make friends in South Shields. South Shields parkrun runs on The Leas clifftop at 9am on Saturdays, Haven Point on the seafront has pools and a café, and the town museum on Ocean Road charges no admission. Gofrendly helps South Shields women meet.
South Shields: what locals ask about friendship
What is The Word in South Shields?
The Word is the National Centre for the Written Word on Market Place in South Shields, with the town’s central library inside. It hosts a crochet group every Wednesday from 4.30pm to 6pm, for £1, and opens seven days a week, so dropping in to meet people is simple.
Which clifftop hosts the South Shields parkrun?
South Shields parkrun takes place on The Leas, the National Trust clifftop south of the town centre, every Saturday at 9am. The coastal course welcomes walkers and runners, so South Shields residents can turn it into a weekly outing with others.
Is Arbeia Roman Fort open?
No. Arbeia Roman Fort in South Shields is closed to the public until spring 2027, apart from pre-booked groups and special tours. South Shields Museum and Art Gallery on Ocean Road stays open, with no entry charge, from Monday to Saturday.
On your own in South Shields: where to meet friends?
Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, helps women living alone in South Shields connect with others close by. A stroll on The Leas or a Wednesday at The Word is a gentle start, and both fit easily into a weekly routine.
South Shields, where the Tyne meets the sea
South Shields is a seaside town at the mouth of the Tyne in South Tyneside, with sandy beaches, the clifftops of The Leas and a busy Market Place. In its nine wards, social housing makes up three-tenths of homes and almost 39% of households have just one person, both clearly beyond the regional figures. Living by yourself, a fixed weekly plan, the Wednesday crochet group or the Saturday parkrun, can give your week a reliable point of contact with people nearby.
Living alone can be lonely, especially in the winter months. South Shields has four parks with 2026 Green Flags, including North and South Marine Parks by the seafront, a Friday and Saturday market, Haven Point leisure centre and a free museum with wellness weekends. Arbeia Roman Fort is closed to the public until spring 2027, so for now the museum is the place for local history. Places to start:
1
The Word on Market Place, with a crochet group on Wednesdays, 4.30–6pm.
2
South Shields parkrun on The Leas, every Saturday at 9am.
3
North Marine Park and South Marine Park, both Green Flag parks for 2026.
4
Haven Point on the seafront: pools, a gym, a café and a rooftop viewing gallery.
5
South Shields Museum and Art Gallery on Ocean Road, with no entry charge.
LOCAL TIP
A Wednesday at The Word is an easy first step.
How to
South Shields: seaside ways to make friends
1
Bring a hook and yarn to the Wednesday crochet group at The Word.
2
Walk or run South Shields parkrun on The Leas and enjoy the sea views with others.
3
Use Gofrendly to plan a stroll through South Marine Park with a South Shields woman.
4
Go to a wellness weekend session at South Shields Museum.
A true story, and a September reset
Credits for this South Shields guide
Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja, who founded Gofrendly, produced this South Shields guide with our editors, thinking of women who live alone, are new to town or want a bigger circle.
Friendship looks different at every stage
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Friendship looks different at every stage
More guides for women in this area – each with its own local advice.
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