- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Yardley, old village and new routines
Around 60% of Yardley households are owner-occupiers, so a friendship with a neighbour here has every chance to grow.
24,600+
residents in the Yardley East and Yardley West & Stechford wards (Census 2021, ONS)
60%
of Yardley households are owner-occupiers; Birmingham’s figure is 53% (Census 2021, ONS)
25%
of people in the two Yardley wards are 15 or under; Birmingham stands at 22% (Census 2021, ONS)
Yardley has a village at its heart
To make friends in Yardley, look for the small, regular things that bring the same neighbours together each week. St Edburgha’s Church in Old Yardley hosts a Friday morning Place of Welcome with refreshments, Stechford Leisure Centre has a 25-metre pool and classes, and Blakesley Hall opens its Tudor rooms Wednesday to Sunday until the winter break. Gofrendly helps Yardley women meet others nearby.
Yardley friendships: frequently asked
Which area does this Yardley page cover?
It covers the Yardley East and Yardley West & Stechford wards, which include Old Yardley and Blakesley Hall. South Yardley is a neighbouring ward. Yardley Wood is a different area in south Birmingham, so check the postcode if you are unsure.
When can you visit Yardley's Tudor hall?
Blakesley Hall in Yardley opens Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm, with free entry to the gardens. It closes for winter from 2 November 2026, apart from special occasions, and reopens on 13 February 2027. It is a lovely spring outing with a new friend.
Is there a pool or parkrun near Yardley?
Stechford Leisure Centre on Station Road has a 25-metre pool, a teaching pool, a gym and a studio. Oaklands parkrun takes place at Oaklands Recreation Ground on Hob Moor Road in Yardley, on Saturdays at 9am. Regular sessions mean you see the same faces each week.
Where do Yardley women look for local friends?
With Gofrendly, a friendship app made only for women, Yardley women can spot neighbours who are open to new friends and message first. In an area where many households own their homes, a regular walk or coffee with someone close by can grow into a lasting friendship.
A settled side of the city
Yardley is an established part of east Birmingham, spread across the Yardley East and Yardley West & Stechford wards. Owner-occupiers make up about 60% of households, and one resident in four is 15 or under, so there is a strong mix of families and homeowners. Where many people own their homes, neighbours you meet now may well be neighbours for years, which gives a friendship time to grow. If you are new, it is worth joining what is already running instead of holding back until someone invites you, which may take longer than you think.
If you have moved in recently or your children have grown up, Yardley can feel lonely at first. The answer is to join the regular gatherings already on offer, from church welcome mornings to swim sessions. Old Yardley, with its medieval church and park, keeps a real village feel that makes small talk easy and natural. Places with a loyal crowd:
1
Old Yardley Park on Church Road, with a rose garden next to St Edburgha’s Church.
2
The Place of Welcome at St Edburgha’s, Fridays 9.30 to 11.30am.
3
Blakesley Hall, a Tudor house with free gardens, closed for winter from 2 November to 13 February.
4
Stechford Leisure Centre on Station Road, with a pool, gym and sports hall.
5
South Yardley Library on Yardley Road, in neighbouring South Yardley, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
LOCAL TIP
Pick one this month and make it a weekly fixture.
How to
Yardley: four steps to making friends
1
Pop into the Friday Place of Welcome at St Edburgha’s and stay for a second cup.
2
Book the same weekly swim or class at Stechford Leisure Centre.
3
Invite Yardley women you find on Gofrendly for a stroll through the Old Yardley rose garden.
4
Once Blakesley Hall reopens in February, invite a new friend to one of its weekend days.
A month for friends, and when a friendship ends
Yardley guide: who put it together
Gofrendly founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja and the editorial team are behind the Yardley page, written for women in an established neighbourhood hoping for friends beyond family.
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.