Make Friends in Hinckley, where the library runs weekly groups

Seven in ten households in Hinckley’s town wards are owner-occupiers, above the regional figure of 65%.
Hinckley trio squeezed into a car, laughing on their way out
50,700+
residents in Hinckley’s built-up area, which takes in Burbage (Census 2021, ONS)
70%
of households in the Hinckley Castle, Clarendon, De Montfort and Trinity wards are owner-occupiers, against 65% regionally (ONS, 2021 census)
15%
of those households are cohabiting couples; the East Midlands figure is 12% (2021 census data, ONS)

Hinckley's library runs a group almost daily

An easy way to make friends in Hinckley is the library on Lancaster Road, which runs Knit and Stitch on Mondays, Shared Reading on Tuesdays and the Hinckley Scribblers writing group on Fridays. Hollycroft Park has a Friends-run community café twice a month, and the town market trades on three days a week. Gofrendly lets Hinckley women find each other too.

Hinckley: questions on meeting people

An evening in Hinckley: two women laughing next to a street lamp

Does the library in Hinckley run weekly groups?

Yes. Hinckley Library on Lancaster Road runs Knit and Stitch on Mondays, Shared Reading on Tuesday mornings and the Hinckley Scribblers writing group on Friday mornings. Because each meets weekly, newcomers to Hinckley quickly see the same faces and settle in.

Is there a community café in a Hinckley park?

The Friends of Hollycroft run a community café in the park on the first and third Wednesday of the month, and they organise regular volunteer gardening mornings too. Check the Friends of Hollycroft website or Facebook group for the latest dates. In Hinckley, it is a friendly way to join in.

Which parkrun suits Hinckley runners and walkers?

A parkrun is held on Saturday mornings at Hastings High School in Burbage, just south of Hinckley, and Burbage Common has woodland trails for walking. Either makes a good regular outing for Hinckley women who want to be active in company.

Where can Hinckley women look for nearby friends?

Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, helps Hinckley women see who lives in the same part of town and write first. Suggesting the Wednesday park café or a library group gives you an easy plan, and you can keep meeting there week after week.

Hinckley, a settled town

Hinckley is the main town of Hinckley and Bosworth in south-west Leicestershire, with Burbage on its southern edge. In its four town wards, owner-occupiers account for 70% of households and around 15% are cohabiting couples, each higher than across the region. Saying hello to neighbours costs nothing, and turning up to a weekly group means you will keep running into the same few women until they become familiar company. Once you have met someone a few times, invite her round for a cup of tea or suggest a walk together in one of the town’s parks.

If work or family has brought you here recently, Hinckley can feel lonely until you have a few regular faces. The town has library groups on several weekdays, a Friends group in Hollycroft Park and summer music in Argents Mead. Pick one to suit your schedule and keep coming back, even on days when you would rather stay home. Places to begin:

1
Hinckley Library on Lancaster Road, with Knit and Stitch, Shared Reading and a writing group.
2
Hollycroft Park, where the Friends run a community café on the first and third Wednesday.
3
Hinckley Market, on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays in the town centre.
4
Hinckley Leisure Centre at Argents Mead, with a pool.
5
Burbage Common and Woods, on the edge of town, with a visitor centre and café.
LOCAL TIP
Stick with one for a month and notice who begins to save you a seat.
How to

Hinckley: where friendships start

1
Go to Shared Reading at the library on Tuesday, even without reading the piece beforehand.
2
Volunteer at one of the regular Hollycroft Park gardening mornings.
3
Walk the trails at Burbage Common with Hinckley women from Gofrendly.
4
Bring a friend to the community café in Hollycroft Park and sit with the regulars.

A month for friends, and when one friendship ends

Credits: our Hinckley page

Gofrendly founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja wrote about Hinckley with our editors, with an eye on the town’s library groups and parks, for women who would like more friends nearby.

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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