- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
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- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Morley, a market town inside Leeds
Owner-occupiers account for more than two in three Morley homes, above the Leeds figure, so a neighbour you meet could well be a neighbour for years.
47,200+
residents across the Morley North and Morley South wards, which also take in Gildersome, Drighlington and Churwell (Census 2021, ONS)
68%
of Morley households are owner-occupiers; Leeds as a whole stands at 57% (Census 2021, ONS)
15%
of homes in Morley are cohabiting couples, a little above the 13% seen across Leeds (Census 2021, ONS)
Morley is a town with its own centre
You can make friends in Morley without heading into Leeds: the town has a park, a pool and a market of its own. Scatcherd Park has an outdoor gym, table tennis and a bowling club, Morley Leisure Centre lets you swim without booking, and the library on Commercial Street stays open until 7pm on Wednesdays. Gofrendly is a further way to find Morley women nearby.
Morley: meeting people, your questions
Is Morley part of Leeds?
Morley is a separate town with its own town hall and market, but it sits within the City of Leeds district. This page uses figures for the Morley North and Morley South wards, which also include Gildersome, Drighlington and Churwell and had just over 47,000 residents in 2021.
Can you swim without booking in Morley?
Yes. Morley Leisure Centre on Queensway lets you turn up and swim, and it also has a learner pool, a gym and studios. Scatcherd Park adds an outdoor gym and table tennis tables. Keeping to a set time in Morley helps you recognise the regulars and start a conversation.
Can you do a parkrun from Morley?
Morley has no parkrun of its own. The nearest we found is Middleton Woods parkrun in Middleton Park, which starts every Saturday at 9am and welcomes walkers. It is a short drive from Morley and makes a sociable start to the weekend.
Where can Morley women meet others who live locally?
Gofrendly is a women-only friendship app that shows Morley women who else lives close by. Start with a message, then suggest something easy, such as a lap of Scatcherd Park or a coffee after the market, and see whether a regular plan follows.
Morley's character
Morley is a market town in its own right, with a town hall, a high street and a market that has traded since 1880, even though it is part of the Leeds district. Across its two wards, 68% of homes are owned by their occupants and cohabiting couples are slightly more common than across the city. Where so many residents own their homes, a friendship with a neighbour has room to last, so it is worth the small effort of saying hello and suggesting a plan. If you are new, start with the places the town uses every week rather than waiting for an invitation.
Commuting into Leeds can mean your weekdays belong elsewhere and your weekends feel quiet. If that has made Morley feel lonely, look for something on your doorstep that runs on a weekday evening or a Saturday morning, so that you see the same faces locally rather than only on the train. The town hall is undergoing a major refurbishment, but the park, pool, library and market are all open. Places to try:
1
Scatcherd Park on Queen’s Promenade, with an outdoor gym, table tennis and bowls.
2
Morley Leisure Centre on Queensway, with a 25-metre pool, studios and a café.
3
Morley Community Hub and Library on Commercial Street, open until 7pm on Wednesdays.
4
Morley Market, with around 60 stalls and a history going back to 1880.
5
Middleton Woods parkrun in Middleton Park, a short drive away, on Saturdays at 9am.
LOCAL TIP
Choose the one that matches your free evening and go back each week.
How to
Making friends in Morley: how to start
1
Pick a regular swim slot at Morley Leisure Centre and have a coffee in its café afterwards.
2
Try the outdoor gym or a game of table tennis in Scatcherd Park on a fixed evening.
3
Message Morley women on Gofrendly and pick a Saturday to browse the market stalls together.
4
If you commute, keep one weekday evening for something in Morley so your friendships grow close to home.
One true story, and a friendship that ended
Morley guide: credits
Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja, Gofrendly’s founders, wrote the Morley page, edited by our team; it is aimed at local women, including those who commute to Leeds, who would like friends on the same streets.
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.