- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Hartlepool, between the marina and Seaton Carew
Lone parents lead almost 14% of Hartlepool households, ahead of the regional figure, so lots of residents fit friendships around family life.
99,600+
Hartlepool borough residents in mid-2025, according to ONS
14%
of Hartlepool homes have a lone parent in charge; North East: 12% (ONS, 2021)
23%
of Hartlepool homes are social housing; regional share 22% (Census 2021)
Hartlepool has a brand-new leisure hub
Highlight, the new active wellbeing hub by the marina that opened in June 2026, gives you a fresh place to make friends in Hartlepool, with three pools including a leisure pool with a slide. Ward Jackson Park has a café, a lake and a 2026 Green Flag, and Hartlepool parkrun runs along the cliff at Seaton Carew on Saturday mornings. Hartlepool women can connect on Gofrendly too.
Hartlepool by the marina: your questions
What is Highlight in Hartlepool?
Highlight is Hartlepool’s new active wellbeing hub by the marina, opened on 22 June 2026 to replace Mill House Leisure Centre. It has a 25-metre main pool with eight lanes, a learner pool with a movable floor and a leisure pool with a slide, so there is something for every age.
Is the Museum of Hartlepool free?
Yes. The Museum of Hartlepool at Jackson Dock costs nothing to enter and opens Wednesday to Sunday, daily in school holidays. HMS Trincomalee, built in 1817, is moored nearby, so a visit gives two Hartlepool friends plenty to see and talk about.
Where is Hartlepool's parkrun?
Hartlepool parkrun is held on the cliff top at Seaton Carew each Saturday at 9am. People of every pace walk or run it, so Hartlepool residents looking for a regular weekend routine with others will feel at home there quickly.
Is there a way for Hartlepool single mums to meet other women?
Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, helps single mums and other women in Hartlepool find each other nearby. A family swim at Highlight or a walk in Ward Jackson Park fits easily around school runs, shifts and the rest of family life.
Hartlepool, a historic port
Hartlepool lies on the North East coast, with a marina, the historic Headland and the resort of Seaton Carew to the south. Lone parents lead almost 14% of households and over 23% of homes are social housing, a little more than the regional averages. As a single parent, a weekly plan with regular adult company, a swim, a park walk or a library visit, can make a real and lasting difference to your whole week.
When your days revolve around the children, family life can feel lonely. Hartlepool has a new leisure hub with family and adult sessions, Ward Jackson Park and Summerhill, both with 2026 Green Flags, a weekly Thursday market and Community Hub Central on York Road, with a volunteer-run café. The Museum of Hartlepool at Jackson Dock opens without charge from Wednesday to Sunday, and HMS Trincomalee, a sailing frigate from 1817, is moored nearby. Places to start:
1
Highlight, the active wellbeing hub by the marina, with three pools.
2
Ward Jackson Park: a lake, a café, bowls and a Green Flag.
3
Community Hub Central on York Road, with a volunteer-run café.
4
The Museum of Hartlepool at Jackson Dock, open Wednesday to Sunday, admission free of charge.
5
Hartlepool parkrun on the cliff at Seaton Carew, Saturdays at 9am.
LOCAL TIP
A swim at Highlight is a good first habit.
How to
Hartlepool: ways to make friends, from pools to parks
1
Book a regular swim at Highlight and say hello in the changing rooms and café.
2
Stroll the Ward Jackson Park lake and finish with a hot drink at its café.
3
Arrange through Gofrendly to explore the Museum of Hartlepool with a local woman.
4
Walk or run Hartlepool parkrun at Seaton Carew with someone new.
One real friendship, and the UK in figures
Behind the Hartlepool guide
Gofrendly founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja and our editors wrote the Hartlepool guide for parents and other women on the coast who want friends close at hand.
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.