October 17, 2026

Make Friends in Brighton Without Waiting for Summer

With more than half of the city’s adults never married, Brighton is full of people building their own circles rather than slotting into ready-made ones.

A woman smiling brightly at an indoor meet-up full of colour, for women looking for friends in Brighton

284,000+

residents across Brighton and Hove, by the ONS estimate for mid-2025

52%

of Brighton and Hove adults (16+) have never married, against 35% across the South East (Census 2021, ONS)

33%

of households in Brighton and Hove rent privately, compared with 19% regionally (Census 2021, ONS)

Brighton friendships grow out of habits

In Brighton, friendships come easiest when you turn one interest into a habit. A Saturday parkrun in Preston Park, a browse through North Laine or a group session at Jubilee Library gives you a reason to keep showing up, and the seafront is always there for a second plan. Give it a few weeks and the hellos become conversations. Gofrendly is one more way in: it shows women in Brighton who else nearby is looking.

Brighton: what people ask

Meeting people in Brighton: three women giggling helplessly on a car trip

Is Brighton a good place to live if you are single?

Plenty of people in Brighton are: more than half of adults in Brighton and Hove have never married, according to the 2021 census. That makes it a city where solo plans are normal, and where clubs, classes and running groups are full of people building their social lives.

Are there ways to meet people in Brighton beyond the student crowd?

Look for activities with a regular adult crowd: parkrun in Preston Park, evening classes, choirs and volunteering. Brighton’s two universities keep some areas busy in term time, but weekly clubs across the city draw people of all ages and stages of life.

How can women in Brighton find new friends?

Gofrendly is a women-only friendship app that shows women in Brighton who else nearby wants to meet, so you can message before choosing a café or a walk. Pair it with one weekly activity, and new acquaintances have a regular place to become friends.

How do you keep a social life going in Brighton in winter?

Winter in Brighton still has plenty on: concerts and comedy at Brighton Dome, a browse through North Laine, a group at Jubilee Library and bracing walks along the seafront. Indoor plans like these make it easy to keep seeing new friends when the seafront is cold and grey.

Brighton, beyond the beach

Brighton has two universities, a long seafront and streets around North Laine that stay lively for much of the year, so there is usually somewhere to go after work. Renting is common, with one household in three in a privately rented home, so if you are new to your street, plenty of your neighbours are newcomers too. To make friends in Brighton, use that: clubs, choirs and running groups are a natural place for newcomers to start.

More than half of adults in Brighton and Hove have never married, a far bigger share than across the South East. Some will be happily single, some in couples, and some looking for more company than they currently have. If evenings ever feel a bit lonely, a fixed weekly plan helps more than an occasional big night: the same class, the same run, the same café afterwards with whoever else came along. Places that suit regulars:

Preston Park, home to a Saturday morning parkrun and plenty of space for a walk afterwards.

North Laine, a grid of independent shops and cafés that rewards a slow wander.

Jubilee Library, the city’s central library, with regular groups through the year.

Brighton Dome, for concerts, comedy and an easy shared night out.

Hove Lawns and the seafront path, a flat stretch for walking side by side.

LOCAL TIP

Choose one and make it the fixed point in your week.

How to

Ways to get started in Brighton

Run, jog or walk the parkrun in Preston Park on a Saturday, then hang back for a coffee with the regulars.

Try a sea-swimming group in summer or a walking group in winter, and stick to one regular slot.

Message women nearby through Gofrendly and plan an easy first stroll on Hove Lawns.

Real stories of making friends

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Josephine and Bella matched on Gofrendly five years ago. Here's the real story of how one match became a lasting friendship.

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Julia and Isabelle’s Real Friendship Story: A Genuine Connection Over Kitesurfing

Julia wanted to learn to kitesurf but had no one to go with. Here's how a single honest post on Gofrendly turned into a real friendship with Isabelle - wipeouts included.

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Credits for this guide

Gofrendly co-founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja wrote this Brighton guide with our editorial team, with the parks, the seafront and the weekly plans that suit a city of renters and newcomers in mind.