- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 17, 2026
Make Friends in Hampshire, by forest, downs and harbour
In Hampshire, 22.9% of people have celebrated their 65th birthday, and the county runs from heath and forest to chalk downland.
1,451,000+
people living in Hampshire County Council’s eleven districts, excluding Southampton and Portsmouth (ONS mid-2025)
50.9%
of Hampshire’s 16-plus population is legally partnered, by marriage or civil partnership; South East: 47.6% (Census 2021, ONS)
22.9%
is Hampshire’s share of residents aged 65-plus, above the South East’s 20.2% (ONS mid-2025)
Hampshire friendships grow in the market towns
To make friends in Hampshire, find one regular thing near home and stick at it all year. A walk in the New Forest, a concert at The Anvil in Basingstoke or a Saturday wander round Winchester brings the same faces back each week, and that is often where friendships start. Gofrendly helps women in Hampshire find others who live nearby.
Hampshire, from forest to downs: your questions
Does this Hampshire page cover the two big cities?
No. This Hampshire page sticks to the area run by Hampshire County Council, which includes Winchester, Basingstoke, Andover, Eastleigh, Fareham, Havant and the New Forest. Southampton is covered by its own hub and Portsmouth by its own page, so neither city is included in the places or figures here.
Where can you go walking with others in Hampshire?
The New Forest has a wide network of tracks across heath and woodland, and the South Downs Way begins in Winchester and runs east across Hampshire. Join a walking group or pick one route to repeat, and you will soon recognise the people out at the same time.
Can Hampshire women find friends without leaving their area?
Yes. Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, shows Hampshire women living near you, and messaging comes before any decision to meet. Seeing each other on a set day of the week gives a new friendship the time it needs to settle in.
Which Hampshire spots suit a first meet-up?
Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley has wide lawns by the water and a café, and Winchester has the cathedral close and riverside paths within a short walk. In Hampshire, either one works well when you are meeting for the first time, because you can walk, talk and stop for a drink.
Hampshire beyond the two cities
The Hampshire on this page is the county council area, from Basingstoke, Andover and Alton in the north to Winchester, Eastleigh, Fareham, Havant and the New Forest in the south. Southampton and Portsmouth are unitary authorities and fall outside these figures; Southampton has a Meet People hub of its own and Portsmouth a separate page. Distances between towns can be long, so it helps to look for company in your own area first, before trying the bigger towns.
Hampshire’s figures point to settled lives: over a fifth of the county is 65 or older, and married people make up over half of the adult population. If friends are wrapped up in family life, or you moved here for work, evenings can feel lonely until you find your people nearby. Something with a set day each week helps, from a ramblers’ group or a book club to bell ringing or a conservation volunteer day. A few places to try:
1
The New Forest, with open heath, ponies and waymarked walks from villages such as Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.
2
Winchester Cathedral, with tours, music and a cathedral close to stroll round.
3
Queen Elizabeth Country Park near Petersfield, with woodland and downland trails.
4
Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley, with a chapel, a shoreline and open grass.
5
The Anvil in Basingstoke, a concert hall hosting orchestras, bands and comedy nights.
LOCAL TIP
Choose whichever is closest and return seven days later.
How to
How to make friends in Hampshire away from the cities
1
Look for a group within a short drive or bus ride so it stays easy to keep going.
2
Invite someone from your group for a walk in Queen Elizabeth Country Park or the New Forest.
3
Gofrendly can show you Hampshire women close by, so arrange to meet in Winchester or your own town.
4
Help with conservation work at a country park, a cathedral garden or a community plot each month.
A month for friends, and one story
The Hampshire page and the people behind it
Written by Gofrendly’s founders, Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja, with help from our editors, this Hampshire page treats the forest, the downs and the county’s towns as ordinary settings for new friendships.
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.