- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Hastings, between the Old Town and St Leonards
Over 35% of Hastings households have just one occupant, so a standing date with others goes a long way by the sea.
90,800+
residents of Hastings borough, St Leonards included (ONS mid-year estimate, 2025)
36%
of Hastings households have one resident; regional share 28% (Census 2021)
29%
of homes in the borough are privately let; regionally the figure is 19% (ONS, 2021)
Hastings Pier reopened in 2016
The Saturday parkrun on the St Leonards seafront is a friendly way to make friends in Hastings, and many runners head to The Bo Peep afterwards. Alexandra Park, with its bandstand, café and 2026 Green Flag, is close to the centre, Hastings Museum & Art Gallery on Bohemia Road has no admission charge, and the pier, rebuilt after the 2010 fire, reopened in 2016. On Gofrendly, Hastings women can meet each other too.
Hastings: questions people ask
Where on the seafront does Hastings parkrun start?
Hastings parkrun starts on the seafront promenade in St Leonards, near the shelter on Seaside Road opposite Grosvenor Gardens, every Saturday from 9am. Its out-and-back course turns near Hastings Pier, and many runners and walkers head to The Bo Peep afterwards for a drink.
Is Hastings Library open during the building works?
Yes. Hastings Library at the Brassey Institute on Claremont stays open Monday to Saturday, but only the ground and first floors are in use and there is no lift. East Sussex County Council points to Hollington, Bexhill and Battle libraries as alternatives.
Was the Battle of Hastings fought in Hastings?
Not quite. The Battle of Hastings was fought on 14 October 1066 on Senlac Hill at Battle, several miles north-west of the town. Hastings Castle on West Hill was built by the Normans soon afterwards, and its ruins make a good walk to share.
How do Hastings and St Leonards women find new friends?
Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, helps women in Hastings and St Leonards see who lives nearby and arrange to meet up in person. Coffee at the Alexandra Park café or a stroll along the seafront is a relaxed first plan to suggest.
Hastings and St Leonards, two seafronts in one
Hastings runs along the East Sussex coast from the Old Town and the castle on West Hill to the Regency terraces of St Leonards, with the country park on the cliffs to the east. Across the borough, over 35% of Hastings households are people living by themselves and almost three in ten rent privately, each well clear of the regional average. When so many neighbours live alone or rent, a standing weekly arrangement is often all it takes for a hello to become a friendship.
Living by the sea does not stop a quiet winter feeling lonely. Hastings Library at the Brassey Institute on Claremont opens Monday to Saturday, though only its ground and first floors are in use during building works, White Rock Theatre has been run by The Guildhall Trust since 2024, and Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve has a 2026 Green Flag too. Good places to begin:
1
Alexandra Park, opened in 1882, with its café, bandstand and ponds.
2
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery on Bohemia Road, with no entry charge.
3
Hastings Library at the Brassey Institute, open Monday to Saturday.
4
Summerfields Leisure Centre on Bohemia Road, with a pool and café.
5
Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve on the cliffs east of the Old Town.
LOCAL TIP
A loop of Alexandra Park on a Sunday afternoon is a gentle start.
How to
Making friends in Hastings, prom to park
1
Walk or jog Hastings parkrun along the St Leonards prom at 9am on a Saturday.
2
Take a class at Summerfields Leisure Centre, then linger in its café.
3
Use Gofrendly to invite Hastings women to the Alexandra Park bandstand.
4
Book a show at White Rock Theatre with a new acquaintance.
A friendship story, and finding old friends again
About the writers of this Hastings guide
This guide to Hastings and St Leonards was written by Gofrendly founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja with our editors, for women living alone, renting a first flat by the sea or simply wanting a wider circle.
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Friendship looks different at every stage
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