- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Ramsgate, the Royal Harbour town
Ramsgate is the only Royal Harbour on the British mainland, and more than one household in three here is a single person.
34,000+
people in five Ramsgate wards around the harbour and town centre (Census 2021, ONS)
36%
of Ramsgate’s five-ward households have one occupant; regional share 28% (2021 census)
15%
lone-parent share of Ramsgate homes in these five wards, against 10% across the region (ONS, 2021)
Ramsgate trades every Friday
The Friday market along the High Street, King Street and Queen Street, from 9am to 3pm, is a lively way to make friends in Ramsgate. Ellington Park has a café, a restored bandstand and a 2026 Green Flag, Ramsgate Library on Guildford Lawn has listed a Tuesday slow stitching group, and Pegwell Bay parkrun runs just south-west of the town on Saturdays. Gofrendly is another way in for Ramsgate women.
Ramsgate questions, harbour to park
Is there still a weekly market in Ramsgate?
Yes. After lapsing for a while, Ramsgate’s Friday market is back on the pedestrianised High Street, King Street and Queen Street from 9am to 3pm. It is run by Bray Markets with Thanet District Council, and a weekly wander soon has you recognising Ramsgate faces.
Why is Ramsgate called a Royal Harbour?
King George IV granted Ramsgate its Royal Harbour status in the 1820s, and it is the only Royal Harbour on the British mainland. Building work on the harbour began in 1749, and a walk round its piers is one of the best ways to spend an hour in Ramsgate.
Can you do a parkrun near Ramsgate?
Pegwell Bay parkrun, a few miles south-west of Ramsgate town centre, takes place every Saturday at 9am, and Margate parkrun at Palm Bay is another option. Both welcome walkers and volunteers, so they suit any pace for Ramsgate residents of every age.
What helps women in Ramsgate make friends?
Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, lets Ramsgate women find others close by who want company too and send a first hello. A coffee in Ellington Park or a stroll round the Royal Harbour is a gentle way to start a weekend.
Ramsgate, where the little ships gathered
Ramsgate faces the Channel from its Royal Harbour, begun in 1749, and in May 1940 it was the main gathering point for the small craft of Operation Dynamo. Across the five Ramsgate wards, about 36% of households consist of one resident and nearly 15% are lone-parent households, well above the regional figures. For anyone single-handedly running a home or a family, a regular weekly outing gives you people to look out for.
When the summer boats leave, a harbour town can feel lonely, though the harbour itself is a fine place for an evening stroll. Ramsgate Library has also listed a Meet and Practise English group on Wednesdays and French for beginners on Saturdays, the Granville Theatre stages shows, and the Friends of Ellington Park help care for a park restored in 2021 with £1.8m of National Lottery Heritage funding. Ramsgate Sports Centre on the High Street has a pool. Places to try:
1
Ellington Park, with its café, bandstand and 2026 Green Flag.
2
The Friday market on the High Street, King Street and Queen Street.
3
Ramsgate Library on Guildford Lawn.
4
Ramsgate Sports Centre on the High Street, which has a pool.
5
The Royal Harbour and its marina.
LOCAL TIP
Walk the harbour after the Friday market and keep coming back.
How to
How to make friends in Ramsgate
1
Join the Friends of Ellington Park to help care for the gardens.
2
Ask Ramsgate Library about its listed Tuesday slow stitching group.
3
Suggest the Ellington Park café to Ramsgate women you message on Gofrendly.
4
Book a show at the Granville Theatre with a new friend.
Old friends, new friends and a month for both
The people behind our Ramsgate guide
Gofrendly founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja and the editorial team wrote this Ramsgate page for Thanet women who live alone, are single parents or would like a few more friends near the harbour.
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
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