- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 17, 2026
Make Friends in West Sussex, from harbour villages to downland
West Sussex has more than 921,000 residents, with over-65s making up more than a fifth of the county.
921,000+
people living in the seven West Sussex districts under the county council (ONS mid-2025)
23.7%
is the West Sussex share aged 65-plus, set against 20.2% for the wider region (ONS mid-2025)
10.2%
of West Sussex adults (16 and over) are divorced, ahead of the South East’s 9.3% (Census 2021, ONS)
West Sussex friendships take root close to the coast and the downs
A good way to make friends in West Sussex is to pick one regular activity within easy reach and stick with it. An early walk along Worthing seafront, a visit to Pallant House Gallery in Chichester or a weekly class in Horsham or Crawley puts you alongside a familiar crowd each week, and the conversation starts to come by itself. Gofrendly helps women in West Sussex meet others living nearby.
West Sussex, what people ask
Which towns does this West Sussex page include?
It covers all seven districts of West Sussex County Council, so Chichester, Worthing, Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Bognor Regis and Shoreham-by-Sea are included. Brighton and Hove, a unitary authority of its own, does not count towards the West Sussex figures here.
Which West Sussex seafront suits a walk with someone new?
The promenade from Worthing towards Goring is flat and easy, and West Wittering beach suits a longer walk at low tide. On the West Sussex coast, pick a stretch of about an hour, then stop for a hot drink before heading home.
How do West Sussex women find friends a short trip away?
Gofrendly is a women-only friendship app where you can see West Sussex women in your area and message them before meeting. Regular contact, perhaps a fortnightly coffee, is what gives a new acquaintance the time to turn into a friend.
First meet-up in West Sussex: where works well?
Somewhere with space to walk and a place to sit. In West Sussex, Wakehurst offers woodland trails plus a café, and the WWT centre in Arundel has level paths by the river, so you can keep it short or stay for lunch.
West Sussex, coast, downs and new towns
This page follows West Sussex County Council: Adur, Arun, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and Worthing. That stretches from Crawley and Gatwick in the north to Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and the Witterings on the coast, with the South Downs running between them. Brighton and Hove lies over the border in East Sussex and is covered elsewhere. A seafront promenade makes an easy shared walk once you have met someone. Distances along the coast are short, but inland villages can be quiet, so plan around your nearest town.
Over-65s make up more than a fifth of residents, higher than the South East share, and divorce is slightly more common too. Retirement, an empty house or a separation can make a familiar town feel lonely for a while. A weekly commitment helps, whether a choir, a sea swimming group, a walking club or volunteering at a charity shop. Places to start with along the coast and inland:
1
Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, with modern British art and a café.
2
Wakehurst near Ardingly, Kew’s wild botanic garden with woodland walks and lakes.
3
Petworth Park, the National Trust deer park around Petworth House.
4
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, with trails and hides beside the river Arun.
5
Worthing Pier, a Victorian pier with 1930s Art Deco pavilions and a café-restaurant at the sea end.
LOCAL TIP
Whichever is closest, put it in the diary every week.
How to
Meeting people in West Sussex, near the sea or inland
1
Sign up for a local group that meets at a fixed time each week.
2
Ask a regular to walk Worthing seafront or Petworth Park with you after a session.
3
Browse Gofrendly for West Sussex women close by, then propose tea by the sea.
4
Spend a morning a month volunteering at a garden, a museum or a charity.
How close friends are made, in practice
West Sussex, written by our founders
Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja, Gofrendly’s founders, wrote this West Sussex page, supported by our editorial team. Seafronts, gardens and town centres are its starting points for women hoping to meet others nearby.
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.