Expat groups & clubs for newcomers in the UK
Finding your community after a move matters as much as sorting your paperwork. This directory brings together international networking platforms, national embassy communities, cultural societies and social clubs across the UK — whether you have just arrived or have been here for years.
Browse listings ↓Expat groups, clubs & embassy communities
Listings below include international networking platforms, national embassy communities and cultural organisations across the UK.
12 listings
One of the largest global expat networking communities, with active chapters in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and other UK cities. Offers a free basic membership and a paid Albatross tier for priority event access and smaller activity groups. Membership tiers, pricing and event schedules are managed directly by Internations.
A platform hosting thousands of interest-based groups across UK cities, including many specifically for expats, internationals and new arrivals. Attending events is generally free or low-cost; individual event organisers set their own attendance fees. Organising a Meetup group requires a paid organiser subscription.
The US Embassy in London is the primary point of contact for American citizens living in the United Kingdom. It provides consular services including passport renewal, notarial services and emergency assistance, and publishes community notices relevant to US nationals resident in the UK. Community events and eligibility for specific services vary; check the embassy website for current information.
The Australian High Commission in London serves as the main consular point of contact for Australian citizens in the UK, covering passport services, notarial services and emergency assistance. It also publishes community information relevant to Australians living across the United Kingdom. Event schedules and service eligibility vary; check the High Commission website for current details.
The French Embassy in London offers consular services for French nationals resident in the UK and publishes cultural and community information through its programmes. The Institut français du Royaume-Uni, affiliated with the embassy, runs a broad cultural programme open to the wider public. Service eligibility and event access vary; the embassy website is the authoritative source.
The German Embassy in London provides consular services for German nationals in the UK and publishes community and cultural information. The Goethe-Institut London, while independent of the embassy, serves as a major cultural hub for German language and culture in the UK and runs events open to the public. Check each organisation's website for current programmes and eligibility.
The Chinese Embassy in London provides consular and community services for Chinese nationals living in the United Kingdom. It publishes notices and information relevant to Chinese citizens abroad, including guidance on consular registration and available services. Events and community access vary; always verify directly with the embassy for current arrangements.
The Romanian Embassy in London provides consular services for Romanian nationals in the UK, including document legalisation, passport services and community registration. Romania has one of the largest diaspora communities in the United Kingdom; the embassy website publishes notices and guidance relevant to Romanians living across the country. Service availability and wait times vary; check the embassy website before visiting.
The Italian Embassy in London provides consular services for Italian nationals resident in the UK, including AIRE registration (the register of Italians living abroad), passport renewal and voting rights information. The Istituto Italiano di Cultura in London, affiliated with the embassy, runs a year-round cultural programme open to the public. Eligibility for specific services varies; check the embassy website for current information.
The Spanish Embassy in London provides consular services for Spanish nationals in the UK, including consular registration, passport services and electoral roll information. The Instituto Cervantes in London, a cultural organisation associated with the Spanish government, runs Spanish language courses and cultural events open to the wider public. Check individual organisations for current programmes and service details.
The Portuguese Embassy in London serves Portuguese nationals resident in the UK with consular services including registration, passport renewal and civic documentation. Portugal has a longstanding and sizeable community in the United Kingdom; the embassy website provides guidance on services available and community notifications. Verify current service availability and appointment requirements directly with the embassy.
The Polish Embassy in London provides consular and community services for Polish nationals in the UK, one of the largest national communities in the country. Services include passport applications, document legalisation and community registration. The embassy website publishes guidance on consular procedures and information relevant to Poles living across the United Kingdom. Always confirm appointment availability and requirements before visiting.
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Listings on this page include publicly available information about community platforms and official embassy or high commission websites. Event schedules, service availability and eligibility criteria are set independently by each organisation and may change. Always verify directly with the relevant organisation before attending an event or visiting in person. Moving to the UK does not endorse, represent or act on behalf of any embassy, high commission or community organisation listed here.
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Building a life in the UK: why community matters from day one
The practical side of relocating to the UK — visas, bank accounts, NHS registration, National Insurance numbers — gets most of the attention. The social side rarely does, but it is often the piece that determines how quickly a move starts to feel like home rather than an extended business trip. Research consistently shows that social isolation is one of the most commonly reported challenges among expats in their first year abroad, and the UK's relatively reserved social culture can make it harder to build connections organically than in some other countries. Finding your community is not a luxury — it is part of settling in.
The landscape of expat communities in the UK is broader than many new arrivals expect. At one end are large international networking platforms such as Internations and Meetup, which operate across multiple UK cities and cover both professional and social events. At the other are tightly-knit national communities organised around shared language and culture — often anchored, in part, by embassy and high commission networks. In between sit informal Facebook and WhatsApp groups, local authority newcomer programmes, bilateral chambers of commerce, and university international alumni networks. The most useful starting point depends on what you are looking for: professional contacts, social connection, cultural familiarity, or practical peer support from people who have made the same move.
Embassy and high commission communities
Embassies and high commissions in the UK do more than process passports. Many run community-facing programmes that include cultural evenings, national day receptions, language exchange sessions, citizen registration days and bilateral business forums. These events vary considerably by country: some missions have active and well-publicised community programmes, others are more limited in scope. What they share is authority — an embassy community page or event notice is a reliable starting point for connecting with nationals of the same country, and for accessing information that is specific to your citizenship status in the UK. It is always worth checking your home country's London embassy or high commission website to understand what community resources and events are available to you. Where consulates exist outside London — in Edinburgh, Manchester, Belfast or Cardiff — they may also run local community activities.
Platforms, groups and what to expect
Internations and Meetup work differently from embassy communities and are worth distinguishing. Internations is built specifically around expat identity: its events tend to be international in character, drawing people from many nationalities who share the experience of living abroad, and it operates a membership model with free and paid tiers. Meetup is more general-purpose — a platform for any interest-based group — but has a substantial number of expat-specific and internationally-focused groups across UK cities. Both platforms allow you to join and browse before you relocate, which makes them useful tools for pre-move planning as well as post-arrival connection. Neither platform is regulated or vets the groups it hosts; individual event quality and community character vary, and it is reasonable to try more than one group before finding one that suits you.
There is no single right way to find your community as an expat in the UK. Some people find their most useful connections through a professional Internations event; others through a WhatsApp group of co-nationals recommended by a colleague; others through a cultural evening at their embassy. What matters most is making the effort early — ideally before the initial momentum of a move wears off. The listings on this page are a starting point, not an exhaustive list. If you know of a community, group or organisation that should be included here, we welcome suggestions via the link below.
More services for life in the UK
View all categories →Expat Groups & Clubs — FAQs
Yes. Platforms such as Internations and Meetup host groups aimed specifically at new arrivals, with events ranging from welcome drinks to practical settling-in sessions. Many local councils also run newcomer programmes. Embassy communities are another starting point, particularly for connecting with nationals from your home country who have been in the UK for some time and can offer practical guidance.
Internations and Meetup both have city-level search tools that let you filter by location and interest. Searching Facebook Groups for terms such as "expats in [city]", "[nationality] in London", or "internationals in [city]" typically surfaces active local communities. Embassy and high commission websites sometimes list community events open to their nationals and partners.
It depends on the event. Many embassy cultural evenings, national day receptions and community fairs are open to the public or to any interested attendees. Events such as citizen registration sessions, consular advice days or passport services are generally restricted to nationals. It is always advisable to check directly with the relevant embassy or high commission before attending, as access policies vary and can change.
Internations is one of the largest global expat networking platforms, with communities in cities across the UK including London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham. A free basic membership gives access to the community directory and some events. A paid Albatross membership unlocks priority event access, smaller group activities and additional networking features. Pricing and membership tiers are set by Internations and may change; check their website for current details.
Attending events on Meetup is typically free for members, though individual event organisers may charge a small attendance fee to cover venue costs. Organising a group on Meetup requires a paid subscription for the organiser. Many expat-focused Meetup groups in UK cities are free or low-cost to attend. Always check the event listing for any fees before registering.
Many embassies and high commissions based in London run community-facing events including cultural evenings, national day celebrations, language exchange programmes and citizen registration sessions. The US Embassy, Australian High Commission, French Embassy, German Embassy, Italian Embassy, Spanish Embassy, Portuguese Embassy, Polish Embassy, Romanian Embassy and Chinese Embassy all have community or cultural programmes. Event schedules, eligibility and registration processes differ between missions; check each embassy or high commission's official website for current information.
They can be a useful complement to formal job-searching, though they are not a substitute for it. Internations in particular has a professional networking angle, and many city-based Meetup groups are organised around industries or professional interests. Embassy business forums and bilateral chamber of commerce events can also be a route to professional connections for nationals of a given country. That said, expat communities vary widely in character, and many are primarily social rather than professional in focus.
The distinction is often one of self-identification rather than legal status. The term "expat group" is frequently used for international networking platforms and social communities regardless of visa type or intended length of stay. Community organisations that use the term "immigrant" or "migrant community" often have a broader remit, including integration support, legal advice signposting, language classes and advocacy. In practice there is significant overlap, and the most useful communities tend to be those organised around shared nationality, language or professional interest rather than a specific label.
Yes, and doing so is often useful. Both Internations and Meetup allow you to join and browse groups before relocating. This can help with pre-move planning, connecting with people who have recently made the same move, and building a network before you arrive. Embassy community pages and Facebook groups are similarly accessible before you move.
Yes. Internations has active chapters in Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Glasgow and other major UK cities. Meetup groups exist across the country, though frequency and size of events tends to be higher in larger cities. For smaller cities and towns, Facebook Groups and local council newcomer programmes are often the most active community resources.
Registration processes vary by country. Many embassies and high commissions offer an optional registration service for their nationals living abroad, which can be useful for receiving emergency consular notifications and community communications. Some countries make registration mandatory. The relevant embassy or high commission's official website is the authoritative source for registration requirements and procedures for your nationality.
Embassies and high commissions can provide consular assistance to their nationals in certain circumstances, including loss of passport, arrest or detention, serious illness or the death of a family member abroad. The nature and extent of support varies by country and by situation. Consular assistance is not the same as legal representation, and embassies cannot pay your bills, provide legal advice or intervene in civil matters on your behalf. Your home country's foreign ministry or embassy website will set out what consular support is available to you as a national living abroad.
Yes. The UK has a large and diverse international population, and most nationalities with a significant presence in the country have informal or formal community networks. A good starting point for any nationality not listed here is to check your home country's embassy or high commission website for community resources, search Internations and Meetup for country-specific groups, and search Facebook for "[nationality] in UK" or "[nationality] in [city]". We continue to expand the listings on this page; if you know of a community that should be included, you can suggest it using the link above.
Suggest a group or community
Know an expat group, cultural society or embassy community programme that should be listed here? We welcome suggestions from readers and community organisers across the UK.
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