Czech Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

The Czech Republic lies in central Europe, with Prague, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, as its capital. Czechs have come to Britain at different times, including after 1968, and many more since the country joined the European Union in 2004. Czechs in Birmingham include workers, professionals, students and Czech Roma families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 572 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Czech; and 612 residents gave Czech as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Czech residents work in manufacturing, logistics, construction, hospitality and care, and Czech professionals work in engineering, IT, healthcare and research. The Czech Republic has a strong engineering and car-making tradition, which gives many Czech workers skills that fit well in Birmingham.

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe, and its progress has always depended on people who chose to make it home. Its hospitals, schools and universities, its building sites, workshops, warehouses and kitchens all rely on skills brought from around the world. The Czech community adds its own share to that effort, and takes pride in giving back to the city that welcomed it.

Culture and community life

Christmas, with its carp supper on Christmas Eve, is the most important family festival. Svickova, beef in cream sauce, and dumplings are national favourites, Czech glass and puppetry are famous crafts, and the country's composers, including Dvorak and Smetana, are widely loved.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Czech community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.