French Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

France is one of Europe's largest countries, famous for its food, art, fashion and history. Birmingham and Lyon have been twin cities since 1951. French people in Birmingham include teachers, academics, chefs, business professionals, students and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 2,556 people living in the city had been born in France; and 706 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as French.

Working for Birmingham

French residents work in education, research, finance, engineering, hospitality and healthcare, and French teachers and lecturers help Brummies learn the language. French chefs and bakers have enriched the city's food scene, and French companies provide jobs and investment.

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 French community adds its own share to that effort, and takes pride in giving back to the city that welcomed it.

Culture and community life

Bastille Day on 14 July is celebrated with food and gatherings, and French pastries, cheese and wine are loved across the city. French cinema, literature and music have a devoted following, and French language schools and cultural associations bring the community together.

Like so many of the communities that make up modern Birmingham, the French community shows how a city can be home to many cultures at once. Its members are proud of where they come from, and just as proud to be Brummies.