People lighting rows of oil lamps together at a Diwali celebration at night
Guide India → United Kingdom · community · checked 1 Nov 2026

The Indian community in the UK

Where Indian people live, where they meet, and how to keep a piece of home close.

Photo: Pexels
In numbers

How many Indian people live in the UK?

At the 2021 census, 1,864,318 people in England and Wales gave their ethnic group as Indian: 3.1% of everyone. 920,361 were born in India, the most common country of birth outside the UK.

1.86 millionIndian ethnic group
920,361born in India
No. 1birth country outside the UK
3.1%of England and Wales
694,000born in India in 2011

Census 2021, England and Wales (ONS; Nomis tables TS021 and TS012). Scotland and Northern Ireland count separately.

Where people live

Where Indian people live in the UK

London and Leicester have the biggest communities, with large ones in the West Midlands too.

LEI
Leicester126,421 people of Indian background: 34.3% of the city, the highest share anywhere in England and Wales.
HRW
Harrow, London74,744 people of Indian background: 28.6% of the borough.
LDN
West and north-west LondonBrent (Wembley), Hounslow, Hillingdon and Ealing (Southall) each have 50,000 or more.
BHM
Birmingham and the Black Country66,519 in Birmingham, with big communities in Sandwell and Wolverhampton.
Community life

A piece of home, close by

Mdr
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan MandirThe Hindu temple in Neasden, north-west London, open to visitors.londonmandir.baps.org →
Gdw
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh SabhaThe big Sikh gurdwara in Southall, West London, with a langar open to all.sgsss.org →
Dwl
Diwali in LeicesterWidely seen as one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside India, with lights and events every autumn.visitleicester.info →
Cls
Language classesHindi, Punjabi, Gujarati and Tamil classes for children at many temples, gurdwaras and community centres.
CGI
Indian missionsThe High Commission in London and consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh: passports, visas and OCI.cgiedinburgh.gov.in →
TV
Indian TVThe channels from home, live in the UK.Read the TV guide →
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Miss home?

The channels you grew up with, here

The news from home, your serials, the big matches and the kids' favourites. Live in the UK, on your TV.

How to watch Indian TV in the UK →
Advertisement: over 1,000 Indian channels, live, with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Online

Where Indian people in the UK meet online

Facebook and WhatsApp groups are where much of the community talks: jobs, rooms to rent, advice and events.

FB
Your town's groupSearch Facebook groups for "Indians in" plus your town, like "Indians in Leicester" or "Indians in Manchester". Most towns have one.
Lng
Your language and regionMany groups are by home state or language: Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Malayali, Bengali and more.
Tmp
Your temple or gurdwaraMost post their events and classes on Facebook and in WhatsApp groups.

Stay safe: groups are great for jobs and rooms, but never send money or photos of your ID to someone you only know from a group.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

How many Indian people live in the UK?

At the 2021 census, 1,864,318 people in England and Wales gave their ethnic group as Indian, and 920,361 were born in India: the most common country of birth outside the UK. Scotland and Northern Ireland count separately.

Where do most Indian people live in the UK?

In London (Harrow, Brent, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Ealing) and Leicester, where 34.3% of people are of Indian background, the highest share anywhere. Birmingham, Sandwell and Wolverhampton have big communities too.

Where can my children learn Hindi, Punjabi or Gujarati?

Many temples, gurdwaras and community centres run weekend classes. Ask at your nearest one.

Where is the biggest Diwali in the UK?

Leicester's Diwali is widely seen as one of the biggest in the world outside India, with lights and events every autumn.

Are there Facebook groups for Indian people in the UK?

Yes, lots. Search Facebook groups for "Indians in" plus your town, or for your home state or language.

Can I watch Indian TV in the UK?

Yes. Our Indian TV in the UK guide shows every option, from JioHotstar, ZEE5 and SonyLIV to all-in-one subscriptions.

More for Indian people in the UK

Guides for you

Indian TV in the UKEvery Indian channel, live, and how the official apps compare.The Indian community in the UKWhere Indian people live, community life and where people meet online.Moving from India to the UKA plain checklist: before you go and your first weeks.
Sources