British life in Paris: roasts, rugby, the Legion and where to find your people

Brits have been settling in Paris for centuries, and it shows: the city has a Legion branch founded in 1921, a rugby club from 1923 and Anglican churches round the corner from the Embassy.

The short version

• The British Community Committee of France is the umbrella body, and its 2026–27 directory lists British associations across the country [1].
• The Royal British Legion Paris Branch and the Royal Society of St George France Branch are both active in the city [2][3].
• For the footie and the rugby, the Frog pubs and the Bombardier show Premier League and Top 14 matches [4][5].
• Cricket, rugby and squash: the Standard Athletic Club in Meudon is the historic British sports club [6].
• Scots are well served: the Caledonian Society of France and the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society's Paris branch [7][8].

Where to start

The British Community Committee of France (BCC) brings together British associations, charities, churches and clubs, and runs the British in France website, a diary of events and an annual directory. The 2026–27 directory of member associations is out now, with free paper copies at distribution points listed in it [1]. If you only bookmark one site, make it this one.

The British Embassy in the 8th, next door to St Michael's church, handles consular help, and its social media channels (UK in France) post community news. The British Council on the rue de Constantine runs English courses, UK exams and cultural events. For business networking, the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the rue de Londres holds regular events and the annual Franco-British Trade and Investment Awards [9].

Pubs, the footie and a Sunday roast

Paris pubs have come a long way from a dusty Guinness sign and a dartboard. These ones have current websites and fixture lists:

For a proper roast, pie or sticky toffee pudding, our guide to British food, shops and pubs in Paris covers the restaurants and tea rooms, from Public House near the Opéra to Very French Beans in Les Batignolles.

Six Nations weekends are something else. When England, Scotland or Wales play France at the Stade de France, Paris pubs fill early, and the banter is part of the fun.

The Royal British Legion and Remembrance

The Royal British Legion Paris Branch dates back to 1921 and runs the Poppy Appeal, remembrance events and support for veterans in the Paris area, with a clubhouse at 28 rue des Acacias in the 17th [2]. Its committee meets on the third Monday of each month at 5.30pm, except in July and August, and membership is open to anyone who supports the Legion's aims, whether or not you've served [2].

Remembrance in Paris has its own flavour, with 11 November a public holiday in France (Armistice Day). Ask the branch about poppies and local ceremonies; the BCC diary didn't list a Paris Remembrance event when we checked on 7 November 2026 [7].

English, Scottish and Welsh societies

• Royal Society of St George, France Branch. The patriotic English society's France branch is based in Paris, at the same 28 rue des Acacias address, and celebrates St George's Day and English traditions [3]. Its national listing shows contact details but no dated events, so get in touch before turning up.
• The Caledonian Society of France holds its Saint Andrew's Night on Saturday 14 November 2026 at the École Militaire in the 7th, with dinner and a ceilidh; tickets were EUR 85 (about £71) for non-members, with booking by 7 November [7].
• The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Paris Branch runs weekly Monday evening classes, monthly Saturday dances, Highland dancing and a ball, with a free first class for beginners. It has an evening dance on 5 December 2026 [8].
• Welsh and Northern Irish groups appear in the BCC directory under their own sections [1].

Pound conversions use the Bank of England spot rate of 5 November 2026 (£1 = EUR 1.20).

Bonfire Night and the King's Birthday

We couldn't find a public Bonfire Night event in Paris for 2026, and fireworks on 5 November aren't a French thing (Bastille Day on 14 July is when Paris lets rip). Embassy celebrations of the King's Birthday are usually invitation-only, so don't expect to wander in; follow UK in France on social media for news.

Cricket, rugby and football

The BCC sports listing gives contacts for each [10]. Families should also look at the British Scouting Overseas groups in Maisons-Laffitte, Bougival and Chantilly; see schools in Paris.

Churches and politics

St Michael's Paris, an evangelical Anglican church next to the Embassy at 5 rue d'Aguesseau, and St George's Anglican Church in the 16th, with Book of Common Prayer services, both hold Sunday services in English and are social hubs as much as places of worship.

Party groups for British voters abroad are active too, listed here side by side: British Conservatives in Paris, Labour International, and Lib Dems in France. If you want to keep your UK vote, our guide to voting from abroad explains how.

Making friends beyond the Brits

The British bubble is comforting, but don't live in it full time. Language exchanges, your local association sportive and the parents at the school gate are the way into French life. Most Brits who thrive in Paris have one foot in each camp.

For quick questions, from where to buy crumpets to which rugby club needs a prop, try our community group for Brits in France.

Sources

1. British Community Committee of France: British in France (2026–27 directory)
2. Royal British Legion: Paris Branch
3. Royal Society of St George: France Branch
4. Frog Pubs: The Frog & Rosbif and The Frog & British Library (2026 fixture lists)
5. The Bombardier
6. Standard Athletic Club: general information
7. British in France: diary of events (checked 7 November 2026)
8. RSCDS Paris Branch
9. Franco-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry
10. British in France: sports clubs

Keep reading

• British food, shops and pubs in Paris
• Nightlife in Paris
• Schools in Paris: British and international schools
• Voting from abroad: votes for life