Poland in the UK

Each year, PHD sees a number of events organised throughout the UK to promote Polish culture, the heritage of past generations, solidarity, community values, and the positive contribution made by the Polish diaspora to the cultural, economic, and social life of this country. The theme of this year’s PHD is the Polish-British cooperation on breaking the Enigma code, marking the 80th anniversary of Polish codebreakers coming to the United Kingdom.

This year’s edition will see 95 events organised in 62 towns and cities in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.  Families with children will be able to take part in exhibitions, film screenings, picnics, and historical competitions taking place, among others, in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Belfast, and Llanelli, commemorating the breaking of the Enigma code and highlighting Polish cryptologists’ contribution to bringing the Second World War to an end. History lovers can choose from such initiatives as tours around Bletchley Park and the Imperial War Museum, and a lecture and workshop with the author of “The Codebreakers” game held at the Maritime Museum in Liverpool. For aviation enthusiasts there will be an exposition devoted to a Polish Spitfire organised by Laguna’s Spitfire Legacy and photography exhibitions of Polish pilots prepared by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum in Wrexham, the RAF Museum in Cosford near Shrewsbury and Telford, and the RAF Ingham Heritage Centre in Fillingham, Lincolnshire. Meanwhile, with the Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Liverpool, the city’s Polish community will showcase some wonderful Polish music, dance, and culture as part of the local European Festival, while the main star of the family Fairy Tale Picnic in Perth will be the award-winning Polish singer, Kayah. And sports enthusiasts will be able to test their skills at a sports tournament in Thetford. There will also be various lectures, concerts, festivals, dance shows, and competitions devoted to Polish culture and history.

The symbolic start of this year’s Polish Heritage Days will be the inaugural video message by Ambassador Piotr Wilczek, outlining close Polish-British relations and recent significant developments for Poland and the United Kingdom. Most of the events of the 7^th edition of PHD will take place after the historic coronation of King Charles III, however, we encourage everyone celebrating to share information about their initiatives on social media from today using the hashtags #PLHeritageDays and #PolesinUK. Visit also our website, where you will find a virtual map detailing the events (the map of the events is being updated constantly).

Polish Heritage Days are celebrated in the United Kingdom annually since 2017 close to the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad Day and the Polish Flag Day on 2nd May and the 3rd May Constitution Day. The official symbol of the initiative is the red-and-white chequerboard, which was the emblem of the Polish pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain and which, thanks to the Polish Embassy’s efforts, has unofficially become the symbol of Poles living in the UK.

Polish Embassy UK Press Office