Croats in the UK - Useful info and organisations

21st October 2025

The Croatian community in London is one of the smallest foreign communities living in the capital. It is estimated that there are only about 10,000 Croats in London; some settled 30 or more years ago and some came only recently as au pairs and students.

Some are well-known, like footballers Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar, Ivan Perisic and Vedran Corluka (all ex-Tottenham Hotspur), Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic (both currently at Manchester City), Dejan Lovren (formerly of Liverpool), Mario Stanic (previously at Chelsea), Davor Suker and Eduardo (both played at Arsenal), Slaven Bilic (West Ham – both as a player and a manager!), Igor Stimac (ex-Derby County) and Mladen Petric (previously Fulham and West Ham); the world-famous pianist Ivo Pogorelich; Mrs Slavica Ecclestone, ex-wife of Formula 1 supremo Bernie; and Olympic gold medalist (for Great Britain in the Rowing Eights) Luka Grubor, who is from Zagreb.

In the past, one of the best known Croats was sculptor Oskar Nemon. His works of art grace some London squares (see the famous statue of Winston Churchill within the Houses of Parliament; the one of Viscount Montgomery near the Cenotaph in Whitehall; and the statue of Sigmund Freud outside the Tavistock Institute in Hampstead). The famous Croatian couturier Franka also lived in London.

For centuries, there were also many ties between the city and the country of Croatia. Dubrovnik had a consulate for centuries until Napoleon abolished the republic; Croatian sailors would often stop over in London, and the famous astronomer and philosopher Rudjer Boskovic lived here.

We would appreciate input from anyone. Please get in touch! Email us at webmaster@visit-croatia.co.uk

Do also read our Brian Gallagher Interview

Croats in the UK – Useful Contacts

Croatian Embassy
21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN
Tel: 020 7387 2022
Website: mvep.gov.hr/uk/en

British Croatian Business Club
Website: www.bcbc.org.uk

British Croatian Society
Website: www.britishcroatiansociety.com
Email: britishcroatiansociety@gmail.com

Croatian Catholic Mission
Pater: Ljubomir Simunovic
17 Boutflower Road, London SW11
Tel: 020 7223 3530
Website: hkmlondon.org
Email: hkmlondon@gmail.com

Sunday service (4 pm)
Church of Sacred Heart, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2EF

BBC World Service, Croatian section
Website: www.bbc.co.uk/croatian
(Now closed, unfortunately)

British Council in Croatia
Website: www.britishcouncil.hr

Association of Croatian British Professionals
Website: www.acbp.co.uk

British Croatian Chamber of Commerce
Website: britishcroatiancc.co.uk

Central State Office for Croats Abroad
Website: hrvatiizvanrh.gov.hr/en