Romani people in the United Kingdom

| native_name = {{nativename|rom|Romane manusha ando Jekhethano Them}}

| native_name = {{nativename|rom|Romane manusha ando Jekhethano Them}}

}}

}}

Romani people have been recorded in the [[United Kingdom]] since at least the early 16th century. There are estimated to be around 225,000 [[Romani people]] residing in the UK. This includes the [[Romanichal]], [[Kale (Welsh Roma)|Kalé]] and a sizeable population of more recent Romani migrants from [[Continental Europe|mainland Europe]], particularly [[Central and Eastern Europe]], the bulk of whom immigrated into the UK in the late 1990s/early 2000s and after EU expansion in 2004.{{Cite web |date=5 April 2019 |title=Tackling inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmwomeq/360/full-report.html#content |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=UK Parliament}}[https://minorityrights.org/minorities/romagypsiestravellers/ Roma / Gypsies / Travellers - Minority Rights Group] They are considered part of the [[Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people (UK)|Gypsy (Romani), Roma and Traveller (GRT) community]].{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=Curriculum Review |url=https://wp-main.travellermovement.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024.11.20-Curriculum-Consultation.pdf |website=The Traveller Movement}} In the UK, Romanies are classified as [[White people in the United Kingdom|white]]. However, some Romanies do not identify as white, as historical persecution has contributed to an "uncertain whiteness" that sets them apart from other white groups.{{cite journal |last1=Webb |first1=Emily |title=An invisible minority: Romany Gypsies and the question of whiteness |journal=Romani Studies |date=June 2019 |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=1–25 |doi=10.3828/rs.2019.01 |url=https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/abs/10.3828/rs.2019.01 |access-date=30 September 2025}}

Romani people, commonly known as Gypsies, have been recorded in the [[United Kingdom]] since at least the early 16th century. There are estimated to be around 225,000 [[Romani people]] residing in the UK. This includes the [[Romanichal]], [[Kale (Welsh Roma)|Kalé]] and a sizeable population of more recent Romani migrants from [[Continental Europe|mainland Europe]], particularly [[Central and Eastern Europe]], the bulk of whom immigrated into the UK in the late 1990s/early 2000s and after EU expansion in 2004.{{Cite web |date=5 April 2019 |title=Tackling inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmwomeq/360/full-report.html#content |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=UK Parliament}}[https://minorityrights.org/minorities/romagypsiestravellers/ Roma / Gypsies / Travellers - Minority Rights Group] They are considered part of the [[Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people (UK)|(Romani) Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community]].{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=Curriculum Review |url=https://wp-main.travellermovement.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024.11.20-Curriculum-Consultation.pdf |website=The Traveller Movement}} In the UK, Romanies are classified as [[White people in the United Kingdom|white]]. However, some Romanies do not identify as white, as historical persecution has contributed to an "uncertain whiteness" that sets them apart from other white groups.{{cite journal |last1=Webb |first1=Emily |title=An invisible minority: Romany Gypsies and the question of whiteness |journal=Romani Studies |date=June 2019 |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=1–25 |doi=10.3828/rs.2019.01 |url=https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/abs/10.3828/rs.2019.01 |access-date=30 September 2025}}

== England ==

== England ==

==Culture==

==Culture==

''Joey Grey'' is a traditional Romani stew in the UK, made from sausages and bacon.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2006/08/04/gypsy_stew_feature.shtml|title=Kent - Romany Roots - Try a traditional Gypsy recipe}} The dessert [[gypsy tart]] was named after the Romani and created in [[Kent]] to feed hungry Romani children.{{cite web|url=https://www.tasteatlas.com/gypsy-tart|title=Gypsy tart}} Bacon pudding and [[rabbit pie]] are also popular among British Roma.{{cite web|url=https://www.hmd.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/nazi_persecution_recipe_card_hmd_2017_final.pdf|title=Recipe from the Roma community}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/food/cooking/romani-gypsies-cooking-resistance-uk|title=How Romani Gypsies Are Cooking Up Resistance in the UK}} [[Hedgehog]]s are a popular delicacy among some Romanies in Britain.{{cite book|last1=Hartley |first1=Dorothy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N-u0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT154|title=Food In England |date=3 July 2014 |publisher=Little, Brown Book |isbn=978-0-349-40177-5 }}

[[File:Romani flag with Union Jack.svg|thumb|A variant of the [[Romani flag]] with the [[Union Jack]] added to the canton, designed by ''Shera Rom'' Billy Welch and usually featured at the [[Appleby Horse Fair]].{{cite web |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra9NlkNsQKI&pp=ygUaYmlsbHkgd2VsY2ggdHJhdmVsbGVyIGZsYWc%3D |title=The Appleby Flag With Billy Welch |author= |date=11 June 2024 |work=Moving for Change (YouTube channel) |access-date=11 April 2026}}{{cite web |url=https://cwherald.com/news/in-pictures-appleby-horse-fair-is-literally-our-jerusalem-says-king-of-the-gypsies-billy-welch/ |title=In pictures: 'Appleby Horse Fair is literally our Jerusalem' says King of the Gypsies Billy Welch |author= |date=10 June 2022 |work=Cumberland and Westmorland Herald |access-date=11 April 2026}}{{cite web |url=https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/news/2024/05/appleby-fair-dont-come-too-close-too-soon-says-billy-welch |title=Appleby Fair – 'don’t come too close, too soon' - says Billy Welch |author= |date=16 May 2024 |work=Travellers Times |access-date=11 April 2026}}{{cite web |url=https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/news/2023/08/we-are-here-billy-welch-romani-flag |title='We are here' - Billy Welch on the Romani flag |author=Liza Mortimer |date=7 August 2023 |work=Travellers Times |access-date=11 April 2026}}]]

[[Hedgehog]]s are a popular delicacy among some Romanies in Britain.{{cite book|last1=Hartley |first1=Dorothy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N-u0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT154|title=Food In England |date=3 July 2014 |publisher=Little, Brown Book |isbn=978-0-349-40177-5 }} ''Joe Grey'' is a traditional British Roma stew, made from sausages and bacon.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2006/08/04/gypsy_stew_feature.shtml|title=Kent - Romany Roots - Try a traditional Gypsy recipe}} The dessert [[gypsy tart]] was named after the Roma and created in [[Kent]] to feed hungry Roma children.{{cite web|url=https://www.tasteatlas.com/gypsy-tart|title=Gypsy tart}} Bacon pudding and [[rabbit pie]] are also popular among British Roma.{{cite web|url=https://www.hmd.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/nazi_persecution_recipe_card_hmd_2017_final.pdf|title=Recipe from the Roma community}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/food/cooking/romani-gypsies-cooking-resistance-uk|title=How Romani Gypsies Are Cooking Up Resistance in the UK}}

The [[Gypsy horse|Gypsy Vanner]] horse breed originated from the Romanichal community.{{cite web|url=https://www.globetrotting.co/horse-breed-gypsy-horse/|title=Horse Breed: Gypsy Horse - Irish Cob}}

The [[Gypsy horse|Gypsy Vanner]] horse breed originated from the Romanichal community.{{cite web|url=https://www.globetrotting.co/horse-breed-gypsy-horse/|title=Horse Breed: Gypsy Horse - Irish Cob}}

''[[Big Fat Gypsy Weddings]]'' and Stacey Dooley: Growing Up Gypsy are some Romani television shows broadcast in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028vp5|title=Stacey Dooley, Growing Up Gypsy}}

''[[Big Fat Gypsy Weddings]]'' and Stacey Dooley: Growing Up Gypsy are some Romani television shows broadcast in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028vp5|title=Stacey Dooley, Growing Up Gypsy}}

The Roma have made significant contributions to the [[music of the United Kingdom]]. Travellers and Romanichals intentionally alter harmony and meter with each performance of a song. Traditional singing styles are characterized by solo performances that are dramatic, slow-paced, and loud, while music is performed using portable instruments such as the fiddle, the Jew’s harp, the melodeon, or spoons.{{cite web|url=https://www.romarchive.eu/en/music/northern-and-western-europe/romanitraveller-music-uk-and-ireland/|title=Romani/Traveller Music in the UK and Ireland}}{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/how-romani-gypsy-and-traveller-people-have-shaped-britains-musical-heritage-232522|title=How Romani Gypsy and Traveller people have shaped Britain’s musical heritage}}

Romani people have made notable contributions to [[music of the United Kingdom|music in the United Kingdom]]. They are known to intentionally alter harmony and meter with each performance of a song. Traditional singing styles are characterized by solo performances that are dramatic, slow-paced, and loud, while music is performed using portable instruments such as the fiddle, the Jew’s harp, the melodeon, or spoons.{{cite web|url=https://www.romarchive.eu/en/music/northern-and-western-europe/romanitraveller-music-uk-and-ireland/|title=Romani/Traveller Music in the UK and Ireland}}{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/how-romani-gypsy-and-traveller-people-have-shaped-britains-musical-heritage-232522|title=How Romani Gypsy and Traveller people have shaped Britain’s musical heritage}}

Many British slang words such as ‘posh’, ‘pal’, ‘drag’, ‘kosh’ and ‘[[chav]]’ are derived from the Romani language.{{cite web|url=https://heritagecalling.com/2024/07/16/a-brief-introduction-to-romani-gypsy-heritage-in-england/|title=A Brief Introduction to Romani Gypsy Heritage in England}}

Many British slang words such as ‘posh’, ‘pal’, ‘drag’, ‘kosh’ and ‘[[chav]]’ are derived from the Romani language.{{cite web|url=https://heritagecalling.com/2024/07/16/a-brief-introduction-to-romani-gypsy-heritage-in-england/|title=A Brief Introduction to Romani Gypsy Heritage in England}}