The Hungarian community in Manchester is unique and diverse. The majority of Hungarians moved to the area between 2003 and 2007, arriving from Hungary as well as the wider Carpathian basin, including countries such as Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine.
A significant older generation of Hungarians arrived in Greater Manchester after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, also known as the Hungarian Uprising.( For more information, you can visit https://manchesterarchiveplus.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/refugees-in-manchester/.)
According to the Home Office EU Settlement Scheme Statistics 181 490 Hungarian citizens had applied to the EU Settlement Scheme by the end of September 2023, 160 630 of them in England. An estimated 86% is in the age group of 18 to 65. The number of Hungarians living in the North of England is estimated to be 30-40,000 with larger communities living in and around Greater Manchester.
The Consulate General of Hungary in is Manchester was opened in 2018. Before that, an honorary consul in Liverpool had served Hungarians living in the North of England for 25 years.
The Hungarian community in Greater Manchester is supported by numerous organizations dedicated to its education, cultural development, welfare and well-being.
- Hungarian Social Club -The Kossuth Hungarian Association (Kossuth Magyar Egyesület) was based in Salford in the 1970s and in Rochdale between 1983 and 2011, commonly known as the Rochdale Hungarian Club. The building in Rochdale was bought by the Hungarian community where they hosted regular cultural events and activities.
- Zsigmond Király Hungarian Cultural Centre – The Hungarian supplementary school is based in the Rainbow Community Centre in Eccles. The organisation provides informal education, Hungarian language skills, cultural heritage acitvities and workshops on a fortnightly basis for around 30 participants aged 2-11. Families come from all over the North-West to participate. Find our more about it here.
- Boldog Salkaházi Sára Scout Troop – The scout troop’s goal is to bring together young people of Hungarian descent living in the North West, within the framework of scouting, providing them the opportunity to learn, practice, and pass on Hungarian culture and language. The troop has over thirty members, ranging from child scouts to teenagers and they meet every Saturday in Sharon Youth Centre in Old Trafford . Find out more about the Hungarian Scout Group here
- Góbéfest is an international folk and culture festival spotlighting the Carpathian Basin and Eastern Europe. The festival was launched in 2017 as a Hungarian community festival celebrating the delights of the Hungarian culture. Over the last 8 years the festival has grown to involve more cultures and more communities, who all share a love for folk music and dancing. The Hungarian dance-house culture has an incredible ability to bring people together. From the very beginning the 3 day festival has attracted over 10000 people. It takes place in Manchester City centre. Find out more about the Góbéfest here
- Tulipán Zither Band and Folk Arts – The Tulipán Zither Ensemble was formed in 2022 and it is the one and only zither band in the United Kingdom. The ensemble, which features a beginners, an intermediate and an advanced group, meets every Saturday in the Sharon Youth Centre in Old Trafford to learn how to play this fantastic Hungarian instrument, alongside traditional folk dancing and centuries old Hungarian folk songs. Over 30 young people aged 4 -16 participate in the project every Saturday in Old Trafford. Have a look what they do, here.
Beyond the county of Greater Manchester, there is a robust Hungarian community in many neighboring counties such as Cheshire, particularly in Warrington and Chester. Events and activities organized by the Hungarian community in Manchester are attended by people traveling from as far as Preston, Leeds, Hull, and Nottingham.