British life in Rome: Remembrance, the King's Birthday, cricket and a pint of something cold
The British community in Rome is smaller and quieter than in Spain or France, and it isn't built around British bars. It's built around the embassy calendar, a lively Commonwealth Club, a couple of churches and a handful of pubs that show the footie.
The short version
- The big dates are Remembrance at the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery in Testaccio and the King's Birthday Party at the ambassador's residence, Villa Wolkonsky [3][4].
- The Commonwealth Club of Rome, founded in 1947 as a branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society, is the closest thing to a British club in the city [3].
- We couldn't find a Royal British Legion or Royal Society of St George branch in Rome. The Remembrance service is run by the embassy and the Commonwealth Club instead.
- Cricket happens: the Commonwealth Cricket Cup was played at the Roma Cricket Ground on 26 September 2026 [5].
- For the Premier League, Scottish football and the rugby, the Scottish and Irish pubs in the centro storico are where Brits gather [7][8].
The embassy calendar
The British Embassy is at Via XX Settembre 80/a, near Porta Pia, and the ambassador is Stephen Hickey CMG [2]. Like all embassies, it's open to the public by appointment only, and it's there for emergencies, lost passports and notarial services rather than for advice on moving, living or retiring in Italy [2][1]. Still, the embassy sits at the heart of the community's two big dates.
Remembrance
This year's Service of Remembrance is on Wednesday 11 November 2026, from 10.45 to 11.45, at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery on Via Nicola Zabaglia, by the Pyramid in Testaccio. It's hosted by the Commonwealth Club together with the British Ambassador, and you're asked to register on the club's website first [3]. It's a moving service, usually with diplomats from across the Commonwealth, and it's the one morning of the year when you'll see a lot of poppies in Rome.
Remembrance Sunday falls on 8 November this year, so if you prefer a church service on the Sunday, ask All Saints' (below) what they're planning.
The King's Birthday Party
The embassy's King's Birthday Party is held at Villa Wolkonsky, the ambassador's residence. In 2026 it took place on 18 June, with ambassadors and diplomats from several Commonwealth countries alongside [4]. It's largely an invitation affair for the diplomatic and business community, but members of the Commonwealth Club and the British Chamber of Commerce often get a look-in.
What about Bonfire Night?
We didn't find a public Bonfire Night in Rome. Guy Fawkes means nothing to Romans. Most British families make do with sparklers in the garden and a bowl of chilli, or wait for New Year's Eve, when Romans set off enough fireworks to make up for it.
Clubs and societies
| Group | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Club of Rome | Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society, founded 1947 [3] | Remembrance, Commonwealth Day, Christmas lunch, cricket |
| British Chamber of Commerce for Italy | UK–Italy business association with a Rome office on Via Salaria | Networking, business lunches |
| British Council | UK cultural relations body; Rome office on Via Ostiense | Exams and courses (run at partner venues) |
| Rome Hibernia GAA | Irish-run Gaelic football club, open to all [6] | Sport and a social life |
| Royal British Legion | No Rome branch found | – |
| Royal Society of St George | No Rome branch found | – |
The Commonwealth Club of Rome
The club describes itself as a forum for diplomats, businesspeople and members from the Commonwealth's 56 countries, working to strengthen links with Italy [3]. Its 2025–26 programme listed Remembrance, a Christmas lunch, Commonwealth Day, Anzac Day and the King's Birthday, plus talks and business events [3]. Membership for 2026/27 comes in individual, corporate and supporting categories [3]. If you want to meet other Brits who've lived in Rome for decades, this is where to start.
The British Chamber and the British Council
The British Chamber of Commerce for Italy has offices in Milan and Rome, and runs networking events and business lunches. It's handy if you're setting up on your own or job hunting. The British Council's Rome office on Via Ostiense is administrative only, with no front desk; its English courses and exams run at partner venues.
Sport: cricket, rugby and the footie
Cricket
Yes, really. The Commonwealth Club runs an annual Commonwealth Cricket Cup with UISP Roma and the patronage of the Italian Cricket Federation. In 2026 it was played on Saturday 26 September at the Roma Cricket Ground, with five teams: the Commonwealth Club, the embassies of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, a team from Rome's UN agencies and a Rotary–UniCassino side. Bangladesh won, and the Commonwealth Club finished as wooden spooners [5]. It comes with a Commonwealth food fair, and the club welcomes interest from new players [5]. Most regular cricket in Rome is played by the South Asian community, so if you want a game every weekend, ask around at the Cup.
Rugby
Rugby is big in Rome, partly because Italy plays its Six Nations home games at the Stadio Olimpico. Match days fill the city with fans from back home, and the pubs below fill up fast. The Nag's Head near Piazza Venezia lists rugby on its own fixture page, including the Autumn Nations matches on 7 and 8 November 2026 [7], and the Highlander near the Pantheon is showing the Autumn Internationals too [8].
Football
For the Premier League, the Highlander lists Premier League, Champions League and rugby union and league on its screens [8]. Wanted in Rome's guide to rugby pubs (February 2026) also points to Scholars Lounge on Via del Plebiscito, with more than 20 screens and English commentary, and Finnegans in Monti, popular with Brits and the Irish [9]. Our guide to British food, shops and pubs in Rome has the full list.
If you'd rather play than watch, Rome Hibernia GAA trains in Gaelic football every Wednesday from 19.30 to 21.00 on Via delle Tre Fontane in EUR, near the EUR Magliana metro. It welcomes complete beginners and non-Irish members [6]. Gaelic football is a fair halfway house between football and rugby, and the post-training pint is compulsory in spirit if not in the rules.
Churches
Two English-language churches with British roots sit in the centre:
- All Saints' Anglican Church, Via del Babuino 153, between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. A Church of England church in the Diocese in Europe, with services in English on Sundays at 8.30 and 10.30 (with choir and Sunday school) and a midweek service on Thursday lunchtimes [10]. It also has youth and young adults' groups and a food distribution programme [10].
- St Andrew's Church of Scotland, Via XX Settembre 7, a small international Presbyterian congregation near Porta Pia.
Church is also where you'll often find a proper Christmas: carols, mince pies and someone who knows where to buy a Christmas pud.
Politics from Rome
You keep your vote in UK general elections however long you live abroad, under votes for life. Our guide to voting from abroad explains how to register. If you want to get involved, the main parties' overseas groups cover Italy: Conservatives Abroad has an Italy branch, Labour International has a Southern Europe branch that includes Italy, and the Liberal Democrats have Lib Dems in Europe. We didn't find Italy-specific groups for the other parties.
Finding your people
Rome rewards people who make an effort with Italian. The British crowd is spread thin, from the city centre out to the Castelli Romani, and you'll be happier if half your friends are Roman. That said, a familiar accent over a cuppa never hurts. Start with the Commonwealth Club, pop into All Saints' after a Sunday service, or join our community group for Brits in Italy to ask where the next quiz night is.
Living in Italy since before 2021? Keep your Withdrawal Agreement residence card up to date: the FCDO strongly recommends the biometric card, not least for the EU's Entry/Exit System [1].
Sources
- GOV.UK (FCDO): Living in Italy (last updated 28 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: British Embassy Rome (checked 7 November 2026)
- Commonwealth Club of Rome: Remembrance Day 2026 and club pages (checked 7 November 2026)
- Commonwealth Club of Rome: The King's Birthday Party 2026 (checked 7 November 2026)
- Commonwealth Club of Rome: Commonwealth Cricket Cup 2026 (checked 7 November 2026)
- Wanted in Rome: Rome Hibernia GAA kicks off 2026/2027 season (31 August 2026)
- The Nag's Head Rome (fixtures for 7–8 November 2026, checked 7 November 2026)
- The Highlander Rome (checked 7 November 2026)
- Wanted in Rome: Best pubs in Rome to watch the Six Nations (6 February 2026)
- All Saints' Anglican Church Rome (checked 7 November 2026)