British life in Zurich: poppies, pints and finding your people
You won't find a Little Britain in Zurich, but you will find an Anglican church, a residents' association that's been going since 1946, and a pub that shows the Autumn Nations with the sound up.
The short version
- The British Residents' Association of Switzerland (BRA), founded in 1946, runs social and cultural events for British, Commonwealth and Irish residents through regional groups [2].
- St Andrew's Anglican Church in the old town holds Sunday services at 9.00 and 10.30, and has hosted the BRA's Remembrance Sunday service [5][3].
- The Royal British Legion has a Switzerland branch, mainly active around Geneva and Vaud [4]. We couldn't confirm a Royal Society of St George branch.
- Zurich Crickets and Grasshopper Club Zürich Rugby both had busy 2026 seasons and welcome new players [7][8].
- For the footie, The Lion Pub near Bahnhofstrasse shows the Premier League and Champions League, plus the Autumn Nations rugby [9].
Who's who: British organisations in and around Zurich
| Organisation | What it does | Where |
|---|---|---|
| British Residents' Association of Switzerland | Social and cultural events, regional groups, help settling in | Six regions across Switzerland [2] |
| St Andrew's Anglican Church | Church of England chaplaincy, choirs, children's groups, Christmas bazaar | Promenadengasse 9, 8001 Zurich [5] |
| British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce | Business networking for more than 500 members | Central office in Zurich [6] |
| Royal British Legion, Switzerland branch | Remembrance, the Poppy Appeal, support for veterans | Mostly western Switzerland [4] |
| British Embassy Berne | Consular help, emergency travel documents | Thunstrasse 50, Berne, by appointment [1] |
The British Residents' Association
If you join one thing, make it this. The BRA was founded in 1946 for British, Commonwealth and Irish citizens and people close to them, and it aims to help members settle into Swiss life as well as meet each other [2]. It works through six regions: Central, North-East, North-West, Romandie-East, Romandie-West, and Ticino and Grisons [2]. Zurich falls in the North-East region, which has organised the Remembrance Sunday service and lunch at St Andrew's [3].
When we checked in November 2026, the national calendar included an autumn lunch, Remembrance services in western Switzerland on 11 November, a book club in Basel and a Christmas market trip with a raclette lunch [2]. Membership details are on the BRA's site.
St Andrew's Church
St Andrew's is the Church of England chaplaincy for Zurich, part of the Diocese in Europe. There's said Holy Communion at 9.00 and sung Holy Communion at 10.30 every Sunday, plus services in Baden, St Gallen and Zug [5]. It has a robed choir, a junior choir and a Christmas bazaar, and its Advent and Christmas 2026 services are listed on its site [5]. Even if you're not a churchgoer, a candlelit Christmas service with familiar carols is about as British as Zurich gets.
Business and the embassy
The British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce is the one for networking, and says it supports more than 500 members in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the UK [6].
There's no British consulate in Zurich. The British Embassy in Berne handles consular help and emergency travel documents, by appointment [1]. For an emergency, call 112 first [1].
Royal British Legion and the Royal Society of St George
The Royal British Legion has a Switzerland branch. Its site reports that on Armistice Day 2025 the British Ambassador laid a wreath at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Vevey, and it held an annual dinner in October 2025 [4]. The branch is looking for new committee members, especially to help with events and the Poppy Appeal [4]. Most of its activity is in western Switzerland, so Zurich members may need a train ride.
In Zurich itself, the BRA's North-East region has held a Remembrance Sunday service at St Andrew's at 10.00, with Royal British Legion newsletters on display and a talk from a member about work with the war wounded [3]. That event page isn't dated, so check this year's details with the BRA or the church.
We couldn't confirm a Royal Society of St George branch in Switzerland. The society's branch list wouldn't load when we checked, so ask the society directly if you're keen.
Sport: cricket, rugby and the footie
Cricket: Zurich Crickets is the regional club for Zurich and Winterthur, with U11 to U19 sides and senior 1st and 2nd XIs in the Cricket Switzerland leagues [7]. Its home ground at Embrach got International Cricket Council venue accreditation in July 2026, and two new practice nets opened there the same summer [7]. You'll be playing alongside South Asian, Australian and Swiss team-mates, which is half the fun.
Rugby: Grasshopper Club Zürich Rugby, part of Switzerland's biggest multi-sport club, fields men's and women's XVs, a 2nd XV, sevens, an academy and Golden Oldies, with training at Allmend Brunau [8]. In November 2026 its men's 1st XV and women's side were playing Basel and Nyon [8]. The site is in English, and the club asks would-be players, coaches and referees to get in touch.
Football: Zurich has two Swiss Super League clubs, FC Zürich and Grasshoppers, who share the Letzigrund. It's a cheap and friendly way to see live football. For the Premier League, see below.
Pubs and the big matches
Zurich is an hour ahead of the UK, so a 3pm Saturday kick-off at home is 4pm here, which is very civilised.
| Pub | Why go | Where |
|---|---|---|
| The Lion Pub | Several matches at once with sound; Premier League, Bundesliga, Champions League and the Autumn Nations rugby; fish and chips and steak and ale pie | Oetenbachgasse 6, near Bahnhofstrasse [9] |
| Nelson Pub | British-style sports bar near the main station, open late at weekends | Beatengasse 11 |
| Paddy Reilly's | Irish pub with screens for live sport | Talstrasse 82 |
The Lion is shut on Sundays and Mondays, except for special Sundays it lists on its site, so check before the Super Sunday match [9]. Our guide to British food, shops and pubs in Zurich covers the rest, from a Sunday roast to Christmas pud.
Bonfire Night, the King's Birthday and Christmas
We couldn't find a public Bonfire Night event in Zurich for 2026. The Swiss save their fireworks for 1 August, their national day, and New Year's Eve, so you'll have to make do with a sparkler at home.
We couldn't find a public King's Birthday party listing for 2026 either. Keep an eye on the BRA's calendar and the embassy's social media.
Christmas is easier: carols at St Andrew's, the church's Christmas bazaar, and a pub full of people in paper hats watching the Boxing Day fixtures.
Politics and practical bits
Both main UK parties have branches for members here. Conservatives Abroad Switzerland has representatives in Zurich, and Labour International's Germany and Switzerland branch covers both countries.
- Register as an overseas voter. British citizens abroad can now vote in UK general elections however long they've been away. See our guide to votes for life.
- Sign up for FCDO email alerts for Switzerland and keep the embassy's contact page handy [1].
- Find your crowd. Our community group for Brits in Switzerland is the easiest place to ask who's going to the pub for the Six Nations, and you can join here.
- Be kind to yourself. The first Swiss winter can be quiet and lonely. Our guide to the emotional move is worth a read.
Sources
- GOV.UK: British Embassy Berne
- British Residents' Association of Switzerland (events calendar checked November 2026)
- British Residents' Association of Switzerland: Remembrance Sunday (undated event page)
- Royal British Legion, Switzerland branch
- St Andrew's Anglican Church Zurich
- British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce
- Zurich Crickets Cricket Club (2026 season news)
- Grasshopper Club Zürich Rugby (fixtures for November 2026)
- The Lion Pub Zürich (2026 screening dates)