Who we are and what we do
The British Club in Gothenburg is a social club offering ‘the best of British’ in the West of Sweden. Membership is open to people with some connection to Britain, regardless of their nationality.
The club is run on a voluntary basis and enjoys, as the mainstay of its activities, a series of social events for members and their guests to meet in a friendly and traditonal British atmosphere. It also hosts occasional outings and special events, such as a treasure hunt in the park.
Our membership base of over 150 families continues to thrive, and new applications are always welcome.
Latest news
New British Ambassador to Sweden (24 Sep 2024)
We have a new British Ambassador to Sweden: Samantha Job. You can read about her here.
EES: New EU Entry/Exit System (26 Aug 2024)
In November 2024 (preliminary date), the EU will introduce a new digital border called the Entry/Exit System (EES). This will require non-EU nationals, including UK nationals, visiting the EU to create a digital record and provide their biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) at the border when they enter the EU’s Schengen Zone.
UK nationals who are legally resident in Sweden (including beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement) will be exempt from registration in EES, provided they hold the correct documentation.
See the GOV.UK website for the lastest information. Also explained on their Facebook page.
British Ambassador to Sweden leaving (12 July 2024)
Judith Gough has been the British Ambassador to Sweden for the past five years and is now preparing to move on to her next posting. You can hear her in a 10-minute interview on Radio Sweden talking about her experience here with the coronavirus pandemic, Brexit and Sweden's journey into Nato. You can also see her interviewed in (perfect) Swedish on TV4.
GEST acting courses this autumn (8 June 2024)
"At GEST we believe that people are naturally creative. We want to help develop that in a way that is accessible, engaging and above all, fun. We work in English, offering participants the opportunity to develop both their acting and linguistic skills. We offer evening acting courses for three age groups: 6-8, 9-11, 12-16, and adults aged 17 plus."
See the GEST website for the lastest information.
Register to vote if you're living abroad (29 May 2024)
If you're a British citizen living here, you can apply to be an overseas voter in UK Parliamentary elections. The law was amended this January to remove the rule that you had to have been a resident in the UK in the last 15 years.
First, you need to register here to vote.
After you’ve registered you can apply online for a postal vote. Alternatively, you can vote by proxy if someone you trust in the UK agrees to vote in person on your behalf.
Rishi Sunak has announced a general election for 4th July 2024, and you will need to be in good time if you want to vote by post or by proxy.
Embassy guidance on UK pensions (4 May 2024)
The British Embassy recommends this GOV.UK link: Benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
Also this link: Living in Sweden - Pensions, where you will find information on how to claim a UK State pension, and how to contact the International Pension Centre for advice or information about pensions and benefits if you live abroad or have lived abroad.
But please note that Swedish pensions are a matter for the Swedish pension authority, Pensionsmyndigheten, which is best placed to advise on all pension matters for people living in Sweden. A tip for those who prefer to meet a person face to face is to book an appointment at one of the Swedish government's service offices. They have staff available on weekdays who can answer questions about your pension. To book an appointment at one of the offices, see Visit a service office.
If Pensionsmyndigheten and/or the International Pension centre can’t help, a local lawyer might be best placed to advise further. Here is the Embassy's list of English-speaking lawyers. (Please note their disclaimer.)
Thanks from the British Legion (23 April 2024)
The Royal British Legion sent thanks today for the Poppy Appeal contributions collected in Gotheburg and Malmö. Four fifths of that was from Gothenburg, so well done David Drake for working so hard to make it possible, and warm thanks to everyone who bought a poppy or made a contribution.
AGM (2 Feb 2024)
Twenty-eight members attended this year's AGM. Standing down from the Committee was our most highly esteemed Secretary – Monica - who has been the secretary for nearly 20 years. She was presented with a watercolour painting and flowers and the warm thanks of the membership. The post of Secretary is now taken over by David Turner. We were also very fortunate to welcome Jennifer Herriman to the committee as an ordinary member.
The AGM was followed by a very successful ‘cheese and wine’ mingle which was greatly enjoyed by all. Several people thought we should have more gatherings like that.
Hiking with friends (22 May 2023)
Are you interested in taking a packed lunch and hiking 15 -20 km in the beautiful Swedish countryside together with family and friends? If so, send a mail to David Turner:
This is a new initiative by our member Liz Turner, and a joint venture with the International Women’s Club.
AGM - new committee members (25 Feb 2023)
Alan White stepped down, but we were delighted to welcome three new committee members:
David Drake, who will take over from Alan, David Turner, who will shadow Monica as Secretary, and George Berwick, who is our Postmaster. (See also the Past events page.)
Members interviewed by the BBC (12 Feb 2023)
A BBC Look East correspondent recently interviewed Bernadette and Lars-Gunnar Johansson, members of the British Club in Gothenburg, about their experience of living with Gothenburg's congestion charge ("trängselskatt"); Cambridge is considering implementing a congestion charge and the BBC wanted to film a story about how, a decade on from implementing the one in Gothenburg, people here feel about it. He also interviewed Gothenburg researchers, the city planners who brought in the congestion charge and the political party founder who tried to stop it through a referendum.
This is a link to the interesting BBC online article, featuring the Johanssons: What can Cambridge learn from Gothenburg's congestion charge?
And here’s a link to the BBC Look East televised debate: Cambridge congestion charge: The Big Debate. About half way through, it shows the Gothenburg segment that they filmed. (NOTE: You will need a UK VPN service to view BBC iPlayer from Sweden.)
Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (9 Sept 2022)
The British Club committee wishes to pay tribute to the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away yesterday (Thursday 8th September). Through long and faithful service to realm and Commonwealth, she has been an inspiration to all. She served her country for 70 years, maintaining dignified stability through enormous upheavals. Our thoughts and prayers go to her family.
Here are two tributes to the Queen from former prime ministers speaking in the House of Commons: Boris Johnson and Theresa May. Both speeches show heartfelt warmth and humour.
... and in memory of her own sense of fun, here is that moment in the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony where the Queen parachuted down in a crystal-and-lace cocktail dress, escorted by James Bond 007.
Brits in Gothenburg in national magazine (2 May 2022)
The English-language magazine The Local has just published a feature article entitled Why is Gothenburg known as Sweden's 'Little London'? The article was written by Alex Maxia, who has worked for Sveriges Radio P3 Dokumentär and as a freelance journalist reporting from Oslo and Utøya for the BBC World Service, among others.
The British Club gets a mention in his piece, and if you have a subscription to The Local, you can read the full article here. (If you are a fast reader you can read the first paragraph for free ...)
Entering Sweden on a British passport (2 April 2022)
If you present a British passport at the border control coming into Sweden, the border guard may decide to stamp your passport to limit your stay to 90 days in a 180-day period (the usual rule for non-EU citizens). But this rule does not apply to Brits, as long as you followed all the Withdrawal Agreement procedures for getting a permanent residence permit ("permanent uppehållstillstånd", PUT) before 31 Dec 2021. You should proactively present this permit at the border as well as your British passport to avoid getting the stamp.
More information at the GOV.UK Living in Sweden page. (click on "Passports and travel".)
Note that, if you have Swedish citizenship ("svenskt medborgarskap"), then instead of a residence permit you should present either a Swedish passport or your Swedish certificate of citizenship at the border. (Your ordinary Swedish ID card doesn't show your citizenship, so the border guard may not be satisfied with that.)
If you can't find your certificate of citizenship, you can request a copy by filling out a form on the Migration Agency website (you just pay the postage).
AGM - new British Club Committee (12 Mar 2022)
After a lively discussion, we were able to warmly welcome four new committee members:
John Chaplin -Chair
Ian Leigh - Treasurer
Adrian Montague - Membership Secretary
Mark Killick - Ordinary member
Monica Edholm remains as our ever-faithful Secretary, Peter Martin as our Vice-Chair, Alan White as Poppy Appeal coordinator and Richard Huntley as an ordinary member.
Poppy Appeal (1 Dec 2021)
We are pleased to report that the Poppy Appeal in Gothenburg and Malmö this year raised over 24 000 SEK - an impressive show of generosity.
Warm thanks to all members who made donations.
COVID-19 information for Sweden (1 Mar 2021)
Keep yourself up to date on COVID-19 information in English from the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten). This site includes the latest Swedish regulations, guidelines and strategy.
The British Council - archive NHS films (2 Aug 2020)
In appreciation of the work of the NHS, the British Council has presented a collection of fascinating archive films:
A Celebration of Health Services on Film.
"We've been digging through our collection of 100+ short documentaries made during the 1940s, designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played - and have found some real treasures exploring our health services. Since its inception [in 1948], the National Health Service has provided medical care “free at the point of use” based on need not income. During these strange times, as Covid-19 makes the world feel very different, it’s more important than ever to celebrate the wonderful work being done in hospitals and clinics across the country."
The British Shop - now with webshop (5 Apr 2020)
Check out the new British Shop webshop – perfect for those Easter hot cross buns. Delivery or pickups available.
Application for Swedish citizenship (30 Dec 2019)
In these Brexit times, many Brits in Sweden are considering applying for Swedish citizenship, which gives you dual citizenship and the right to vote in Swedish elections, as well as peace of mind about any future impact of Brexit on Brits living in EU countries. It costs 1500 Swedish kronor and you apply to the Swedish immigration agency, Migrationsverket.
More details on who qualifies for citizenship and how to apply.
You may be asked to send in your British passport with your application or it may state that they will contact you if and when they need to see it. Please follow whichever instruction you are given. (If you don't send all requested documents, this can slow down your application.)
The new British Shop is open (22 Nov 2019)
Good news! The British Shop in Antikhallarna (Västra Hamngatan 6, nearest tram stop: Domkyrkan) had its grand opening on 9 Nov, and we wish Paul and Rosie all the best for their new venture. They refresh their stock regularly, so keep an eye on the British Shop Facebook page for updates.
See also the Antikhallarna website to get a feel for the beautiful locale. The Latteria café occupies the central area, so why not drop by and stay for lunch as well?
Guidance for Brits returning to the UK (3 Oct 2019)
If you are a UK national considering returning to the UK permanently, here is the latest information about some of the actions you may need to take.
New British Ambassador to Sweden (20 Sept 2019)
Judith Gough is the new British Ambassador to Sweden, after four years as British Ambassador to Ukraine.
British citizens overseas can sign petitions to the UK government (July 2019)
Did you know that you are eligible to start or sign petitions to the UK government or Parliament? The Petitions Committee is set up by the House of Commons. It follows up the issues raised in the most popular petitions, and it has the power to press for action from government or Parliament. If a petition gets over 100,000 votes it is considered for debate in Parliament, so it is a way to make your voice heard in the UK.
See the most popular petitions here, and sign any that you feel strongly about. There are several petitions to leave the EU, with from 40,000 to 580,000 votes, but the most popular petition by far is the one to revoke Article 50 and stay in the EU; this one received over 6 million votes and was debated in Parliament on 1 April.
Brits in Gothenburg featured in local press (2 Mar 2019)
The local newspaper, Göteborgs-Posten, did a feature article on Brits in Gothenburg (a city once known as "Lilla London" because there were so many Brits here). The British Club gets a mention.
Read the article here (in Swedish)
No more direct ferry options to the UK (2016)
DFDS now report that they no longer take foot passengers or private vehicles on their freight ferry from Gothenburg to Immingham. So if you want to take a car to the UK, there is no direct connection by sea. You either need to plan two extra days in each direction and drive via Denmark, Germany and Holland/Belgium/France, or leave the car here and travel by plane.