UK Cities & Demographics
Nearly half of the British Muslim population lives in London, but vibrant communities exist across the Midlands and the North.
Highest Muslim Population Share
Areas where Muslims make up a significant percentage of residents:
- Tower Hamlets — ~39.9% Muslim
- Blackburn with Darwen — ~35.0% Muslim
- Newham — ~34.8% Muslim
- Luton — ~32.9% Muslim
- Redbridge — ~31.3% Muslim
- Bradford — ~30.5% Muslim
- Birmingham — ~29.9% Muslim
- Slough — ~29% Muslim
- Leicester — ~23.5% Muslim
- Manchester — ~22% Muslim
Largest Total Muslim Populations
Cities with the largest total number of Muslim residents:
- London (Greater) — Over 1 million Muslims
- Birmingham — ~280,000+
- Bradford — ~140,000+
- Manchester — ~125,000+
- Tower Hamlets — ~120,000+
- Newham — ~115,000+
- Leicester — ~75,000+
- Luton — ~70,000+
- Blackburn — ~55,000+
- Sheffield — ~50,000+
Mosques in the United Kingdom
From the historic Shah Jahan Mosque to the modern eco-mosques, there are over 2,300 places of worship in England.
| Mosque Name | Location | Capacity | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baitul Futuh Mosque | Morden, London | 10,000+ | Largest in Western Europe |
| Al-Jamia Suffa-Tul Islam | Bradford | 8,000 | Grand Mosque |
| Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif | Birmingham | 6,000 | - |
| Birmingham Central Mosque | Birmingham | 6,000 | - |
| East London Mosque | Whitechapel, London | 5,000+ | Includes London Muslim Centre |
| London Central Mosque | Regent's Park, London | 5,000 | - |
| Markazi Masjid | Dewsbury | 4,000 | Dewsbury Markaz |
| Manchester Central Mosque | Manchester | 3,000+ | - |
Historic Mosques
- Shah Jahan Mosque, Woking (1889) — The first purpose-built mosque in the UK, Grade I listed.
- Liverpool Muslim Institute (1889) — Britain's first recorded functioning mosque, founded by Abdullah Quilliam.
- Fazl Mosque, Southfields (1926) — The first purpose-built mosque in London.
Cities with Most Mosques
- London — 332 mosques
- Birmingham — 179 mosques
- Bradford — 103 mosques
- Leicester — 77 mosques
- Manchester — 77 mosques
Halal Food Industry in the UK
The UK Halal food market is a booming sector worth over £89 billion, catering to a diverse and growing population.
Industry Drivers
- Rising Muslim population driving demand.
- Major supermarkets (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's) expanding halal ranges.
- Ethical sourcing appealing to wider market.
- E-commerce making halal products accessible.
Certification Bodies
The UK has several established bodies ensuring products meet Islamic dietary requirements:
- HMC (Halal Monitoring Committee) — Known for stricter standards.
- HFA (Halal Food Authority) — Widely used by major supermarkets.
- Halal Trust — Recognized certification body.
Islamic Education in the UK
From primary schools to higher education, the infrastructure for Islamic learning is robust and expanding.
Education Formats
Full-Time Muslim Schools: Approximately 184 schools across the UK offer an Islamic ethos alongside the national curriculum.
Madrassas/Supplementary Schools: Thousands of part-time evening schools where children learn Quran and Islamic studies.
Higher Education
Institutions providing higher Islamic education and imam training:
- Cambridge Muslim College — Training for faith leadership.
- Markfield Institute of Higher Education — Based in Leicestershire.
- The Islamic College — London-based institution.
UK Muslim Charities & Organisations
British Muslims donate an estimated £1.79 billion annually to charitable causes — four times the national average per capita.
Islamic Relief UK
Founded in Birmingham (1984), it is one of the world's largest independent NGOs.
Visit WebsiteMuslim Aid
Established in 1985, Muslim Aid provides humanitarian assistance across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Visit WebsiteMuslim Hands
Established in Nottingham (1993), operating in over 50 disaster-stricken countries.
Visit WebsiteIslamic Calendar & Key Dates
The Islamic calendar is lunar, meaning dates shift approximately 11 days earlier each Gregorian year.
Ramadan 2026
The holy month of fasting.
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Eid Celebrations 2026
The two major festivals.
-
Eid al-Fitr: ~ Friday, 20th March 2026
Marks the end of Ramadan. -
Eid al-Adha: ~ Tuesday, 26th May 2026
Festival of Sacrifice, coincides with Hajj.
History of Islam in Britain
The Muslim presence in Britain stretches back centuries, long before the mass migration of the mid-20th century.
King Offa of Mercia mints a gold coin (the Offa Dinar) bearing the Islamic Shahada, likely for trade with the Islamic world.
Diplomatic and trade relations established between Elizabethan England and the Ottoman Empire and Morocco.
Abdullah Quilliam, a British convert, opens Britain's first recorded functioning mosque in Liverpool.
The Islamic Cultural Centre in Regent's Park is inaugurated by King George VI to acknowledge Muslim support during WWII.
Large-scale migration from South Asia (Pakistan, Bangladesh, India) to fill labour shortages in UK industries.
Sadiq Khan is elected Mayor of London, becoming the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital.
Notable British Muslims
From politics to the arts, British Muslims continue to make significant contributions to the nation.
Politics & Public Service
- Sadiq Khan — Mayor of London
- Baroness Sayeeda Warsi — First Muslim Cabinet Minister
- Rushanara Ali MP — First person of Bangladeshi origin in Parliament
- Humza Yousaf — Former First Minister of Scotland
Sport & Media
- Sir Mo Farah CBE — Olympic gold medallist
- Amir Khan — World champion boxer
- Mishal Husain — BBC Today programme presenter
- Riz Ahmed — Oscar-nominated actor
- Nadiya Hussain — TV Chef and Author