Who we are

The British Council is the United Kingdom’s principal agency for cultural relations with other countries. Our purpose is to enhance the reputation of the UK in the world as a valued partner. We promote the UK in its entirety, reflecting and celebrating its cultural, ethnic and political diversity.

What we do

We work with ordinary people as well as with governments and decision-makers in 110 countries, building relationships and creating opportunities. We target specific groups of people through programmes in education, English language teaching, libraries and information, the arts, science and technology, and governance and human rights. We take pride in the fact that these activities can often succeed in bringing people together where high-level diplomacy and politics cannot.