Twenty years ago Poles came to the UK searching for a better life - now thousands of Brits are going the other way
SOURCE:Daily Mail
Thousands of Brits are moving to Poland attracted by the Eastern European country's cheap cost of living and fast economic growth.
Thousands of Brits are moving to Poland attracted by the Eastern European country's cheap cost of living and fast economic growth.
Throughout the mid-2000s the number of Poles in Britain soared from 94,000 in 2004 to close to a million in 2016, attracted by the offer of a better life.
But in the years since the UK left the EU the number of Poles moving to Britain has decreased - and now record numbers of Britons are moving to Poland.
Many of those swapping Walsall for Warsaw or Croydon for Krakow are enticed by similar economic factors as their Polish counterparts over 20 years ago.
Poland's economy is among the strongest in Europe, growing by a projected 3.5 per cent this year, while the UK economy grew by a measly 1.3 per cent.
The number of Brits moving to Poland jumped by a whopping 340 per cent between between 2015 to 2024, ahead of countries such as Malta and France where British expats have traditionally emigrated.
The country had 41,000 British migrants in 2015 and that rose to 184,900 in 2024, according to a study conducted by 5 Real Estate.
One person to make the move is 27-year-old Ivan Prothero who has lived in Krakow with his Polish wife Gabriela since March 2024.
Ivan Prothero with his Polish wife Gabriela. The couple decided to settle in Poland after Gabriela struggled to find a job in the UK
Tony Arnold, a 51-year-old English teacher, moved to Olsztyn in northeastern Poland last year with his wife Agnieszka and their two children aged nine and 11
The couple decided to settle in Poland after Gabriela struggled to find a job in the UK.
Mr Prothero said once they did make the move the difference between the two countries' economic and living standards became 'quite apparent'.
He said Polish supermarkets are 'packed with all kinds of produce available in high quantities'.
'Even looking at a lot of our [UK] high streets, the shops are closed, the pubs and restaurants not doing as well as they used to and a lot of shopping centres being closed. When here, high street or shopping centres are thriving,' Mr Prothero said.
'Of course it is not as straightforward as that, but travelling between both countries you really cannot overlook how well Poland is doing in comparison.
'The cost of living here is much better, most of people working and living in big cities can afford to go out and enjoy themselves with a nice dinner or a drink during the weekend. Life just seems a bit more balanced here.
'Cafes and bars leave their tables and chairs out on the streets overnight, I feel like this level of trust for them not being stolen or damaged occurs far less in the UK.'
Mr Prothero, who works remotely for a PR agency in the UK, said that the job market in Poland can be 'difficult' for non-Polish speakers but that was now improving.
Mr Prothero said once he and his wife had moved to Poland the difference between the two countries economic and living standards became 'quite apparent'
Krakow in southern Poland, where Mr Prothero has lived with his wife Gabriela since March 2024
He continued: 'It is changing and in big cities, especially Warsaw, they are providing more and more opportunities but it also depends on the field.
'I've not met up with that many expats but I did meet up with a few for the Euros last summer'.
While the 27-year-old said he misses the pub culture in the UK as well some of the food, he has no plan to move back.
'I would say never say never, but for now I cannot see myself moving back. I love living here and slowly integrating and understanding a new culture,' he said.
Another Brit that moved to Poland is Zachary Warchol, a 30-year-old translator and English teacher who moved from Nottingham to the eastern Polish city of Lublin in 2016.
He told the Daily Mail that he has been a close-up eyewitness to Poland's rapid economic boom.
'Poland really has boomed at a rapid rate, especially when you compare it to the late 1990s and the 2000s. I've seen the transformation firsthand in Lublin,' he said.
'When I first moved here they were still using the communist public transport from the 1970s, but with the help of EU funding that has now been replaced with electric vehicles and Poland is really investing in hydrogen for example.
While Mr Prothero said he misses the pub culture in the UK as well some of the food, he has no plan to move back to Britain
Zachary Warchol with his wife Kasia. He told the Daily Mail that he has been a close-up eyewitness to Poland's rapid economic boom
Lublin in eastern Poland where Mr Warchol, a 30-year-old translator and english teacher, has lived since 2016
'There's also fantastic opportunities work opportunities for those in tech and IT now in the biggest cities like Warsaw, Krakow and Breslau [Wroclaw].'
He has also grown fond of Polish society during his time in the country.
He continued: 'You do get a sense of freedom that you sort of don't quite get in England.
'There's less control and rules over what people do. A lot less cancel culture. People have a right to their own opinion and nobody cares and life just goes on.'
The 30-year-old admitted he did miss British pubs and Mr Warchol also said that if and his wife Kasia - whom he married four years ago - had children he would like for them to be educated in Britain.
In the nine years he has lived in Poland, Mr Warchol said that even in Lublin - one of Poland's smaller cities - he has noticed a rise in the number of expats living in the country.
'Surprisingly we're all from the East Midlands, one chap is from just outside Derby and another is from Nottingham, literally the next neighbourhood from where I'm from.'
He added that some Polish supermarkets have even started selling British food in its own section, in scenes reminiscent of the Eastern European section of supermarkets in the UK.
Mr Prothero and his wife. He works remotely for a PR agency in the UK and said that the job market in Poland can be 'difficult' for non-Polish speakers but that was now improving
Tony Arnold, a 51-year-old English teacher, moved to Olsztyn in northeastern Poland last year with his wife Agnieszka and their two children - Jason, 11, and Maya aged nine.
He said: 'Our reasons for moving to Poland were purely financial based on the fact we just couldn't get on the property ladder.
'We were looking to buy a house where we were living in Hertfordshire but the value of houses in the area were just so high.'
The family have now settled into a three-bedroom apartment in Olsztyn which cost £60,000 and now they are looking at buying more properties.
'The flat we were renting in Hertfordshire was smaller than our home in Poland and it was valued at over £300,000,' Mr Arnold said.
'I was just done with the UK to be honest not only because of my own prospects of owning a home but also what was I going to pass down to my children? But coming here now I've been able to afford to buy a property with money to spare.'
Mr Arnold's wife is Polish and in their 15 years together they holidayed in the country regularly and he saw firsthand the economic transformation of the country.
He said: 'We've seen the country coming up and advancing in so many ways. More and more every year we came back. It's a modern European country now with all the shops.
'Poland is much more laid back than the UK. There's not much crime people don't get their cars stolen. The people are nice there's not much aggression on the streets like you might find in some English towns.'
Mr Arnold said: 'Our reasons for moving to Poland were purely financial based on the fact we just couldn't get on the property ladder. We were looking to buy a house where we were living in Hertfordshire but the value of houses in the area were just so high'
Across Olsztyn, which is ranked as one of the happiest places to live in the world, Mr Arnold knows a few other British expats.
He continued: 'There's a good friend I've met who's English lives 15 minutes away, 10 minutes away, and there's a few dots. There's a few dotted around, because there's a big university here and that work at the Michelin tyre factory.'
Mr Arnold has managed to adapt well to living in Poland, although he admitted he misses British delicacies like the sausage roll and the beloved English pub, but it was more difficult for his children to adapt.
'It was a bit of a shock for them when we came over. My wife had taught them Polish and we used online courses to brush them up so they could integrate into the education system but it wasn't enough in that respect.
'It's been a tricky four or five months but they were able to fit in fairly quickly and they've been very happy ever since.'
He added: 'I don't think I'd consider moving back to the UK now because where would we go? We left everything but here in Poland we have a house and we're looking to buy more.'
According to moving experts 1st Move International, Poland has seen a spike in online searches among Brits looking to move there.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mike Harvey Managing Director of 1st Move International said: 'Our latest data shows a 27 per cent increase in British people searching to move to Poland, and it's easy to see why the country is fast becoming an appealing destination for expats.
Mr Arnold's wife is Polish and in their 15 years together they holidayed in the country regularly and he saw firsthand the economic transformation of the country. He said: 'We've seen the country coming up and advancing in so many ways'
Mr Arnold's two children - Jason, 11 , and Maya aged nine - outside Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science. He said that the move to Poland was most difficult for his son and daughter who found it 'a bit of a shock' to begin with
'Since joining the EU in 2004, Poland has undergone a remarkable economic transformation - evolving from one of the poorest members to a nation with living standards now on track to overtake Japan's.
'In 1990, Poland's GDP per capita was $6,687 compared to Japan's $20,000. By 2024, Poland had surged to $51,628, just $2,000 behind Japan, closing a $15,000 gap in one generation. This rapid growth has created an environment rich with career opportunities and faster progression for ambitious professionals.'
Beyond the strong economy, Mr Harvey said that Poland's high quality of life is another pull factor for Brits.
'Crime rates are comparatively low, and the country's family-oriented culture provides strong social benefits - including up to 52 weeks of maternity and parental leave. while monthly public transport passes in major cities like Warsaw or Wrocław cost as little as £20-30, a fraction of what commuters pay in London,' he said.
According to the Immigration Advice Service (IAS), a law firm which specialises in visas settlement and citizenship advice and applications, they have seen a spike in enquiries about their Polish immigration Advice which rose from an average of three enquiries per week to between 12 and 14 in May this year.
The Director of IAS Ono Okeregha said that new policies from the Polish government have made it easier for non-EU nationals to move to the country.
He said: 'Poland has also loosened their own immigration policies, aiming to attract top international talent.
'Some of the most popular routes now target executives and businesspeople, particularly those from multinationals transferring to or starting a Polish branch or business.
The Polish city of Olsztyn, which is ranked as one of the happiest places to live in the world; it is situated about two hours from the port city of Gdansk
'New regulations have also made Poland a 'gateway to Europe'.
'The Labour Market Test requirement was removed for work permit applications, making it smoother for employers to apply for work permits electronically to recruit overseas talent.'
Cost of living in Poland compared to the UK:
Pint of beer - £2.70 (12.70 zloty) in Poland compared to £4.80 in the UK
A three-course meal for two - costs £33 (159.39 zloty) in Poland compared to £63 in the UK
Rent for an apartment - on average costs £566 (2733.71 zloty) a month in Poland compared to £1,050 in the UK
Utilities - cost on average £200 (965.98 zloty) a month in Poland compared to £246 in the UK
Monthly public transport pass - £23 (111.09 zloty) in Poland compared to £70 in the UK
A loaf of bread - costs 90p (4.35 zloty) in Poland compared to £1.20 in the UK
It's not just working age Brits who are flocking to Poland, many pensioners are now retiring to the country.
In 2023, Marianne Goodman, 58, and her 61-year-old partner Glenn moved from Hartlepool to northeast Poland.
They told the Daily Mail at the time: 'We found a lovely detached property for £130,000 with a pond, stables and an orchard.
'We're taking our two dogs, cats and a ferret with us, and I would like some goats and chickens, too.
'I've always wanted to live in the countryside and grow my own vegetables.
'So, this will be a bit like The Good Life, I guess,' she said referencing the 1970's British sitcom starring Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal.
On the other side of the country, sitting in his detached house with a sprawling view of lakes and forests, former NHS worker John says he 'could not be happier'.
Describing his home in a village in northwest Poland as his 'happy place', the 73-year-old retiree said the only thing he misses about England is Cornish pasties.
He said: 'I've lived in Spain and in London, and Poland is better than both.
'To put it simply, my life is wonderful.'
Well integrated into the small local community, John and his Polish partner spend their days supping wine in a cosy local restaurant and chatting with friends and neighbours.
Meanwhile, 100 miles south, Johnny Craiggs is enjoying a pint of Guinness in his local Irish pub.
Situated inside the city of Poznan's 20th century Imperial Castle, the Dubliner attracts a lively crowd, including the 66-year-old former bus and coach driver from Newcastle.
Warsaw - Poland's capital. The Eastern European country's economy is amongst the strongest in Europe and it grew by a projected 3.5 per cent this year, while the UK economy grew by a measly 1.3 per cent
Marianne Goodman and her partner Glenn. In 2023 the couple moved from Hartlepool to northeast Poland
He said: 'For Poland it can be a bit dear in here, 22 zloty (about £4.20) for a Guinness. But it can be anything between £4.80 to £5.60 in the toon.'
Meeting his Polish wife Grazyna 20 years ago, Johnny first moved to Poznan in 2014 to set up a cafe called English Johnny's.
Flitting back and forth between the UK to continue his coach driving while Grazyna stayed to run the cafe, Johnny eventually settled in Poland in 2019.
He said: 'Of course, we're much better off here than in the UK, but I still pop back to do a bit of driving on the side and stock up on sausages and bacon so I can have a proper full English.'
The pensioners are just a small fraction of a growing number of Brits retiring to Poland.
A report from Investing Reviews in 2023 showed that '2,213 people claiming a UK pension have set down their roots in Poland since Britain officially left the EU on 31 Jan 2020.'