The United Kingdom is a popular destination among Muslim travelers and is home to a large percentage of Muslims; with majority of them living in England and Wales. Islam is considered to be the second largest religion in the country, with most cities having pockets of Muslim concentrated areas. The Muslim community consists of many ethnicities, but majority is of British-Asian origin. Most cities in UK have prayer facilities; however locating halal food might be harder in certain areas. Muslim travelers planning on visiting the UK will be spoilt for choice as most of the cities are Muslim friendly and have adequate facilities. Following are a few of the top Muslim-friendly destinations in the United Kingdom, compiled by HalalTrip.
London, the capital of England, is one of the most visited cities in the world and is home to the largest Muslim population in the country; with Muslims of different ethnicities living in its many boroughs. This cosmopolitan city draws visitors from around the globe including Muslims. London has a lot to offer its many visitors with a vast array of attractions, museums, galleries, parks and some fantastic shopping. Muslim travelers visiting London will be able to find prayer facilities without difficulty as the city is home to a number of mosques, Islamic centers and prayer rooms. Locating halal food in London too, is not difficult as visitor will be able to find an array of halal restaurants serving a variety of cuisines.
Bradford; located in Northern England is another city with a sizeable Muslim population. Muslim travelers visiting this city can locate mosques without a problem as the city is home to over 70 prayer facilities. The city of Bradford is popularly known as the curry capital of Britain as it is home to many Asian curry houses. Those looking for halal restaurants will be spoilt for choice, as the city has many Muslim owned restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. Not to be missed when in Bradford is its city park which contains United Kingdom’s largest man made water feature.
Luton is a large town located north of London and is another Muslim-friendly destination in the UK. It is home to a diverse ethnic mix of people with a sizeable Muslim population; consisting mainly of Asian descent. Luton has a wide selection of restaurants spread across the town; however, Muslim travelers can find a concentration of Asian halal restaurants in Bury Park. The town is home to over 20 mosques so Muslim travelers will be able to locate prayer facilities in Luton quite easily.
Blackburn has the largest population of Muslims in the UK, outside of London making it another good destination for Muslims travelers visiting the country. With more than 40 mosques spread across Blackburn, Muslim travelers will have easy access to prayer facilities when required. Locating halal restaurants will also not be as difficult; as there are many halal restaurants catering to Blackburn’s local Muslim community.
Birmingham the second most populous city after London is an ethnically and culturally diverse city. Home to a considerable number of Muslims the city offers its Muslim visitors halal-friendly facilities. With over 150 mosques spread across Birmingham, Muslim travelers will be able to find a mosque to offer their prayers at quite easily. Halal food too is easy to locate; with most halal restaurants serving South Asian, Mediterranean and Arabic food. The Cadbury World situated close by is a must-visit when in Birmingham.
Dewsbury, Leicester, Derby, Manchester and Liverpool are some of the other destinations that Muslim travelers should visit when in the UK. These cities have a sizeable Muslim population; therefore offering its Muslim visitors many Muslim friendly-facilities. Each of these cities has prayer facilities and halal restaurants that tourists could use. The availability of these facilities is sure to make holidaying in the UK an enjoyable experience for Muslim travelers.
