Communities

Portuguese and Brazilian TV in the UK

Portuguese is the main language of more than 220,000 people in England and Wales. That includes people from Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, and a large Brazilian community. Lambeth's "Little Portugal" around Stockwell and Vauxhall, Thetford in Norfolk and Great Yarmouth all have well-known communities.

Updated 6 October 2026 · By the IPTV UK editorial desk

How do Portuguese-speaking households in the UK watch TV?

Portugal shares UK time, so Liga Portugal and the RTP news need no conversion. Brazilian families follow the Brasileirão and the Globo novelas, which air late at night UK time.

What does the census say?

Measure	People
Born in Portugal and Brazil Census 2021 TS012, Portugal	156,295
Main language: Portuguese Census 2021 TS024, people aged 3 and over	224,719

Where does the community live?

The council areas in England and Wales with the most people counted by the main-language figure, out of 318:

Lambeth9,0092.9% of residents
Brent7,8172.4% of residents
Newham5,6291.7% of residents
Croydon4,8761.3% of residents
Wandsworth4,2891.4% of residents
Haringey4,2041.6% of residents
Barnet3,9261% of residents
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole3,8691% of residents

Our town pages with a large Portuguese and Brazilian community: Liverpool, Southampton, Reading.

This is what people from the community ask us about, not a promise that every channel is in the line-up today. We confirm specific channels in writing before you buy.

Ask us to confirm these channels

What are the legal ways to watch from the UK?

RTP PlayFree; most of RTP's programmes and channels play outside Portugal.
RTP Internacional, SIC Internacional and TVI InternacionalThe three networks' channels for viewers abroad.
GloboplayGlobo's streaming service is sold outside Brazil, with novelas and international channels.

Availability and prices change; check the provider's own site before you subscribe.

Sport and kick-off times

Liga Portugal (Benfica, Porto, Sporting) and the Brasileirão. Brazil is 4 hours behind the UK in summer and 3 in winter.

Time in Portugal now—

UK time now—

Portugal shares UK time all year. Busiest viewing: Portugal and Brazil national-team games.

Try it before you pay

The free 24-hour trial gives the full line-up, including the channel groups for Portuguese. If it suits your family, plans start at £6.25 a month.

More communities

Other community pages

Readers also ask

How many Portuguese-speaking households live in England and Wales?

Census 2021 counted 156,295 (born in Portugal and Brazil); 224,719 (main language: Portuguese). Scotland and Northern Ireland run separate censuses.

Can I watch RTP1 in the UK?

Ask us before you buy and we confirm in writing whether it is in the current line-up, or check it during the free 24-hour trial. Legal routes from the UK include RTP Play, RTP Internacional, SIC Internacional and TVI Internacional, Globoplay.

What time are Portugal programmes in the UK?

Portugal shares UK time all year. So a 9pm programme at home airs at 21:00 UK time in summer.

Sources

Census 2021, TS012 Country of birth (detailed) checked 6 October 2026
Census 2021, TS024 Main language (detailed) checked 6 October 2026

Try before you pay

Watch it on your own telly for 24 hours. Free.

Send a message and we reply with your log-in, usually within minutes. If you buy afterwards, plans start at £6.25 a month, and the first 14 days are covered by a full refund.

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