|   | |
|  United Kingdom |  France | 
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of the United Kingdom, Paris | Embassy of France, London | 
| Envoy | |
| Ambassador Menna Rawlings | Ambassador Hélène Tréheux-Duchêne | 
 
 The historical ties between France and the United Kingdom, and the countries preceding them, are long and complex, including conquest, wars, and alliances at various points in history. The Roman era saw both areas largely conquered by Rome, whose fortifications largely remain in both countries to this day. The Norman conquest of England in 1066, followed by the long domination of the Plantagenet dynasty of French origin, decisively shaped the English language and led to early conflict between the two nations.
Throughout the Middle Ages and into the Early Modern Period, France and England were often bitter rivals, with both nations' monarchs claiming control over France and France routinely allying against England with their other rival Scotland until the Union of the Crowns. The historical rivalry between the two nations was seeded in the Capetian-Plantagenet rivalry over the French holdings of the Plantagenets in France. After the French victory in the Hundred Years' War, England would never again establish a foothold in French territory.
Rivalry continued with many Anglo-French wars. The last major conflict between the two was the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793–1815), in which coalitions of European powers, financed by London, fought a series of wars against the French First Republic, the First French Empire and its client states, culminating in the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. For several decades the peace was uneasy with fear of French invasion in 1859 and during the later rivalry for African colonies. Nevertheless, peace has generally prevailed since Napoleon I, and friendly ties between the two were formally established with the 1904 Entente Cordiale, and the British and French were allied against Germany in both World War I and World War II; in the latter conflict, British armies helped to liberate occupied France from Nazi Germany.
France and the UK were key partners in the West during the Cold War, consistently supporting liberal democracy and capitalism. They were founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defence alliance and are permanent members of the UN Security Council. France has been a member of the European Union (EU), and its predecessors, since creation as the European Economic Community in 1957. In the 1960s, relations deteriorated due to French President Charles de Gaulle's concerns over the special relationship between the UK and the United States. He repeatedly vetoed British entry into the European Communities, the predecessor to the EU, and withdrew France from NATO integrated command, arguing the alliance was too heavily dominated by the United States.
In 1973, following de Gaulle's death, the UK entered the European Communities and in 2009 France returned to an active role in NATO under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. Since then, the two countries have experienced a close relationship, especially on defence and foreign policy issues; however they disagreed on several other matters, most notably the direction of the European Union. [1] The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020, following the referendum held on 23 June 2016, on Brexit. [2] Relations have since deteriorated, with disagreements surrounding Brexit and the English Channel migrant crisis. [3] [4] [5]
In the 21st century, France and Britain, though they have chosen different paths and share many overlooked similarities (with roughly the same population, economic size, commitment to democracy, diplomatic clout, and as heads of former global empires. [6] [7] [8] [9] ), are often still referred to as "historic rivals", [10] with a perceived ever-lasting competition. [11] French author José-Alain Fralon characterised the relationship between the countries by describing the British as "our most dear enemies".
It is estimated that about 350,000 French people live in the UK, with approximately 200,000 Britons living in France. [12] Both countries are members of the Council of Europe and NATO. France is a European Union member and the United Kingdom is a former European Union member.
 
 The UK and France became close in the aftermath of World War II, as both feared the Americans would withdraw from Europe leaving them vulnerable to the Soviet Union's expanding communist bloc. The UK was successful in strongly advocating that France be given a zone of occupied Germany. Both states were amongst the five Permanent Members of the new UN Security Council, where they commonly collaborated. However, France was bitter when the United States and Britain refused to share atomic secrets with it. An American operation to use air strikes (including the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons) during the climax of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in May 1954 was cancelled because of opposition by the British. [13] [14] The upshot was France developed its own nuclear weapons and delivery systems. [15]
The Cold War began in 1947, as the United States, with strong British support, announced the Truman Doctrine to contain Communist expansion and provided military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey. Despite its large pro-Soviet Communist Party, France joined the Allies. The first move was the Franco-British alliance realised in the Dunkirk Treaty in March 1947. [16]
In 1956, the Suez Canal, previously owned by an Anglo-French company, was nationalised by the Egyptian government. The British and the French were both strongly committed to taking the canal back by force. [17] President Eisenhower and the Soviet Union demanded there be no invasion and both imposed heavy pressure to reverse the invasion when it came. The relations between Britain and France were not entirely harmonious, as the French did not inform the British about the involvement of Israel until very close to the commencement of military operations. [18] The failure in Suez convinced Paris it needed its own nuclear weapons. [19] [20]
Immediately after the Suez crisis Anglo-French relations started to sour again, and only since the last decades of the 20th century have they improved towards the peak they achieved between 1900 and 1940.
Shortly after 1956, France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg formed what would become the European Economic Community and later the European Union, but rejected British requests for membership. In particular, President Charles de Gaulle's attempts to exclude the British from European affairs during France's early Fifth Republic are now seen by many in Britain as a betrayal of the strong bond between the countries, and Anthony Eden's exclusion of France from the Commonwealth is seen in a similar light in France. The French partly feared that were the British to join the EEC they would attempt to dominate it.
Over the years, the UK and France have often taken diverging courses within the European Community. British policy has favoured an expansion of the Community and free trade while France has advocated a closer political union and restricting membership of the Community to a core of Western European states.
In 1958, with France mired in a seemingly unwinnable war in Algeria, Charles de Gaulle returned to power in France. He created the Fifth French Republic, ending the post-war parliamentary system and replacing it with a strong Presidency, which became dominated by his followers—the Gaullists. De Gaulle made ambitious changes to French foreign policy—first ending the war in Algeria, and then withdrawing France from the NATO command structure. The latter move was primarily symbolic, but NATO headquarters moved to Brussels and French generals had a much lesser role. [21] [22]
French policy blocking British entry into the European Economic Community (EEC) was primarily motivated by political rather than economic considerations. In 1967, as in 1961–63, de Gaulle was determined to preserve France's dominance within the EEC, which was the foundation of the nation's international stature. His policy was to preserve the Community of Six while barring Britain. Although France succeeded in excluding Britain in the short term, in the longer term the French had to adjust their stance on enlargement in order to retain influence. De Gaulle feared that letting Britain into the European Community would open the way for "Anglo-Saxon" (i.e., US and UK) influence to overwhelm the France-West Germany coalition that was now dominant. On 14 January 1963, de Gaulle announced that France would veto Britain's entry into the Common Market. [23]
 
 When de Gaulle resigned in 1969, a new French government under Georges Pompidou was prepared to open a more friendly dialogue with Britain. He felt that in the economic crises of the 1970s, Europe needed Britain. Pompidou welcomed British membership of the EEC, opening the way for the United Kingdom to join it in 1973. [25]
The two countries' relationship was strained significantly in the lead-up to the 2003 War in Iraq. Britain and its American ally strongly advocated the use of force to remove Saddam Hussein, while France (with China, Russia, and other nations) strongly opposed such action, with French President Jacques Chirac threatening to veto any resolution proposed to the UN Security Council. However, despite such differences Chirac and then British Prime Minister Tony Blair maintained a fairly close relationship during their years in office even after the Iraq War started. [26] Both states asserted the importance of the Entente Cordiale alliance, and the role it had played during the 20th century.
Following his election in 2007, President Nicolas Sarkozy attempted to forge closer relations between France and the United Kingdom: in March 2008, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that "there has never been greater cooperation between France and Britain as there is now". [27] Sarkozy also urged both countries to "overcome our long-standing rivalries and build together a future that will be stronger because we will be together". [28] He also said "If we want to change Europe my dear British friends—and we Frenchmen do wish to change Europe—we need you inside Europe to help us do so, not standing on the outside." [29] On 26 March 2008, Sarkozy had the privilege of giving a speech to both British Houses of Parliament, where he called for a "brotherhood" between the two countries [30] and stated that "France will never forget Britain's war sacrifice" during World War II. [31]
In March 2008, Sarkozy made a state visit to Britain, promising closer cooperation between the two countries' governments in the future. [32]
 
 The final months towards the end of François Hollande's tenure as president saw the UK vote to leave the EU. His response to the result was "I profoundly regret this decision for the United Kingdom and for Europe, but the choice is theirs and we have to respect it." [33]
The then-Economy Minister and current President Emmanuel Macron accused the UK of taking the EU "hostage" with a referendum called to solve a domestic political problem of eurosceptics and that "the failure of the British government [has opened up] the possibility of the crumbling of Europe." [34]
In contrast, the vote was welcomed by Eurosceptic political leaders and presidential candidates Marine Le Pen and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan as a victory for "freedom". [35] [36]
 
 In the aftermath of Brexit, fishing disputes, notably the 2021 Jersey dispute, have caused turbulence in relations between the two countries. [37]
In May 2021, France threatened to cut off electricity to the British Channel Island of Jersey in a fight over post-Brexit fishing rights. [38] [39]
In August 2021, Tensions emerged between the countries after the announcement of the AUKUS agreement between the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. [40]
In October 2021, the UK Foreign Office summoned the French ambassador over "threats" made by French officials against Jersey. [41] In November, France threatened to ban UK fishing vessels from French ports. [42]
In November 2021, relations became more stagnant after the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian claimed that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is a "populist who uses all elements at his disposal to blame others for problems he faces internally". [43] A few days later, after 27 migrants drowned in the English Channel, Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted a letter that was sent to French President Emmanuel Macron which had irritated him due to the letter being made public on Twitter. [44] The French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin cancelled a proposed meeting with British Home Secretary Priti Patel over the migrant crossings due to the row over the letter. [45]
On 6 March 2022, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin urged Britain to do more to assist Ukrainian refugees trapped in the French port of Calais, claiming that British officials were turning them away owing to a lack of permits or papers. [46]
On 25 August 2022, Liz Truss, the expected candidate for Prime Minister from the Conservative Party was asked if she sees Macron as a friend or a rival. Truss hesitated and replied that "The jury's out. But if I become prime minister, I'll judge him on deeds, not words". This answer brought a sharp reaction on behalf of the Labour Party when David Lammy, who serves as the party's foreign affairs spokesman, said in response that "the fact that she chose to unnecessarily insult one of our closest allies shows a lack of judgement, and that lack of capacity is a terrible and worrying thing." Macron himself responded that "the British people, Britain itself, are a friendly, strong nation and our ally, regardless of the identity of its leaders, and sometimes despite its leaders or the small mistakes they make in their attempt to impress the audience". He added: "If we, France and Britain, are unable to say whether we are friends or enemies - and the term is not neutral - then we are on the way to serious problems. If I were to be asked this question, I would not hesitate for a second - Britain is France's friend." [47]
A bilateral summit in March 2023 between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak marked a shift towards collaboration on energy, migration, and security. [48]
The election of Prime Minister Keir Starmer in 2024 further strengthened ties, with both governments issuing a joint statement reaffirming commitments to European security and climate action.
Symbolic events, such as King Charles III's 2023 state visit to France have further reinforced bilateral ties. [49]
The two nations have a post WWII record of working together on international security measures, as was seen in the Suez Crisis and Falklands War. In her 2020 book, Johns Hopkins University SAIS political scientist Alice Pannier writes that there is a growing "special relationship" between France and the UK in terms of defence cooperation. [50]
 
 On 2 November 2010, France and the UK signed two defence co-operation treaties. They provide for the sharing of aircraft carriers, a 10,000-strong joint reaction force, a common nuclear simulation centre in France, a common nuclear research centre in the UK, sharing air-refuelling tankers and joint training. [51] [52]
Their post-colonial entanglements have given them a more outward focus than the other countries of Europe, leading them to work together on issues such as the Libyan Civil War. [53]
France is the United Kingdom's third-biggest export market after the United States and Germany. Exports to France rose 14.3% from £16.542 billion in 2010 to £18.905 billion in 2011, overtaking exports to the Netherlands. Over the same period, French exports to Britain rose 5.5% from £18.133 billion to £19.138 billion. [54]
The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office estimates that 19.3 million British citizens, roughly a third of the entire population, visit France each year. [55] In 2018, they reported 13 million trips. [56] In 2012, the French were the biggest visitors to the UK (12%, 3,787,000) and the second-biggest tourist spenders in Britain (8%, £1.513 billion). [57]
The Entente Cordiale Scholarship scheme is a selective Franco-British scholarship scheme which was announced on 30 October 1995 by British Prime Minister John Major and French President Jacques Chirac at an Anglo-French summit in London. [58]
It provides funding for British and French students to study for one academic year on the other side of the Channel. The scheme is administered by the French embassy in London for British students, [59] and by the British Council in France and the UK embassy in Paris for French students. [60] [61] Funding is provided by the private sector and foundations. The scheme aims to favour mutual understanding and to promote exchanges between the British and French leaders of tomorrow.
The programme was initiated by Sir Christopher Mallaby, British ambassador to France between 1993 and 1996. [62]
 
 The Concorde supersonic commercial aircraft was developed under an international treaty between the UK and France in 1962, and commenced flying in 1969. It was a technological success but a financial disaster and was closed down after a runway crash in 2000 and fully ended flights in 2003. [63]
Over the centuries, French and British art and culture have been heavily influenced by each other. [64] During the 19th century, numerous French artists moved to the United Kingdom, which many of them settling in London. These artists included Charles-François Daubigny, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, James Tissot and Alfred Sisley. This exodus would prove to have a significant influence on the development of impressionism in Britain. [65]
Sexual euphemisms with no link to France, such as French kissing , or French letter for a condom, are used in British English slang. [66] While in French slang, the term le vice anglais refers to either BDSM or homosexuality. [67] French classical music has always been popular in Britain. British popular music is in turn popular in France. English literature, in particular the works of Agatha Christie and William Shakespeare, has been immensely popular in France. French artist Eugène Delacroix based many of his paintings on scenes from Shakespeare's plays. In turn, French writers such as Molière, Voltaire and Victor Hugo have been translated numerous times into English. In general, most of the more popular books in either language are translated into the other. The same can be applied for adaptations of said books; some of which have achieved considerable critical and commercial success in both territories. For example, the West End production of the musical adaptation of Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables premiered in 1985 and is still running to this very day.[ citation needed ]
 
 The first foreign language most commonly taught in schools in Britain is French, and the first foreign language most commonly taught in schools in France is English; those are also the languages perceived as "most useful to learn" in both countries. Queen Elizabeth II of the UK was fluent in French and did not require an interpreter when travelling to French-language countries. [68] [69] French is a substantial minority language and immigrant language in the United Kingdom, with over 100,000 French-born people in the UK. According to a 2006 European Commission report, 23% of UK residents are able to carry on a conversation in French and 39% of French residents are able to carry on a conversation in English. [70] French is also an official language in both Jersey and Guernsey. Both use French to some degree, mostly in an administrative or ceremonial capacity. Jersey Legal French is the standardised variety used in Jersey. However, Norman (in its local forms, Guernésiais and Jèrriais) is the historical vernacular of the islands.
Both languages have influenced each other throughout the years. According to different sources, more than 50% of all English words have a French origin, and today many French expressions have entered the English language as well. [71] The term Franglais, a portmanteau combining the French words "français" and "anglais", refers to the combination of French and English (mostly in the UK) or the use of English words and nouns of Anglo-Saxon roots in French (in France).
Modern and Middle English reflect a mixture of Oïl and Old English lexicons after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, when a Norman-speaking aristocracy took control of a population whose mother tongue was Germanic in origin. Due to the intertwined histories of England and continental possessions of the English Crown, many formal and legal words in Modern English have French roots. For example, buy and sell are of Germanic origin, while purchase and vend are from Old French.
 
 In the sport of rugby union there is a rivalry between England and France. Both countries compete in the Six Nations Championship and the Rugby World Cup. England has the edge in both tournaments, having the most outright wins in the Six Nations (and its previous version the Five Nations), and most recently knocking the French team out of the 2003 and 2007 World Cups at the semi-final stage, although France knocked England out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a convincing score in their quarter final match. Though rugby is originally a British sport, French rugby has developed to such an extent that the English and French teams are now stiff competitors, with neither side greatly superior to the other. While English influences spread rugby union at an early stage to Scotland, Wales and Ireland, as well as the Commonwealth realms, French influence spread the sport outside the commonwealth, to Italy, Argentina, Romania and Georgia.
The influence of French players and coaches on British football has been increasing in recent years and is often cited as an example of Anglo-French cooperation. In particular the Premier League club Arsenal has become known for its Anglo-French connection due to a heavy influx of French players since the advent of French manager Arsène Wenger in 1996. In March 2008 their Emirates stadium was chosen as the venue for a meeting during a state visit by the French President precisely for this reason. [72]
Many people blamed the then French President Jacques Chirac for contributing to Paris' loss to London in its bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics after he made derogatory remarks about British cuisine and saying that "only Finnish food is worse". The IOC committee which would ultimately decide to give the games to London (by four votes) had two members from Finland. [73]
The busiest seaway in the world, [74] the English Channel, connects ports in Great Britain such as Dover, Newhaven, Poole, Weymouth, Portsmouth and Plymouth to ports such as Roscoff, Calais, Boulogne, Dunkerque, Dieppe, Cherbourg-Octeville, Caen, St Malo and Le Havre in mainland France. Companies such as Brittany Ferries, P&O Ferries, DFDS Seaways and LD Lines operate ferry services across the Channel.
In addition, there are ferries across the Anguilla Channel between Blowing Point, Anguilla (a British Overseas Territory) and Marigot, Saint Martin (an overseas collectivity of France). [75]
 
 The Channel Tunnel (French : Le tunnel sous la Manche; also referred to as the Chunnel) [76] [77] is a 50.5-kilometre (31.4 mi) undersea rail tunnel (linking Folkestone, Kent, in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, near the city of Calais in northern France) beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. Ideas for a cross-Channel fixed link appeared as early as 1802, [78] [79] but British political and press pressure over compromised national security stalled attempts to construct a tunnel. [80] The eventual successful project, organised by Eurotunnel, began construction in 1988 and was opened by British Queen Elizabeth II and French President François Mitterrand in a ceremony held in Calais on 6 May 1994. The same year the American Society of Civil Engineers elected the Channel Tunnel as one of the seven modern Wonders of the World. [81]
11,675,910 passengers in 2008 travelled on flights between the United Kingdom and France. [82]
France has the most twin cities and towns in the United Kingdom.[ citation needed ]
|  | 
 Aberdeen  and
  Aberdeen  and   Clermont-Ferrand , Puy-de-Dôme
  Clermont-Ferrand , Puy-de-Dôme  Andover , Hampshire and
  Andover , Hampshire and   Redon , Ille-et-Vilaine
  Redon , Ille-et-Vilaine  Angmering , West Sussex and
  Angmering , West Sussex and   Ouistreham , Calvados
  Ouistreham , Calvados  Anstruther , Fife and
  Anstruther , Fife and   Bapaume , Pas-de-Calais
  Bapaume , Pas-de-Calais  Aylesbury , Buckinghamshire and
  Aylesbury , Buckinghamshire and   Bourg-en-Bresse , Ain
  Bourg-en-Bresse , Ain  Aylsham , Norfolk and
  Aylsham , Norfolk and   La Chaussée-Saint-Victor , Loir-et-Cher
  La Chaussée-Saint-Victor , Loir-et-Cher  Barnet , London and
  Barnet , London and   Le Raincy , Seine-Saint-Denis
  Le Raincy , Seine-Saint-Denis  Barrow upon Soar , Leicestershire and
  Barrow upon Soar , Leicestershire and   Marans , Charente-Maritime
  Marans , Charente-Maritime  Basildon , Essex and
  Basildon , Essex and   Meaux , Seine-et-Marne
  Meaux , Seine-et-Marne  Basingstoke , Hampshire and
  Basingstoke , Hampshire and   Alençon , Orne
  Alençon , Orne  Bath , Somerset and
  Bath , Somerset and   Aix-en-Provence , Bouches-du-Rhône
  Aix-en-Provence , Bouches-du-Rhône  Beaminster , Dorset and
  Beaminster , Dorset and   Saint-James , Manche
  Saint-James , Manche  Beccles , Suffolk and
  Beccles , Suffolk and   Petit-Couronne , Seine-Maritime
  Petit-Couronne , Seine-Maritime  Birmingham , West Midlands and
  Birmingham , West Midlands and   Lyon , Metropolitan Lyon
  Lyon , Metropolitan Lyon  Blandford Forum , Dorset and
  Blandford Forum , Dorset and   Mortain , Manche
  Mortain , Manche  Bolton , Greater Manchester and
  Bolton , Greater Manchester and   Le Mans , Sarthe
  Le Mans , Sarthe  Bourne , Lincolnshire and
  Bourne , Lincolnshire and   Doudeville , Seine-Maritime
  Doudeville , Seine-Maritime  Bridport , Dorset and
  Bridport , Dorset and   Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue , Manche
  Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue , Manche  Bristol , City of Bristol and
  Bristol , City of Bristol and   Bordeaux , Gironde
  Bordeaux , Gironde  Bury , Greater Manchester and
  Bury , Greater Manchester and   Angoulême , Charente
  Angoulême , Charente  Camberley , Surrey and
  Camberley , Surrey and   Sucy-en-Brie , Val-de-Marne
  Sucy-en-Brie , Val-de-Marne  Canterbury , Kent and
  Canterbury , Kent and   Reims , Marne
  Reims , Marne  Cardiff  and
  Cardiff  and   Nantes , Loire-Atlantique
  Nantes , Loire-Atlantique  Chelmsford , Essex and
  Chelmsford , Essex and   Annonay , Ardèche
  Annonay , Ardèche  Cheltenham , Gloucestershire and
  Cheltenham , Gloucestershire and   Annecy , Haute-Savoie
  Annecy , Haute-Savoie  Chester , Cheshire and
  Chester , Cheshire and   Sens , Yonne
  Sens , Yonne  Chichester , West Sussex and
  Chichester , West Sussex and   Chartres , Eure-et-Loir
  Chartres , Eure-et-Loir  Chippenham , Wiltshire and
  Chippenham , Wiltshire and   La Flèche , Sarthe
  La Flèche , Sarthe  Chipping Ongar , Essex and
  Chipping Ongar , Essex and   Cerizay , Deux-Sèvres
  Cerizay , Deux-Sèvres  Christchurch, Dorset and
  Christchurch, Dorset and   Saint-Lô , Manche
  Saint-Lô , Manche  Cockermouth , Cumbria and
  Cockermouth , Cumbria and   Marvejols , Lozère
  Marvejols , Lozère  Coleraine  and
  Coleraine  and   La Roche Sur Yon , Pays de ka Loire
  La Roche Sur Yon , Pays de ka Loire  Colchester , Essex and
  Colchester , Essex and   Avignon , Vaucluse
  Avignon , Vaucluse  Congleton , Cheshire and
  Congleton , Cheshire and   Trappes , Yvelines
  Trappes , Yvelines  Cowbridge , Vale of Glamorgan and
  Cowbridge , Vale of Glamorgan and   Clisson , Pays de la Loire
  Clisson , Pays de la Loire  Cowes , Isle of Wight and
  Cowes , Isle of Wight and   Deauville , Calvados
  Deauville , Calvados  Crewe , Cheshire and
  Crewe , Cheshire and   Mâcon , Saône-et-Loire
  Mâcon , Saône-et-Loire  Devizes , Wiltshire and
  Devizes , Wiltshire and   Mayenne , Pays de la Loire  [83]
  Mayenne , Pays de la Loire  [83]  Dorchester , Dorset and
  Dorchester , Dorset and   Bayeux , Calvados
  Bayeux , Calvados  Dover , Kent and
  Dover , Kent and   Calais , Pas-de-Calais
  Calais , Pas-de-Calais  Droylsden , Tameside and
  Droylsden , Tameside and   Villemomble , Seine-Saint-Denis
  Villemomble , Seine-Saint-Denis  Dukinfield , Cheshire and
  Dukinfield , Cheshire and   Champagnole , Jura
  Champagnole , Jura  Dundee  and
  Dundee  and   Orléans , Loiret
  Orléans , Loiret  Ealing , London and
  Ealing , London and   Marcq-en-Barœul , Nord
  Marcq-en-Barœul , Nord  East Preston , West Sussex and
  East Preston , West Sussex and   Brou , Eure-et-Loir
  Brou , Eure-et-Loir  Edinburgh  and
  Edinburgh  and   Nice , Alpes-Maritimes
  Nice , Alpes-Maritimes  Elmbridge , Surrey and
  Elmbridge , Surrey and   Rueil-Malmaison , Hauts-de-Seine
  Rueil-Malmaison , Hauts-de-Seine  Epsom , Surrey and
  Epsom , Surrey and   Chantilly , Oise
  Chantilly , Oise  Exeter , Devon and
  Exeter , Devon and   Rennes , Ille-et-Vilaine
  Rennes , Ille-et-Vilaine  Exmouth , Devon and
  Exmouth , Devon and   Dinan , Côtes-d'Armor
  Dinan , Côtes-d'Armor  Fareham , Hampshire, and
  Fareham , Hampshire, and   Vannes , Morbihan
  Vannes , Morbihan  Ferndown , Dorset and
  Ferndown , Dorset and   Segré , Maine-et-Loire
  Segré , Maine-et-Loire  Farnborough , Hampshire and
  Farnborough , Hampshire and   Meudon , Hauts-de-Seine
  Meudon , Hauts-de-Seine  Folkestone , Kent and
  Folkestone , Kent and   Boulogne-sur-Mer , Pas-de-Calais
  Boulogne-sur-Mer , Pas-de-Calais  Glasgow  and
  Glasgow  and   Marseille , Bouches-du-Rhône
  Marseille , Bouches-du-Rhône  Gloucester , Gloucestershire and
  Gloucester , Gloucestershire and   Metz , Moselle
  Metz , Moselle  Godalming , Surrey and
  Godalming , Surrey and   Joigny , Yonne
  Joigny , Yonne  Hailsham , East Sussex and
  Hailsham , East Sussex and   Gournay-en-Bray , Seine-Maritime
  Gournay-en-Bray , Seine-Maritime  Hammersmith and Fulham , London and
  Hammersmith and Fulham , London and   Boulogne-Billancourt , Hauts-de-Seine
  Boulogne-Billancourt , Hauts-de-Seine  Harrogate , Yorkshire and
  Harrogate , Yorkshire and   Luchon , Haute-Garonne
  Luchon , Haute-Garonne  Harrold , Bedfordshire and
  Harrold , Bedfordshire and   Sainte-Pazanne , Loire-Atlantique
  Sainte-Pazanne , Loire-Atlantique  Harrow , London and
  Harrow , London and   Douai , Nord
  Douai , Nord  Hastings , East Sussex and
  Hastings , East Sussex and   Béthune , Pas-de-Calais
  Béthune , Pas-de-Calais  Havering , London and
  Havering , London and   Hesdin , Pas-de-Calais
  Hesdin , Pas-de-Calais  Hereford , Herefordshire and
  Hereford , Herefordshire and   Vierzon , Cher
  Vierzon , Cher  Herne Bay , Kent and
  Herne Bay , Kent and   Wimereux , Pas-de-Calais
  Wimereux , Pas-de-Calais  Hillingdon , London and
  Hillingdon , London and   Mantes-la-Jolie , Yvelines
  Mantes-la-Jolie , Yvelines  Hitchin , Hertfordshire and
  Hitchin , Hertfordshire and   Nuits-Saint-Georges , Côte-d'Or
  Nuits-Saint-Georges , Côte-d'Or  Horsham , West Sussex and
  Horsham , West Sussex and   Saint-Maixent-l'Ecole , Deux-Sèvres
  Saint-Maixent-l'Ecole , Deux-Sèvres  Hounslow , London and
  Hounslow , London and   Issy-les-Moulineaux , Hauts-de-Seine
  Issy-les-Moulineaux , Hauts-de-Seine  Inverness  and
  Inverness  and   Saint-Valery-en-Caux , Seine-Maritime
  Saint-Valery-en-Caux , Seine-Maritime  Ipswich , Suffolk and
  Ipswich , Suffolk and   Arras , Pas-de-Calais
  Arras , Pas-de-Calais  Kensington and Chelsea , London and
  Kensington and Chelsea , London and   Cannes , Alpes-Maritimes
  Cannes , Alpes-Maritimes  Leeds , Yorkshire and
  Leeds , Yorkshire and   Lille , Nord
  Lille , Nord  Leicester  and
  Leicester  and   Strasbourg , Bas-Rhin
  Strasbourg , Bas-Rhin  Lewisham , London and
  Lewisham , London and   Antony , Hauts-de-Seine
  Antony , Hauts-de-Seine  Lichfield , Staffordshire and
  Lichfield , Staffordshire and   Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon , Lyon Metropolis
  Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon , Lyon Metropolis  Littlehampton , West Sussex and
  Littlehampton , West Sussex and   Chennevières-sur-Marne , Val-de-Marne
  Chennevières-sur-Marne , Val-de-Marne  Llandeilo , Carmarthenshire and
  Llandeilo , Carmarthenshire and   Le Conquet , Finistère
  Le Conquet , Finistère  Llanelli , Carmarthenshire and
  Llanelli , Carmarthenshire and   Agen , Lot-et-Garonne
  Agen , Lot-et-Garonne  London  and
  London  and   Paris  (this is not a twinning, since Paris is twinned only with Rome, but they are partner cities)
  Paris  (this is not a twinning, since Paris is twinned only with Rome, but they are partner cities) Loughborough , Leicestershire and
  Loughborough , Leicestershire and   Épinal , Vosges
  Épinal , Vosges  Maidenhead , Berkshire and
  Maidenhead , Berkshire and   Saint-Cloud , Hauts-de-Seine
  Saint-Cloud , Hauts-de-Seine  Maidstone , Kent and
  Maidstone , Kent and   Beauvais , Oise
  Beauvais , Oise  Merthyr Tydfil , Merthyr Tydfil and
  Merthyr Tydfil , Merthyr Tydfil and   Clichy , Hauts-de-Seine
  Clichy , Hauts-de-Seine  Middlesbrough , Yorkshire and
  Middlesbrough , Yorkshire and   Dunkirk , Nord
  Dunkirk , Nord  Newcastle upon Tyne  and
  Newcastle upon Tyne  and   Nancy , Meurthe-et-Moselle
  Nancy , Meurthe-et-Moselle  Newhaven , East Sussex and
  Newhaven , East Sussex and   La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin , Loiret
  La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin , Loiret  Northampton , Northamptonshire and
  Northampton , Northamptonshire and   Poitiers , Vienne
  Poitiers , Vienne  Norwich , Norfolk and
  Norwich , Norfolk and   Rouen , Seine-Maritime
  Rouen , Seine-Maritime  Oxford , Oxfordshire and
  Oxford , Oxfordshire and   Grenoble , Isère
  Grenoble , Isère  Perth  and
  Perth  and   Cognac , Charente
  Cognac , Charente  Plymouth , Devon and
  Plymouth , Devon and   Brest , Finistère
  Brest , Finistère  Portsmouth , Hampshire and
  Portsmouth , Hampshire and   Caen , Calvados
  Caen , Calvados  Poole , Dorset and
  Poole , Dorset and   Cherbourg-Octeville , Manche
  Cherbourg-Octeville , Manche  Preston , Lancashire and
  Preston , Lancashire and   Nîmes , Gard
  Nîmes , Gard  Ramsgate , Kent and
  Ramsgate , Kent and   Conflans-Sainte-Honorine , Yvelines
  Conflans-Sainte-Honorine , Yvelines  Reigate , Surrey and
  Reigate , Surrey and   Brunoy , Essonne
  Brunoy , Essonne  Richmond upon Thames , London and
  Richmond upon Thames , London and   Fontainebleau , Seine-et-Marne
  Fontainebleau , Seine-et-Marne  Rochdale , Greater Manchester and
  Rochdale , Greater Manchester and   Tourcoing , Nord
  Tourcoing , Nord  Rotherham , Yorkshire and
  Rotherham , Yorkshire and   Saint-Quentin , Aisne
  Saint-Quentin , Aisne  Royston , Hertfordshire and
  Royston , Hertfordshire and   La Loupe , Eure-et-Loir
  La Loupe , Eure-et-Loir  Borough of Runnymede , Surrey and
  Borough of Runnymede , Surrey and   Joinville-le-Pont , Val-de-Marne
  Joinville-le-Pont , Val-de-Marne  Salford , Greater Manchester and
  Salford , Greater Manchester and   Clermont-Ferrand , Puy-de-Dôme
  Clermont-Ferrand , Puy-de-Dôme  Salisbury , Wiltshire and
  Salisbury , Wiltshire and   Saintes , Charente-Maritime
  Saintes , Charente-Maritime  Sawbridgeworth , Hertfordshire and
  Sawbridgeworth , Hertfordshire and   Bry-sur-Marne , Val-de-Marne
  Bry-sur-Marne , Val-de-Marne  Selby , Yorkshire and
  Selby , Yorkshire and   Carentan , Manche
  Carentan , Manche  Sherborne , Dorset and
  Sherborne , Dorset and   Granville, Manche
  Granville, Manche  City of Southampton , Hampshire and
  City of Southampton , Hampshire and   Le Havre , Seine-Maritime
  Le Havre , Seine-Maritime  Southborough , Kent and
  Southborough , Kent and   Lambersart , Nord
  Lambersart , Nord  Spelthorne , Surrey and
  Spelthorne , Surrey and   Melun , Seine-et-Marne
  Melun , Seine-et-Marne  St Albans , Hertfordshire and
  St Albans , Hertfordshire and   Nevers , Nièvre
  Nevers , Nièvre  Stalybridge , Tameside and
  Stalybridge , Tameside and   Armentières , Nord
  Armentières , Nord  Stevenage , Hertfordshire and
  Stevenage , Hertfordshire and   Autun , Saône-et-Loire
  Autun , Saône-et-Loire  Stockport , Greater Manchester and
  Stockport , Greater Manchester and   Béziers , Hérault
  Béziers , Hérault  Sturminster Newton , Dorset and
  Sturminster Newton , Dorset and   Montebourg , Manche
  Montebourg , Manche  Sunderland , Tyne & Wear and
  Sunderland , Tyne & Wear and   Saint-Nazaire , Loire-Atlantique
  Saint-Nazaire , Loire-Atlantique  Sutton , London and
  Sutton , London and   Gagny , Seine-Saint-Denis
  Gagny , Seine-Saint-Denis  Taunton , Somerset and
  Taunton , Somerset and   Lisieux , Calvados
  Lisieux , Calvados  Truro , Cornwall and
  Truro , Cornwall and   Morlaix , Finistère
  Morlaix , Finistère  Vale of White Horse , Oxfordshire and
  Vale of White Horse , Oxfordshire and   Colmar , Haut-Rhin
  Colmar , Haut-Rhin  Verwood , Dorset and
  Verwood , Dorset and   Champtoceaux , Maine-et-Loire
  Champtoceaux , Maine-et-Loire  Waltham Forest , London and
  Waltham Forest , London and   Saint-Mandé , Val-de-Marne
  Saint-Mandé , Val-de-Marne  Ware , Hertfordshire and
  Ware , Hertfordshire and   Cormeilles-en-Parisis , Val d'Oise
  Cormeilles-en-Parisis , Val d'Oise  Wareham, Dorset and
  Wareham, Dorset and   Conches-en-Ouche , Eure
  Conches-en-Ouche , Eure  Watford , Hertfordshire and
  Watford , Hertfordshire and   Nanterre , Hauts-de-Seine
  Nanterre , Hauts-de-Seine  Wellington , Shropshire and
  Wellington , Shropshire and   Châtenay-Malabry , Hauts-de-Seine
  Châtenay-Malabry , Hauts-de-Seine  Wembury , Devonshire and
  Wembury , Devonshire and   Locmaria-Plouzané , Finistère
  Locmaria-Plouzané , Finistère  Wetherby , Yorkshire and
  Wetherby , Yorkshire and   Privas , Ardèche
  Privas , Ardèche  Weymouth and Portland , Dorset and
  Weymouth and Portland , Dorset and   Louviers , Eure
  Louviers , Eure  Whitstable , Kent and
  Whitstable , Kent and   Dainville , Pas-de-Calais
  Dainville , Pas-de-Calais  Wigan , Greater Manchester and
  Wigan , Greater Manchester and   Angers , Maine-et-Loire
  Angers , Maine-et-Loire  Wimborne Minster , Dorset and
  Wimborne Minster , Dorset and   Valognes , Manche
  Valognes , Manche  Winchester , Hampshire and
  Winchester , Hampshire and   Laon , Aisne
  Laon , Aisne  Windsor , Berkshire and
  Windsor , Berkshire and   Neuilly-sur-Seine , Hauts-de-Seine
  Neuilly-sur-Seine , Hauts-de-Seine  Metropolitan Borough of Wirral , Merseyside and
  Metropolitan Borough of Wirral , Merseyside and   Lorient , Morbihan and  Gennevilliers , Hauts-de-Seine
  Lorient , Morbihan and  Gennevilliers , Hauts-de-Seine  Woking , Surrey and
  Woking , Surrey and   Le Plessis-Robinson , Hauts-de-Seine
  Le Plessis-Robinson , Hauts-de-Seine  York , Yorkshire and
  York , Yorkshire and   Dijon , Côte-d'Or
  Dijon , Côte-d'Or There are lists of twinnings (including those to towns in other countries) at List of twin towns and sister cities in France and at List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom.
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