Before World War Two, approximately fifty Latvians (mainly Embassy staff and journalists) lived in London. This number increased during World War Two with the arrival of Latvian sailors. As a result the Embassy proposed the creation of an organisation that would act as a social focus for Latvian citizens. Thus the Society of Latvians in Great Britain was founded on 18 November 1941, at a ceremony following the celebration of Latvia's national day. The Society's statutes were established and a committee elected to manage its affairs. The first chairman was Jūlijs Venters.

During the first year of operation the Society gained 60 members and six associate members. It organised monthly meetings to discuss current issues, excursions around London and, later, further afield. It sought funds for the upkeep of Latvian sailors’ graves and it became a tradition to celebrate Christmas or New Year together at a chosen time, as well as mark the traditional midsummer (St John's Day) festivities. At the first meeting, members were asked to scan British newspapers and send in cuttings relating to Latvia, to create a bulletin aimed at the English speaking population. On 3 March 1942, a further publication was proposed, this time a monthly newsletter (Londonas Avīze - the London Newspaper) aimed at Latvian speakers. The first editor was Oļģerts Rozītis.

With the influx of tens of thousands of Latvian refugees after the World War Two, the Society’s membership increased significantly. A mixed choir was quickly established, run by the former Latvian Opera singer Alma Skudra. A commemoration of the mass deportation from Latvia by the Soviet occupiers took place on 14 June 1947 and became a regular event thereafter. In 1947, the “London Newspaper’s” new editor Jānis Andrups introduced new production technology and the newspaper was then published weekly. At this time, branches of the Society were established in regions of Britain where there were larger Latvian communities, and more choirs, dance and theatre groups as well as sports clubs sprang up. The Society also acted as publisher and distributor of Latvian books and records.

On the cultural level, the composer Alberts Jērums was tasked to specifically organise musical concerts with Latvian musicians in Germany and Sweden, and generally to encourage exhibitions of Latvian artists and craftspeople. The 1948 general meeting saw an attendance of 70 delegates representing 1189 members. Particular mention must be made of the Society’s Bolton branch, which put on a theatre performance, the first under the Society’s wing; also, the Bradford branch's choir began regular performances. The Society initiated a legal and employment information service supporting people with work issues, advising on wills and inheritances and providing translation services when dealing with British institutions. A community adult education programme was established in 1950, to give young adults the opportunity of completing their education, and to make grants funded by donations and profits from social events.

In 1953, the Society took over the publication of the literary magazine “Ceļa Zīmes” (Road Signs), previously published by the poet Andrejs Eglītis in Sweden. In all, 53 issues were published and it found its way into occupied Latvia where the Soviet authorities viewed it as a dangerous and subversive magazine.

In 1956, the Society, together with the Bradford branch of the Latvian Catholic Association and the sports group “Trimda” bought a property in Bradford, as hiring premises for functions was too expensive; however, this was sold in 1960 as the number and size of functions had outgrown the space.

Looking back, the Society’s most influential period was in the 1950s, subsequently, the Latvian Welfare Fund (DVF), founded in 1947, attracted a greater membership, and thus had more funding available and provided more social activities. The two organisations joined forces to coordinate activities and organise some events jointly, specifically those on 11 and 18 November (commemorating Latvia’s fallen soldiers and the National Day, respectively). The Latvian National Council also took over responsibility for organising political-social and cultural activities.

With time the membership of the Society fell significantly, although the Bradford branch continued organising theatre and choir concerts, and the Bolton branch continued with an active theatre programme. The final general meeting took place on 28 April 1974, when the organisation’s future was discussed, but there was no mention made of winding up the organisation and the last events organised by the Society took place in 1975.

The Society's lasting legacy, however, is that it was the first to support the cohesion of Latvian communities, promote cultural activities and publish a regular newspaper and literary magazines.