Originally the Anglo-Belarusian Society (Belarusian: Англа-беларускае таварыства) was a part of the Association of Belarusians in Great Britain. Because of the growing interest of the British public in Belarus and Belarusians, it was established as a separate organisation on 16 March 1954. The society's object is diffusion, interchange and publication of knowledge relating to the Belarusian people, their land, history and culture.
The first president of the Anglo-Belarusian Society was William David Ormsby-Gore. A long-serving President of the Society was Frances Ward (Lady Phipps), wife of Eric Phipps. Another woman who was actively involved in Anglo-Belarusian Society was Katharine Macmillan, a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party in 1968. She served first as the organisation's Vice President and then President.
Despite its "Anglo-" label, the society was not intended to exclude Scotland, Wales and other parts of the UK. Among the early cultural activities of the society was the publication of a regular pamphlet on Belarus and the organisation of concerts of Belarusian church chants, folk songs and dances in Westminster Cathedral Hall in 1950s.
Since 1965 the society has been publishing the Journal of Belarusian Studies.