Sri Lankan Temples in the UK: How to Find Your Nearest Temple Before Your Next Vesak

Founded in 1926 by Anagārika Dharmapāla, the London Buddhist Vihara was the first Buddhist monastery established outside Asia. A century later, the UK is home to a network of Sri Lankan temples, viharas and Buddhist centres serving communities across the country. The Vihara marked its centenary in 2026, renewing interest in Britain’s Sri Lankan Buddhist heritage and the role these institutions play in community life.

A vihara is a Buddhist monastery or temple. In the UK, many viharas welcome not only Sri Lankan Buddhists but also visitors interested in learning about Buddhist teachings and practice. This guide offers a starting point for finding a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple near you. It is not a complete directory, and details can change, so check with each centre before travelling.

What a Sri Lankan temple offers

Temple life extends beyond worship. Many viharas hold daily or regular observances, including puja: a devotional practice that may involve chanting, offerings and reflection. Programmes can also include Dhamma sermons, meditation sessions and observances on Poya, the full-moon day important in the Buddhist calendar.

Dhamma refers to the Buddha’s teachings and the principles of Buddhist practice. A bhikkhu is a Buddhist monk. Some temples have a Dhamma school where children learn about Buddhism and, depending on the school, Sinhala or Tamil.

Another important tradition is dana, the practice of giving. This may include offering food or other necessities to monks and supporting the temple. Viharas also provide a place for community gatherings and ceremonies, including weddings, funerals, almsgivings, New Year and Vesak celebrations.

For many Sri Lankan families, the temple is where faith, language and culture are shared with the next generation in the UK. The activities and languages offered vary between centres, so it is worth checking the programme directly.

Sri Lankan Buddhist temples and centres by region

The names and locations below are drawn from temple websites and community listings. Use them as a starting point, then confirm the current address, opening times and events with the temple. Some centres operate from premises used for scheduled programmes, so they may not be open to visitors every day.

London and the South East

London and the surrounding area have the largest concentration of Sri Lankan Buddhist centres in this guide.

• London Buddhist Vihara: Chiswick, west London. The historic centre was founded in 1926 and offers Dhamma teaching, meditation, religious observances, community activities and a Dhamma school. Its address is The Avenue, Chiswick, London W4 1UD. Check its official website for current visitor information and events.
• Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre (Kingsbury Vihara): Kingsbury, north-west London. A Sri Lankan Buddhist centre at 309–311 Kingsbury Road, London NW9 9PE. Programme details are available through its community page.
• East London Buddhist Cultural Centre (Lumbini Vihara): Plaistow. Listed at 33 Maybury Road, London E13 8RZ. See the centre’s website for current information.
• Sri Sambodhi Meditation Centre: Plaistow. Listed at 84 Dacre Road, London E13 0PR. Check the centre website before visiting.
• East London Redbridge Buddhist Vihara: Ilford. Listed at 9 Balfour Road, Ilford IG1 4HP. The vihara website is a place to check for updates.
• Athula Dassana International Buddhist Temple: Feltham. Also known as the Heathrow Vihara, it is listed at 114 Hounslow Road, Feltham TW13 6QB. Programme information is available through its Facebook page.
• Abhayarama Vidarshana Meditation Centre: Enfield. Listed at 16A Bycullah Avenue, Enfield EN2 8DN. Its Facebook page provides a contact route.
• Thames Buddhist Vihara: Selsdon, Surrey. Listed at Memorial Hall, Dulverton Road, Selsdon CR2 8PJ. See the vihara website.
• Oxford Buddhist Vihara: Oxford. Listed at 356–358 Abingdon Road, Oxford OX1 4TQ. Contact the centre before travelling to confirm its programme.

London also has Hindu temples that serve Sri Lankan Tamil communities, including Highgate Hill Murugan Temple and London Sri Murugan Temple. These are kovils, Hindu places of worship, not Buddhist viharas. The distinction matters: both are important parts of Sri Lankan community life, but their religious traditions and observances differ.

The Midlands

• Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara: Hockley, Birmingham. Listed at 216 New John Street West, Birmingham B19 3UA.
• Jethavana Buddhist Vihara: Handsworth, Birmingham. Listed at 13 Booth Street, Birmingham B21 0NG.
• Leicester Buddhist Vihara (East Midlands Buddhist Association): Leicester. Listed at 9 Una Avenue, Leicester LE3 2GS.
• Dharmashoka Buddhist Vihara: Leicester. Listed at 91 Queniborough Road, Leicester LE4 6GX.
• Shanthi Buddhist Vihara: Nottingham. Listed at 523 Nuthall Road, Nottingham NG8 5DG. Check its website for updates.
• Stoke-on-Trent Buddhist Vihara: Newstead. Listed at 27 Ufton Close, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 3NQ. See the vihara website.

The North of England

• Ketumati Buddhist Vihara: Brooklands, Manchester. Serving Sri Lankan Buddhists in Greater Manchester and the North West, Ketumati offers Dhamma sermons, meditation, and classes in Buddhism and Sinhala for children. Its address is 21 Moor Road, Brooklands, Manchester M23 9BQ. Check the vihara’s website for details.
• Leeds Buddhist Vihara: Seacroft, Leeds. Listed at 47A South Parkway, Leeds LS14 6ZD. Its website provides programme information.
• Sri Sambuddha Viharaya: Liverpool. A Theravada Buddhist temple listed at 120 Carr Lane East, Liverpool L11 4SL. See the temple website.
• Mahamevnawa International Meditation Centre: Widnes. A branch of the wider meditation-centre network, listed at 10 Coronation Drive, Widnes WA8 8AY. Check the centre’s website for current arrangements.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara is in Glasgow, at 1 Caldercuilt Road, Glasgow G20 0AD. Its official website describes it as Scotland’s first Sri Lankan Theravada vihara and provides details of its programmes.

Wales Buddhist Vihara serves Buddhist communities in Wales with Dhamma sermons, meditation and Sunday Dhamma school. Its website has conflicting address information across pages, so contact the vihara directly to confirm where a programme is being held before setting out.

We could not verify a permanent Sri Lankan Buddhist vihara in Northern Ireland through the sources checked for this guide. Local Buddhist groups or visiting programmes may still be available; Sri Lankan associations and community listings can be useful places to ask.

How to find a temple near you

Search by town or postcode, then cross-check the result with the temple’s own website or social media. Sri Lankan community listings, local associations and university Sri Lankan or Buddhist student societies may also know about nearby centres and events.

Opening times and programmes can change, and some temples open to visitors only for scheduled activities. Contact the temple in advance if you are arranging a group visit, planning a dana offering or bringing children to Dhamma school. Check the programme before travelling, particularly on public holidays or festival days.

What to expect on a first visit

Choose clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Visitors are generally expected to remove shoes and hats before entering the shrine room. During observances, keep phones switched off or silent and speak quietly. You may be able to sit on the floor or use a chair; ask if you need one.

Photography rules vary, so ask before taking pictures, particularly inside the shrine room or during a ceremony. Flowers, fruit or a small donation can be offered if you wish, but visitors are not expected to bring anything. These are expressions of respect and generosity, not an entry requirement. People of any background are generally welcome when they follow the temple’s guidance.

Vesak in the UK

Vesak is the Buddhist festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. In the UK, temples and community associations may mark it with lanterns, devotional songs known as bakthi gee, sermons, meditation and dansala. A community food stall where refreshments are offered freely. Almsgiving and other acts of generosity are also part of many local programmes.

Vesak dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year. Check your local temple’s events page and Sri Lankan community announcements for the date and details of celebrations near you.

Help us keep this guide useful

The London Buddhist Vihara’s centenary is an opportunity to recognise a century of Sri Lankan Buddhist heritage in Britain and the many centres that continue to support communities today. Before visiting, please check the temple’s own programme and confirm practical details directly.

If your local Sri Lankan temple or Buddhist centre is not listed, readers are invited to send eLanka its name, location and website or social media page so we can consider adding it to this guide.

Sources and further information

• London Buddhist Vihara: official website, history and programme information
• London Buddhist Vihara, visit information
• UK Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple Contact Details: community directory
• Ketumati Buddhist Vihara: activities and contact details
• Wales Buddhist Vihara: programmes and contact details
• Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara: programmes and contact details
• London Buddhist Vihara centenary: High Commission of Sri Lanka in the UK

 

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