Directory
Centres, monasteries & groups
Viharas, dojos, gompas and sitting groups across the UK.
From official websiteAmaravati Buddhist Monastery
A monastery in the Thai Forest tradition of Ajahn Chah, home to a community of monks and nuns. It is open to visitors for daily pujas, Saturday meditation workshops, Sunday talks with Q&A, and retreats.
From official websiteBirmingham Buddhist Centre
A Triratna centre in Moseley with Thursday lunchtime meditation, a Thursday evening drop-in introductory class, Dharma Night and a silent Saturday morning sit.
Bloomsbury Insight Meditation
Non-sectarian insight meditation evenings, beginners' courses and quiet days in the heart of London.
From official websiteBodhicharya Kent
A local Bodhicharya sangha in Kent following the teachings of Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, who has visited every year since 2015 to give public talks to the local community. It holds regular meditation and study meetings.
From official websiteBodhicharya UK Centre
The UK centre of Bodhicharya, the international network founded by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche. It coordinates the UK groups in Bosham, Kent, London, Oxford and Somerset and hosts courses such as the year-long Lojong training 'Enlightened Courage'.
From official websiteBrighton Buddhist Centre
A Triratna centre in the North Laine, open to visitors through the day, with introductory meditation courses, mindful self-compassion, day retreats and evening events.
From official websiteBristol Buddhist Centre
Bristol's Triratna centre on Gloucester Road. It offers beginners' meditation classes, lunchtime drop-ins, mindfulness yoga, Eight Step Recovery, Sangha Night and courses. Many drop-ins are by donation.
Bristol Zen Dojo
Rinzai and Soto practitioners sitting together in a small, welcoming dojo.
From official websiteBuddhist Community Centre UK (BCCUK)
A volunteer-run Buddhist community centre founded in 2007 to serve the growing Nepalese and Himalayan Buddhist community in the south-east. It was consecrated by Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche and inaugurated by H.H. the Dalai Lama in 2015. It offers meditation, Dhamma talks, rituals, festivals and cultural learning, with a branch in Uxbridge.
From official websiteCambridge Buddhist Centre
Cambridge's Triratna centre, offering free lunchtime meditations, Dharma Night for regulars, courses, sangha days and retreats at Vajrasana in Suffolk.
Camden Zen Circle
Soto-inspired zazen group with early-morning sits, sesshin and koan study evenings.
From official websiteChan Khong Zen Monastery (Lea Bridge Road)
A Vietnamese Zen (Thiền) monastery on Lea Bridge Road, working to create a place of learning and unity for Buddhists. It holds a weekly Sunday retreat day and an early Wednesday meditation. Contact: info@chankhong.co.uk.
Dartmoor Insight Retreat House
A residential retreat house offering silent insight retreats of 2 to 10 days.
From official websiteDechen London (Sakya Thinley Namgyal Ling)
A Tibetan Buddhist temple in Notting Hill in the Dechen community of Lama Jampa Thaye, drawing on the Sakya tradition. It offers weekly Buddhism and meditation classes, a Sunday Chenrezik puja open to all, monthly study groups and Green Tara pujas.
From official websiteDzogchen Beara
A Tibetan Buddhist retreat centre on the Beara peninsula's Atlantic cliffs in West Cork, offering retreats, a spiritual care centre and visitor stays. It is in the Republic of Ireland, not the UK.
Edinburgh Pure Land Fellowship
Nembutsu practice, Shin Buddhist study and a warm, devotional community.
From official websiteGomde Scotland
A woodland hermitage and retreat centre in 50 acres of Highland woodland, founded by Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche in 2008. It offers cabin retreats, group events, day programmes and volunteering. Closed over winter; it reopens in spring 2027.
From official websiteGomde UK
A Tibetan Buddhist retreat and study centre in the Rangjung Yeshe lineage of Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, offering retreats, courses and stays in South Yorkshire.
Hampstead Forest Sangha
A lay community practising in the Thai Forest tradition with weekly sittings and visits from monastics.
From official websiteHeruka Kadampa Meditation Centre
The New Kadampa Tradition's main London centre, part of Kadampa Buddhism UK. It runs drop-in meditation classes in Golders Green, Muswell Hill, New Barnet, Watford and central London (Meditate in Piccadilly), plus Saturday day courses and retreats.
From official websiteHoly Isle Centre for World Peace and Health
A Samye Ling project on a small island off Arran, offering retreats and courses open to people of all faiths in a protected natural setting. It is reached by a short ferry from Lamlash.
Islington Plum Village Sangha
Practising mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh: sitting, walking, tea and Dharma sharing.
From official websiteJamyang London Buddhist Centre
A Tibetan Buddhist centre in the Gelug tradition, housed in a former courthouse in Kennington. Resident teacher Geshe Tenzin Namdak leads in-depth study programmes, and the centre also offers secular meditation drop-ins, pujas, Sunday Dharma talks and community groups.
From official websiteKagyu Samye Dzong London
A Tibetan Buddhist meditation centre in the former Bermondsey library, affiliated with Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland. It is guided by Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, and Lama Gelongma Zangmo is the Resident Lama. It aims to make Buddhist teachings accessible to all, to foster wisdom and compassion, and to benefit the wider community.
From official websiteKagyu Samye Dzong Yorkshire
A Samye Ling affiliated centre in Scarborough offering meditation classes, Buddhist teachings and pujas for the Yorkshire coast.
From official websiteKagyu Samye Ling Monastery & Tibetan Centre
Founded in 1967, Samye Ling was the first Tibetan Buddhist centre in the West. It is a large monastery and retreat centre in the Scottish Borders hills, offering courses, retreats, daily pujas and visitor stays. It is the mother centre of the Samye Dzong network.
Kensington Gelug Study Centre
Study and practice of Lamrim, Lojong and Tibetan philosophy with resident and visiting geshes.
From official websiteLondon Buddhist Centre
A Triratna Buddhist centre in Bethnal Green offering free drop-in meditation and Buddhism classes every weekday, plus courses (in person and online), retreats, yoga, and groups for Sub30s, People of Colour, LGBTQIA+ people, families and recovery. Home of the Mandala Café.
From official websiteLondon Shambhala Meditation Centre
Part of the international Shambhala community. It offers weekly open meditation, with drop-in sitting downstairs and instruction for newcomers upstairs, plus courses and programmes.
From official websiteManchester Buddhist Centre
A Triratna centre in a converted warehouse in the Northern Quarter. It runs weekday lunchtime meditations, the Saturday 'Tools for Living' introduction, Eight Step Recovery and courses.
Manchester Nyingma Sangha
A Nyingma practice group offering Dzogchen introductions, Tara practice and retreats.
From official websiteManjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre
The mother centre of the New Kadampa Tradition, in a historic priory on the edge of the Lake District. It hosts residential retreats, the Kadampa festivals and a visitor centre with a World Peace Temple. Other UK Kadampa centres are listed at kadampa.org.
From official websitePadmaloka Buddhist Retreat Centre
A Triratna retreat centre for men in the Norfolk Broads, welcoming newcomers through to long-term practitioners. It runs week-long and weekend retreats, ordination training and Order retreats.
From official websitePalyul Centre UK
A Nyingma centre in the Palyul lineage. It bought this former timber yard in November 2025 and is developing it into a home for weekly meditation, practice and yoga. Check the website or email info@palyul.uk for the current schedule.
From official websitePundarika UK
The home of Tsoknyi Rinpoche's UK sangha, offering online teachings and residential retreats in the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma lineages, including the Fully Being path.
From official websiteRigpa London Centre
Rigpa's UK national centre on Caledonian Road: a lively, varied community open to everyone, Buddhist or not. Rigpa hosts visiting Tibetan teachers, runs meditation classes and courses for all levels, and offers a calm space for individual or group practice. Many events are also booked through Rigpa UK on Eventbrite.
From official websiteRigpa South Downs Lewes
Part of Rigpa UK, Rigpa South Downs has offered Buddhist meditation courses, events and retreats in Lewes and the surrounding area for over 30 years.
From official websiteSakya Thinley Rinchen Ling (Bristol)
Bristol's Sakya centre, part of the Dechen community. It runs Buddhist meditation classes open to anyone, study groups, Vajrayana pujas, meditation days and retreats, and hosts teachings by visiting lamas including Lama Jampa Thaye.
From official websiteTergar Brighton & Hove Practice Group
A weekly online group on Tuesday evenings. Contact: sussex@community.tergar.org. Part of the Tergar Meditation Community.
From official websiteTergar East Sussex Practice Group
Meets online on Monday evenings and in person on Tuesday evenings in Forest Row, led by senior practice leader Terri Stevens. Contact: terri.yeshe@community.tergar.org. Part of the Tergar Meditation Community.
From official websiteTergar Edinburgh Meditation Community
Meets on Sunday evenings in person and online, with a short silent online sit on Wednesdays. Contact: edinburgh@community.tergar.org. Part of the Tergar Meditation Community.
From official websiteTergar Manchester Practice Group
Running since 2016, this free online group on Tuesday evenings draws people from across Europe, mainly the UK, and newcomers join all the time. Contact: manchester@community.tergar.org. Part of the Tergar Meditation Community.
From official websiteTergar Meditation Community UK
The UK network of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's Tergar community, following the Joy of Living meditation path. Each local group (Edinburgh, Stroud, East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Manchester and online Sussex) has its own page on Parasol with meeting times.
From official websiteTergar Online Practice Group Sussex
A weekly online group on Monday evenings, led by Terri Stevens. Contact: terri.yeshe@community.tergar.org. Part of the Tergar Meditation Community.
From official websiteTergar Stroud Practice Group
A small, friendly group that meets in person on the third Sunday of each month for guided and unguided practice, readings, short video teachings and discussion. Contact: stroud@community.tergar.org. Part of the Tergar Meditation Community.
From official websiteThe Buddhist Society
Founded in 1924 by Christmas Humphreys, one of the oldest Buddhist organisations in Europe. It offers free classes across the Theravada, Zen, Tibetan and Pure Land traditions, an introductory Buddhism course, lunchtime meditation, a library and public talks.
From official websiteTriratna Buddhist Community (UK)
The Triratna network has dozens of urban centres and local groups across the UK, among them London, Cambridge, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and Edinburgh, plus retreat centres such as Padmaloka, Taraloka and Adhisthana. Use the directory link to find your nearest group.
Wimbledon Lotus Vihara
A Sri Lankan temple and gardens hosting chanting, Dhamma classes for families and festival days.