London Central Mosque

The London Central Mosque stands on the northern edge of Regent’s Park in the City of Westminster. Designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, it was completed in 1977 and is topped by a golden dome. The main hall holds over five thousand male worshippers, while women pray on a balcony overlooking the space. Inside, a chandelier hangs above a vast carpet with almost no furniture. The dome’s interior displays sacred geometry and small stained-glass windows with turquoise stars. A bookshop and halal café sit within the building, and the mosque links to the Islamic Cultural Centre opened by King George VI in 1944. Its history reflects Britain’s ties to the Muslim world. The land was donated by George VI after an exchange with King Farouk of Egypt and Sudan. The project began in 1937 with funding from the Nizam of Hyderabad, and Lord Lloyd persuaded Winston Churchill to support it. Construction cost £6.5 million, partly funded by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and Sheikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi. The mosque was later listed Grade II* in 2018 for its architectural importance. Visitors enter a quiet space of geometric patterns and soft light. The main hall’s carpet stretches beneath the dome, its colours muted under stained glass. Upstairs, the women’s balcony offers a clear view of the hall below. Outside, the mosque sits near Winfield House and six villas designed by Quinlan Terry. The Islamic Cultural Centre next door houses a library and offices, while the calligraphy by Hassan El-Abhar adds further detail to the interior.