The International Society for Krishna Consciousness(ISKCON) London has successfully acquired 7 Bury Place, the site of its first London temple, originally opened in 1969, at auction for £1.6 million (around Rs 19 crore).
The five-storey, 221 sq m (2,379 sq ft) freehold building is currently occupied by a dental practice, offices, and a therapist. The purchase was funded through ISKCON’s own resources and contributions from supporters.
As part of its ongoing expansion, ISKCON London had been actively searching for properties. When 7 Bury Place went to auction, devotees eagerly bid for it, drawn by its spiritual and historical significance.
This location holds special importance as the very first ISKCON temple in the UK, established after the founder, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in 1968, asked three American couples to set up a base in England.
Speaking to Asian Voice, ISKCON London Temple President, Dayal Mora Das said, “The reacquisition of 7 Bury Place is nothing short of a historic homecoming for our entire community. This building is not just bricks and mortar, but sacred ground upon which ISKCON first took root in the United Kingdom, setting in motion a spiritual movement that has since touched millions. To once again hold the keys to this extraordinary place is deeply humbling and profoundly inspiring.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya moved to 7 Bury Place after residing at John Lennon’s estate at Tittenhurst for two months. Being driven in Lennon’s white Rolls Royce, he carried all the regal and aristocratic presence of a monarch, tempered with the natural humility and service attitude of a soul surrendered to the will of God. For a gentleman who grew up in colonial India, coming to the seat of that old empire and delivering a priceless jewel was a special moment that will be spoken of for centuries to come. It was the spiritual wisdom of ancient India: knowledge of the self, of one’s eternal relationship with God, and the means to remember and revitalise that lost connection.
It was at Bury Place, the ‘Radha Krishna Temple’, that George Harrison personally met with Srila Prabhupada and agreed to sponsor the printing of the world famous ‘Krishna’ book. It was here that George got the request from Srila Prabhupada to make music about Krishna so the mass of people could get to hear about Him.
The temple relocated from Bury Place to its current location in Soho Street in 1978, but the devotees of Krishna would regularly walk by the old temple building, remembering and relishing the countless beautiful pastimes that took place there when Srila Prabhupada was present on this earth.
Now reclaimed again, we are looking forward to a bright future and sharing this historical site and its associated memories with generations of people from all over the world. We want to restore the site to appear as it was in 1969, so visitors can step back in time and feel the presence, and remember the remarkable achievements of Srila Prabhupada which took place here.”
CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, had two brief yet impactful encounters with Srila Prabhupada at the ISKCON Temple on Bury Place in Central London. Though the exchanges were short, Prabhupada’s dedication, building a transformative movement despite health challenges, inspired him deeply. Following their conversations, Patel read ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is', a personal copy gifted by Prabhupada himself. The reading shaped his belief that every role in life is an act of service.
Making of London’s First Hare Krishna Temple
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON, established the first Radha-Krishna Temple in New York in 1966, followed by one in San Francisco. By 1968, as the movement grew, he asked three married couples from San Francisco to set up a base in England. Shyamsundar Das recalled that “the centre of activity was shifting from San Francisco to London,” noting that Prabhupada, then 72, was drawn to the UK due to his upbringing as “an Indian in the British Empire.”
Shyamsundar, a former Fulbright Scholar and professional skier, traveled with his wife Malati Dasi and their baby daughter. The other devotees included Shyamsundar’s friend Mukunda Das, a musician, and his wife Janaki, as well as Gurudas and Yamuna. Mukunda and Janaki had introduced Shyamsundar and Malati to Prabhupada’s teachings, while Gurudas brought experience as a civil rights activist and social worker.
After arriving in Britain, the three couples lived separately in London and struggled financially, performing kirtans, attending public events, distributing leaflets on Oxford Street, and recruiting new members. They eventually settled in a Covent Garden warehouse, serving as a temporary temple. Malati recalled: “[We had] hardly any possessions, no money, no protection… All we had was love for Srila Prabhupada.”
To reach a wider audience, Shyamsundar suggested approaching the Beatles. In October 1968, he and Mukunda visited Apple Records, where Peter Asher passed their request to George Harrison, who, familiar with kirtans and Prabhupada’s ‘Krishna Consciousness’ album, finally met Shyamsundar in December: “Hare Krishna. Where have you been? I’ve been waiting [years] to meet you.”
Harrison soon visited the devotees at their warehouse, telling them, “I’m inspired here,” at a time he felt isolated within the Beatles. In January 1969, he introduced Shyamsundar to the other band members during the ‘Let It Be’ project, and the devotees became regular visitors to his Surrey home and Apple offices.
In July 1969, George Harrison invited the devotees to Abbey Road to record the Maha Mantra, producing and performing on the track. Released by Apple Records as Radha-Krishna Temple (London), ‘Hare Krishna Mantra’ reached number 12 on the UK charts and became an international hit. The devotees performed on ‘Top of the Pops’ and held concerts across London, Oxford, and Amsterdam, with Mukunda recalling, “We went from street people to celebrity status. Overnight.”
The single brought the mantra into the mainstream, attracted new ISKCON members, and fulfilled a 16th-century prediction by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of the holy names being heard worldwide.
Prabhupada had promised to visit London only after his disciples established a formal ISKCON temple. To this end, Mukunda secured a seven-storey building at 7 Bury Place in Bloomsbury, with George Harrison co-signing the lease and helping fund it. The devotees faced opposition from neighbours and the local community, and it was Harrison’s support that enabled them to secure the site.
While renovations were underway, John Lennon offered temporary accommodation at his Tittenhurst Park estate near Ascot, where the devotees stayed in the servants’ quarters and assisted with the property’s refurbishment.
In September 1969, Prabhupada visited the UK base, reuniting with his disciples and meeting Harrison, Lennon, and Yoko Ono for a philosophical discussion on the Bhagavad Gita, mantras, and Krishna. By December, Prabhupada and the now 25-strong group moved into the newly renovated Radha-Krishna Temple at Bury Place, conveniently close to Oxford Street, the devotees’ main public interaction area.
In 1970, George Harrison collaborated with ISKCON devotees to produce The Radha Krishna Temple album, bringing devotional themes into mainstream music. His solo work, including the iconic “My Sweet Lord,” carried spiritual references to Krishna, weaving the Hare Krishna maha-mantra into its chorus. That same year, Harrison funded the printing of Srila Prabhupada’s landmark book, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead.
By 1972, the London temple at Bury Place became too small to accommodate ISKCON’s rapid global growth. In 1973, on Harrison’s request, British devotee Dhananjaya Dasa scouted properties near London, leading Harrison to purchase a historic manor house on 17 acres in Hertfordshire. The site was later named Bhaktivedanta Manor. In 1979, as part of its expanding cultural footprint, the temple opened Govinda’s Restaurant in Soho—one of London’s earliest affordable, plant-based eateries, at a time when vegetarian dining was still uncommon. The aim was simple: to serve wholesome vegetarian food of great value, prepared and offered with love.
The threat to close Bhaktivedanta Manor began in 1994, sparking one of the largest grassroots mobilisations of Britain’s Hindu community. Legal appeals were long and costly, but the movement stayed committed to peaceful protest, outreach, and community unity. At the heart of the campaign, Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice amplified the message through front-page coverage, community awareness drives, and sustained editorial support, helping rally supporters across faiths and beliefs. Their backing not only mobilised the Hindu diaspora but also strengthened public understanding, proving that collective resolve and non-violence could protect a sacred space for future generations.
