London Central Mosque

London, England, United Kingdom

Also known as Regent's Park Mosque, this is the principal mosque of London, featuring a distinctive golden dome and minaret. Designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd and inaugurated in 1977.

Historical Context

The idea for a central mosque in London gained momentum during World War II. In 1940, Neville Chamberlain's War Cabinet approved the allocation of funds to purchase a site in Regent's Park, partly as a goodwill gesture to Muslim allies — especially Egypt, whose prime minister had recently facilitated land for an Anglican church in Cairo. The project was supported by diplomats from Muslim-majority countries. After decades of planning, the mosque, designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, was completed in 1977. The design features a distinctive golden dome, a slender minaret, and a main prayer hall accommodating over 5,000 worshippers. The Islamic Cultural Centre, established alongside the mosque, h…