BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden
Europe's first traditional Hindu stone mandir, opened in Neasden in 1995 and built from 26,300 carved stone pieces. The Mandir and Haveli are open 9.00am to 6.00pm throughout the year, including Bank Holidays, with admission free. The distinction worth understanding before you come is that opening hours and murti darshan windows are not the same thing: the building is open longer than the shrine is viewable.
Also searched for as Neasden Temple, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London, Neasden Mandir.
Sources checked 1 September 2026
The temple in facts
Background rather than schedule. None of it changes week to week, which is why it sits here while the hours sit on their own page with the date they were read.
| Fact | What is published |
|---|---|
| WhereWikipedia, Neasden Temple | Neasden, London, England, in the NW10 postcode area |
| OpenedWikipedia, Neasden Temple | Completed 20 August 1995 and inaugurated in 1995 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj |
| European firstWikipedia, Neasden Temple | Europe's first traditional Hindu stone temple, as distinct from converted secular buildings |
| Exterior stoneWikipedia, Neasden Temple | 990 cubic metres (35,000 cubic feet) of Bulgarian limestone |
| Interior stoneWikipedia, Neasden Temple | 700 cubic metres (25,000 cubic feet) of Indian and Italian marble, carved at Kandla in India and shipped to London |
| Stone piecesWikipedia, Neasden Temple | 26,300 carved stone pieces |
| DimensionsWikipedia, Neasden Temple | 21 metres (70 feet) high and 60 metres (195 feet) long, covering 1.5 acres |
Neasden Mandir opening times, in outline
One opening window, three darshan windows inside it, and one arti. Confusing the first with the second is the commonest disappointment here.
What is enforced at the gate
Quoted from the mandir's own visitor guidelines rather than paraphrased.
- Tops must cover the shoulders, chest, navel, and upper arms.
- Leg-wear must be at least below knee-length.
- Shoes are removed when entering the Haveli complex. Shoe racks are provided.
Who may enter, and with what
The mandir publishes clear rules on what may be carried in and what may be photographed.
| Rule | What is published |
|---|---|
| AdmissionBAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London, visit us | Free. |
| PhotographyBAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London, visitor guidelines | Mobile phone photos for personal use only are permitted outdoors at ground level. No photography or filming is allowed inside buildings. Commercial use requires written permission. |
| Bags and camerasBAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London, visitor guidelines | Large bags and cameras must be deposited in the baggage cabin before entering. |
| Prohibited itemsBAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London, visitor guidelines | Sharp objects, dangerous materials and incendiary items including knives, matches and lighters. |
| Time to allowBAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London, visit us | The mandir suggests allowing at least 2 hours for a complete tour. |
What this page does not know
Listed rather than quietly omitted, so you can see the shape of the gap before you plan around it. Every one of these is something another page would happily fill in with a plausible answer.
- Whether artis other than Rajbhog Arti are held, and at what times. Only one arti time is published on the timings page.
- Whether the exhibition is ticketed, and at what price.
- Whether darshan windows change during festivals such as Diwali and Annakut, when the mandir is at its busiest.
- Parking arrangements and whether they are charged.
- Whether prasad is available, where and when.
- How the dress code is applied in practice, and whether any covering is lent at the entrance.
If you have stood at this gate recently and can fill one of these in, especially with a photograph of a notice board or a link to an official announcement, send it. It is checked against the temple and published with a new date.
Questions about visiting
Answered from what the temple publishes, with the gaps left as gaps.
What are the Neasden Temple opening hours?
The Mandir and Haveli are usually open to the public from 9.00am to 6.00pm throughout the year, including Bank Holidays. Admission is free.
Are opening hours the same as darshan times?
No, and this is the most useful distinction on the page. The building is open nine hours a day, but murti darshan runs in three windows: 9.00 to 11.00am, 11.45am to 12.15pm, and 4.00 to 6.00pm on weekdays.
Do weekend times differ?
Yes, for the afternoon darshan window. On weekends and Bank Holidays it starts at 3.30pm rather than 4.00pm, running to 6.00pm either way.
When is arti?
Rajbhog Arti is published at 11.45am, coinciding with the start of the midday darshan window. Whether other artis are held, and when, is not published on the timings page.
What is the dress code?
Tops must cover the shoulders, chest, navel and upper arms, and leg-wear must be at least below knee-length. Shoes are removed on entering the Haveli complex, where racks are provided.
Can I take photographs?
Mobile phone photos for personal use are permitted outdoors at ground level only. No photography or filming is allowed inside the buildings, and commercial use needs written permission.
What can I not bring?
Sharp objects, dangerous materials and incendiary items such as knives, matches and lighters. Large bags and cameras must be deposited in the baggage cabin before entering.
Is there an admission charge?
No. Admission is free. The mandir suggests allowing at least two hours for a complete tour.
What makes this mandir significant?
It is described as Europe's first traditional Hindu stone temple, as distinct from a converted secular building. It was completed on 20 August 1995 and inaugurated that year by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
What is it built from?
990 cubic metres of Bulgarian limestone outside and 700 cubic metres of Indian and Italian marble inside, in 26,300 carved stone pieces. The marble was sent to Kandla in India to be carved and then shipped to London.
How big is it?
21 metres, about 70 feet, high and 60 metres, about 195 feet, long, covering 1.5 acres of land.
Can I rely on these timings?
The mandir itself says not entirely. It states that because of the many special services throughout the year, timings and access to any part of the Mandir are subject to change, sometimes unavoidably without notice.
Need the opening times in full?
The opening times page carries the whole published schedule, block by block, and what to check before you travel.