London Central Mosque

The London Central Mosque (also known as the Islamic Cultural Centre, ICC or Regent's Park Mosque) is located near Marylebone station, the Baker Street Underground station and Regent's Park in the City of Westminster, central north London, England. It was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, completed in 1978, and has a prominent golden dome. The main hall can hold over five thousand worshippers,[1] with women praying on a balcony overlooking the hall. The mosque holds a chandelier and a vast carpet, with very little furniture.

At the praying area, taken right after Friday prayer.
The inside of the dome is decorated with broken shapes in the Islamic tradition. There is also a small book shop and halal café on the premises. The Mosque is joined to the Islamic cultural centre which was officially opened by King George VI in 1944[2] and was given as an unconditional gift to the UK Muslim community, although the land was donated by George VI in return for a site in Cairo for an Anglican cathedral.[2]



The London Central Mosque is easily recognizable by its large golden dome and stout 140-foot minaret on the edge of Regent's Park. Aside from these traditional aspects of mosque architecture, the building is quite modern and resembles other buildings from the same era.

As with most worldwide mosques, the London Central Mosque is actually a large mosque complex that also includes a library with over 20,000 books, administrative offices, a conference room, a Muslim bookshop and events hall. A new educational and administrative wing was added in 1994.

The main prayer hall is oriented towards Mecca and features lush red carpets, a vast dome decorated with mosaics, and a huge central chandalier. It holds 1,400 worshippers at prayer times, but can be extended outside to accommodate up to 4,000 for festivals (and even more including the typical overflow into the courtyard).

Up to 50,000 Muslims visit London Central Mosque for the two main Muslim festivals (Eids) of the year, typically worshipping in six groups. Around lunchtime on most Fridays (the main Muslim day of worship), the mosque is full to overflowing with Muslim worshippers from all over London and beyond.



The mosque is open for visitors anytime the mosque is open. Photographs are prohibited (even of the courtyard) without special permission. Women must cover their head (headscarves can be borrowed from the bookshop inside) and both men and women must have their legs covered over the knee.