# Gurdwara Sikh Sangat - History, Timings & Visitor Guide | GurdwaraSahib.in > Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, 43 Harley Grove, Bow, London — a Grade II listed temple founded 1977 in a historic Victorian building. Free entry and langar daily. ![Gurdwara Sikh Sangat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/thumb.php?f=London%20Borough%20of%20Tower%20Hamlets%20-%20Mile%20End%20And%20Bow%20District%20Synagogue%20-%2020230715151850.jpg&w=1200) Historical national # Gurdwara Sikh Sangat Get Directions Share: Entry: Dress Code: Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, located at 43 Harley Grove in Bow, East London, is one of the most historically layered places of worship in the United Kingdom. Sitting in the heart of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, this Grade II listed building has served successive waves of immigrant communities for nearly 170 years, making it a living monument to East London's multicultural heritage. Today it functions as a vibrant Sikh place of worship, welcoming all people regardless of caste, colour, or creed, embodying the universal Sikh principle of Ik Onkar — the belief in one God who belongs to all humanity. The gurdwara draws worshippers from across East London and beyond, serving the substantial Sikh diaspora that settled in this part of the city from the 1960s onward. The complex houses two Darbar Sahibs — prayer halls where the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the eternal living scripture and Guru of the Sikhs, is installed and where kirtan (devotional hymns) are performed daily. The main Darbar Sahib accommodates large congregations, while the Diwan Hall Baba Buda Sahib Ji, named in honour of one of the most revered figures in early Sikh history, serves as an additional space for daily prayers and smaller gatherings. The gurdwara also maintains two langar halls where free vegetarian meals are prepared and served to all visitors without distinction, two libraries for the study of Gurbani (sacred scripture), and a lift providing access for elderly and mobility-impaired visitors. Beyond its role as a place of worship, Gurdwara Sikh Sangat functions as an active community hub. It organises Punjabi Sunday school classes, kirtan lessons, tabla instruction, and Gatka (traditional Sikh martial arts) classes for children and young adults, helping to preserve Punjabi language and Sikh cultural identity in the diaspora. The gurdwara has demonstrated remarkable resilience, having survived a devastating arson attack in 2009 that destroyed 75 percent of its historic fabric, only to be painstakingly restored and triumphantly reopened in 2013. It is registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales (charity number 1203226) and is governed by an elected management committee of volunteer trustees who serve the sangat (congregation) without remuneration. For visitors seeking a meaningful encounter with Sikh faith, culture, and the remarkable social history of East London, Gurdwara Sikh Sangat is an essential destination. ## Significance Gurdwara Sikh Sangat holds profound religious and cultural significance on several levels. Spiritually, it is a sacred space where the Guru Granth Sahib Ji — recognised by Sikhs as the eternal and living Guru — is enshrined and honoured with daily prayers, kirtan, and Ardas (supplications). The presence of two Darbar Sahibs, one of which is named Diwan Hall Baba Buda Sahib Ji in honour of Baba Buddha Ji, the first head granthi (caretaker) of the Golden Temple in Amritsar who served five Sikh Gurus, underscores the gurdwara's deep reverence for Sikh tradition and history. For the Sikh diaspora of East London, the gurdwara is far more than a place of prayer. It represents the community's hard-won roots in British society, their resilience in the face of adversity — most powerfully demonstrated by the rebuilding after the 2009 arson — and their commitment to the Sikh ideals of seva (selfless service) and sarbat da bhala (the wellbeing of all). The langar tradition, which offers free meals to anyone who walks through the door, actively embodies interfaith hospitality and social inclusion. The building also carries a broader civic and heritage significance. As a Grade II listed structure that has served as a Christian chapel, a Jewish synagogue, and a Sikh gurdwara, it is a tangible symbol of East London's layered multicultural identity. The Bow Heritage Trail includes the gurdwara as one of the area's key historic landmarks, and it is recognised as a microcosm of the East End's story of movement, community, and faith across generations. ## Nearby Gurdwaras ### Ramgarhia Sikh Gurdwara London, United Kingdom 3.8 km away Ramgarhia Sikh Gurdwara is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in London, United Kingdom. It is situated in the United Kingdom, which has one of the largest Sikh diaspora communities in the world. As with all gurdwaras, Ramgarhia Sikh Gurdwara welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ### Gurdwara Sikh Sangat London East London, United Kingdom 4.1 km away Gurdwara Sikh Sangat London East is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in London, United Kingdom. It is situated in the United Kingdom, which has one of the largest Sikh diaspora communities in the world. As with all gurdwaras, Gurdwara Sikh Sangat London East welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ### Namdhari Gurdwara London, United Kingdom 4.1 km away Namdhari Gurdwara is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in London, United Kingdom. It is situated in the United Kingdom, which has one of the largest Sikh diaspora communities in the world. As with all gurdwaras, Namdhari Gurdwara welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ### Shiromani Bhagat Namdev Ji Mission & Community Centre London, United Kingdom 4.2 km away Shiromani Bhagat Namdev JI Mission & Community Centre is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in London, United Kingdom. It is situated in the United Kingdom, which has one of the largest Sikh diaspora communities in the world. As with all gurdwaras, Shiromani Bhagat Namdev JI Mission & Community Centre welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ## Detailed History The building that today houses Gurdwara Sikh Sangat has lived through three distinct religious identities across nearly 170 years, mirroring the successive waves of immigration that have shaped East London's social fabric. The structure was first erected in 1854 as a Congregational chapel, then known as the Harley Street Chapel — the street has since been renamed Harley Grove. It served Bow's nonconformist Christian community during the Victorian era, a period of rapid industrial and demographic expansion in the East End. By the early twentieth century, East London had become home to large numbers of Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution in Eastern Europe. In 1927, the congregation sold the chapel and it was converted into the Mile End and Bow District Synagogue (also known as the Mile End and Bow Great Synagogue and Talmud Torah), reflecting the community's need for sacred space and solidarity against the rising antisemitism of that era. The synagogue served as a cornerstone of communal life for Jewish families in Bow for several decades. However, following post-war demographic shifts — with many Jewish families moving to suburbs such as Ilford and Edgware — the synagogue's membership declined significantly, and the last wedding recorded there was held on 7 July 1971. In 1977, the building was purchased and converted into a Sikh Gurdwara, responding to the rapid growth of the Sikh community in East London. Hundreds of Sikh families had migrated to the area during the 1960s and 1970s, primarily from Punjab, and required a dedicated place of worship. The Gurdwara Sikh Sangat became a spiritual home and community anchor for this growing population. The most traumatic chapter in the gurdwara's recent history occurred on 16 March 2009 when a deliberate arson attack engulfed the Grade II listed building. The fire destroyed approximately 75 percent of the building's historic structure, including the entire roof and most of the interior. Fifty firefighters were called to tackle the blaze. The community's 14 sacred handwritten holy books (Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib Ji) were lost to the flames. No worshippers were injured. The attack drew widespread condemnation and an outpouring of support from across London's faith communities. Over the following four years, the community undertook a painstaking £1.5 million restoration of the building, with much of the work funded through donations and community fundraising. The gurdwara was triumphantly reopened on 16 June 2013. To mark the occasion, up to 2,000 worshippers took part in a nagar kirtan (street procession), walking from Harley Grove through Mile End, Stepney Green, and Bethnal Green, handing out food to local people along the route. More than 600 guests were invited to the formal reopening ceremony. In 2017, the gurdwara's library — which had been destroyed in the fire — was also fully reopened, restoring eight years after the arson attack the community's access to its sacred texts and scholarly resources. ## Structures in the Complex ### Main Darbar Sahib prayer_hall The principal prayer hall located on the first floor of the building, housing the Palki Sahib (throne canopy) beneath which the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is installed. The main Darbar Sahib can accommodate large congregations for major services, festivals, and gurpurabs. ### Diwan Hall Baba Buda Sahib Ji prayer_hall A secondary Darbar Sahib on the ground floor, named in honour of Baba Buddha Ji — the first head granthi of the Golden Temple in Amritsar who served five Sikh Gurus. Used for daily prayers, smaller services, and additional gatherings when the main Darbar Sahib is at capacity. ### Langar Halls langar_hall Two dedicated langar halls where free vegetarian meals are prepared by volunteers and served to all visitors regardless of faith or background, in keeping with the foundational Sikh principle of equality and seva (selfless service). ### Gurbani Library museum A library housing Sikh scripture, religious texts, and educational materials. Destroyed in the 2009 arson, the library was meticulously restored and reopened in 2017, eight years after the fire. It serves as a resource for worshippers and students of Sikhism. ### Main Entrance and Facade entrance The cream-hued neo-classical Victorian facade with twin classical pillars dates to the original 1854 construction. Largely surviving the 2009 arson (the exterior walls and foundation remained intact), it is a Grade II listed heritage feature and a landmark on Harley Grove. ## Visitor Information ### Dress Code Head covering required (provided at entrance), shoes must be removed before entering, modest clothing recommended ### Photography Respectful photography may be permitted in non-prayer areas; do not photograph the Darbar Sahib without permission ### Etiquette Cover your head before entering; remove shoes at the entrance; alcohol and tobacco must not be brought onto the premises; smoking is not permitted; sit cross-legged on the floor in the Darbar Sahib; bow before the Guru Granth Sahib Ji upon entering; accept langar (free meal) in the spirit of equality ## Climate & Best Time to Visit ## Accommodation ### Nearby Hotels Available in nearby area ## Langar (Free Community Kitchen) Two langar halls capable of serving hundreds of visitors; on major festival days thousands may be fed Seating Capacity ## Community Services ### Charitable Programs Free langarReligious services ## Architecture The building that houses Gurdwara Sikh Sangat is a substantial cream-hued neo-classical structure at the end of Harley Grove, Bow. Constructed in 1854 as a Congregational chapel, its defining external features include two prominent classical pillars flanking the main entrance, giving the facade a dignified and monumental presence that marks it as a place of worship of considerable ambition for the Victorian period. The building is designated Grade II listed by Historic England, acknowledging its architectural and historic importance. Following the catastrophic 2009 arson that destroyed 75 percent of the building's fabric including the entire roof, a £1.5 million restoration programme faithfully rebuilt the structure while modernising the interior. The restored complex now includes a spacious main Darbar Sahib on the first floor — accessible via a dedicated lift for elderly and mobility-impaired worshippers — and the ground-floor Diwan Hall Baba Buda Sahib Ji, which serves as a secondary prayer hall. Two langar halls provide communal dining space. The interior reflects traditional Sikh gurdwara design principles, with the Darbar Sahib featuring a canopied Palki Sahib (throne) for the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The building retains the clean classical lines of its Victorian exterior while its interior has been adapted to meet the needs of a twenty-first-century Sikh congregation. Architectural Style: Sikh Gurdwara architecture ## Sarovar (Sacred Pool) ## Structures in the Complex ### Main Darbar Sahib prayer_hall The principal prayer hall located on the first floor of the building, housing the Palki Sahib (throne canopy) beneath which the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is installed. The main Darbar Sahib can accommodate large congregations for major services, festivals, and gurpurabs. ### Diwan Hall Baba Buda Sahib Ji prayer_hall A secondary Darbar Sahib on the ground floor, named in honour of Baba Buddha Ji — the first head granthi of the Golden Temple in Amritsar who served five Sikh Gurus. Used for daily prayers, smaller services, and additional gatherings when the main Darbar Sahib is at capacity. ### Langar Halls langar_hall Two dedicated langar halls where free vegetarian meals are prepared by volunteers and served to all visitors regardless of faith or background, in keeping with the foundational Sikh principle of equality and seva (selfless service). ### Gurbani Library museum A library housing Sikh scripture, religious texts, and educational materials. Destroyed in the 2009 arson, the library was meticulously restored and reopened in 2017, eight years after the fire. It serves as a resource for worshippers and students of Sikhism. ### Main Entrance and Facade entrance The cream-hued neo-classical Victorian facade with twin classical pillars dates to the original 1854 construction. Largely surviving the 2009 arson (the exterior walls and foundation remained intact), it is a Grade II listed heritage feature and a landmark on Harley Grove. ## Events & Celebrations ### gurpurab #### Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurpurab The celebration of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, is one of the most important events in the Sikh calendar. The gurdwara holds extended kirtan, special Ardas, and a large community langar. A nagar kirtan (street procession) may be organised through the streets of Bow. #### Guru Gobind Singh Ji Gurpurab The birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru and founder of the Khalsa, is celebrated with all-night kirtan, special prayers, and community langar. ### festival #### Baisakhi Baisakhi, celebrated on 13 or 14 April, marks the creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699 and is one of the most joyous Sikh festivals. The gurdwara holds special diwan services, kirtan, and an abundant langar open to the wider community. ### historical #### Gurdwara Reopening Anniversary (16 June) The anniversary of the grand reopening on 16 June 2013, following the painstaking £1.5 million restoration after the 2009 arson attack. The original reopening saw up to 2,000 worshippers participate in a nagar kirtan procession through Bow, Mile End, Stepney Green, and Bethnal Green. ### weekly #### Weekly Sunday Diwan The Sunday congregation (diwan) is the main weekly gathering of the sangat, featuring extended kirtan, katha (scripture interpretation), Ardas, and langar. Sunday services attract the largest regular attendance and are a focal point for the East London Sikh community. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### visiting The gurdwara is open daily for prayers and services, typically from early morning until the evening. Sunday diwan services draw larger congregations. For the most current and detailed daily timings, it is recommended to visit the official website at gurdwarasikhsangat.org or call 020 8980 1379. Yes, entry to Gurdwara Sikh Sangat is completely free, in keeping with Sikh tradition. The langar (communal kitchen) also provides free vegetarian meals to all visitors, regardless of religion, nationality, or background. Visitors are required to cover their head before entering — headscarves or patka (head coverings) are usually available at the entrance. Shoes must be removed before entering the prayer hall. Modest, respectful clothing is appropriate. Alcohol and tobacco must not be brought onto the premises. The gurdwara has two Darbar Sahibs (prayer halls), two langar halls serving free vegetarian meals, a library housing Sikh scripture and texts, a lift to the first-floor Darbar Sahib for elderly and mobility-impaired visitors, and regular classes in kirtan, tabla, Punjabi language, and Gatka (Sikh martial arts) for children and young adults. ### history The building at 43 Harley Grove, Bow was originally constructed in 1854 as a Congregational chapel. In 1927 it was converted into the Mile End and Bow District Synagogue. In 1977, as the Sikh community in East London grew substantially, the building was converted into a Sikh gurdwara. A devastating arson attack in March 2009 destroyed 75% of the structure, but after a £1.5 million restoration, the gurdwara was triumphantly reopened on 16 June 2013. Yes. On 16 March 2009, an arsonist set fire to the Grade II listed building, destroying approximately 75% of its original structure including the entire roof and 14 sacred handwritten copies of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. No worshippers were injured. The community raised £1.5 million for restoration, and the gurdwara was reopened on 16 June 2013. ### transport The nearest bus stop is Bow Road (S), approximately 1 minute's walk. Mile End Underground Station (Central and Hammersmith & City lines) is about an 11-minute walk away. Bow Church DLR Station is approximately 13 minutes on foot. The postcode for driving is E3 2AT. ### community The gurdwara organises Punjabi Sunday school classes, kirtan (devotional singing) lessons taught by renowned instructors, tabla (percussion) classes, and Gatka (traditional Sikh martial arts) sessions for children. These programmes aim to preserve Punjabi language and Sikh cultural heritage within the diaspora community. 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