THAILAND is something of a bucket list destination for lots of Brits thanks to its white sand beaches, exotic islands and stunning architecture. Luckily, there's one building in the UK where holidaymakers can experience a flavour of Thailand without forking out hundreds of pounds for flights. Located in Wimbledon in south-west London , the Buddhapadipa Temple is believed to be the first Thai Buddhist temple to be built in the UK.
Also known as the Wat Buddhapadipa, the Thai Buddhist temple was first built in 1965 and was found in East Sheen - a 24-minute drive away from its current location in Wimbledon. Wat Buddhapadipa was bought by the Thai government for £17,000, with monks welcomed into the temple in November of that year. The temple underwent a huge expansion just ten years later, which led to its relocation to Wimbledon in the late 1970s.
Designed by Thai architect Praves Limparangsr, the newly-renovated temple opened to the public in 1982. The temple was crafted in a traditional Thai style , featuring white walls with gold and red accents and an ornate roof, and cost around 33 million Thai baht (£825,000) to build. Believe to be the first Thai Theravada Buddhist Temple built outside of Asia, the Buddhapadipa Temple is a centre of meditation.
Although it is a Buddhist place of worship, people of all faiths and backgrounds are allowed to visit and can do for free, with services and meditation classes taking place at the temple every day. Covering around four acres of .