From adapted historic buildings to cultural centers, London’s Hindu temples tell of waves of immigration to Britain and increasing visibility.

In examining the history of these temples—and why their appearances can differ so radically—we can also trace the history of Hindus in the U.K.

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The BAPS Sri Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, northwest London
The BAPS Sri Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, northwest London - [Representing] the third wave, [of Hindu migratinon] which would occur at the end of the 20th century, consisted largely of people in the professional class such as medical and IT professionals. This influx of relatively wealthier residents would coincide with the beginning of the construction of purpose-built temples executed entirely in a traditional style. There are attempts to incorporate modern technology at BAPS Sri Swaminarayan as well. A discreet collection box in the worship hall invites contactless donations, a nod to the U.K.’s increasingly cashless economy (and also possibly a response to the central bank’s announcement that redesigned banknotes contained animal fat, a move that led some Hindu temples to ban them). © VOJTa Herout/Shutterstock