Bhaktivedanta Manor is a prominent Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu temple located in the serene countryside of Hertfordshire, England, in the village of Letchmore Heath near Watford. Operated by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement, the Manor is ISKCON’s largest property in the United Kingdom.
It is one of the most visited Radha Krishna temples in Europe. The main building, a former country estate, is officially listed as a Grade II historic structure on the National Heritage List for England.
Originally called Piggott’s Manor, the estate was generously donated to the Hare Krishna movement in February 1973 by former Beatle George Harrison. The donation included the house and 17 acres of surrounding land. This gift came at a time when the existing Radha Krishna Temple in central London could no longer accommodate the growing number of devotees.
The estate was later expanded through the acquisition of nearby properties. Harrison maintained a close spiritual relationship with ISKCON’s founder-acharya, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and he visited the Manor several times during Prabhupada’s stays there.
By the early 1980s, Bhaktivedanta Manor had become so popular that local traffic through the nearby village of Aldenham led to mounting concerns. In 1981, ISKCON began a lengthy campaign to keep the temple open to the public, as authorities considered restricting access.
After many legal proceedings and public appeals, the Department of the Environment approved the construction of a bypass road in 1996, resolving the traffic issue and ensuring the temple’s continued operation.
Today, Bhaktivedanta Manor welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Major festivals such as Janmashtami, which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, attract crowds of up to 60,000 people. The Manor remains a vibrant hub of devotional life, community service, education, and cultural celebration, continuing the vision of both George Harrison and Swami Prabhupada.
Address: Bhaktivedanta Manor, Dharam Marg, Hilfield Ln, Radlett, Watford, United Kingdom
Phone : +44 777 805 1000
Temple Timings:
Monday to Saturday 10 am–1 pm, 4–7:30 pm
Sunday 10 am–9:30 pm
