Councils and federations
British Meditation Society
PO Box 26, Chard, Somerset TA20 2JT, 01460 62921, britishmeditationsociety.org
Runs eight-week courses for groups of one to six people.
Friends of the Western Buddhist Order
The FWBO was founded in London in 1968 by Sangharakshita to introduce Buddhism to the west.
Foundation for International Spiritual Unfoldment
PO Box 37109, London E4 9AL, 020-8523 3133, fisu.org
Offers residential or non-residential meditation courses at 62 centres in eight countries.
Rigpa UK
330 Caledonian Road, London N1 1BB, 020-7700 0185, rigpauk.org
Organises meditation classes focused on Tibetan Buddhism.
London
The Buddhist Centre
98 High Street, Croydon CR0 1ND, 020-8688 8624, buddhistcentrecroydon.org
Provides beginners' and advanced lessons in Buddhist meditation.
The London Buddhist Centre
51 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 0HU, 0845-458 4716, lbc.org.uk
Offers introduction evening and lunchtime classes, as well as four-and six-week courses.
London Meditation Centre
Notting Hill Gate, Kensington, London W8 4RR, 020-7221 0717, londonmeditationcentre.com
Offers courses in Vedic meditation and weekend retreats.
South
Bhaktivedanta Manor
Dharam Marg, Hilfield Lane, Aldenham, Watford, Hertfordshire WD25 8EZ, 01923 851010, vedalifestyle.co.uk
Offers one-day workshops in a mock-Tudor building donated by former Beatle George Harrison to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1973 .
The Bodhi Garden
7a Ship Street Gardens, Brighton BN1 1AJ, 07796 331167, bodhigarden.org
Offers classes including Soto Zen, Green Tara, Tibetan Buddhist and Forest Sangha forms.
Cittaviveka
Chithurst, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 5EU, 01730 814 986, cittaviveka.org
A Buddhist monastery for monks and nuns, which offers twice-daily meditation sessions.
Lam Rim Bristol Buddhist Centre
12 Victoria Place, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 3BP, 0117-963 9089, lamrim.org.uk/bristol
Run by the Venerable Geshe Lobsang Thinley, this centre offers meditation, yoga and tai chi classes
Central
Birmingham Buddhist Centre
11 Park Road, Moseley, Birmingham, West Midlands B13 8AB, 0121-449 5279, birminghambuddhistcentre.org.uk
Drop-in meditation classes for beginners are offered, as well as monthly introductory meditation days, and yoga classes.
Dhamma Dipa
Harewood End, Hereford HR2 8JS, 01989 730234, dipa.dhamma.org
Set on nine hectares of farmland, the centre offers visitors 10-day introductions to Vipassana meditation.
Taraloka
Bettisfield, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 2LD, 01948 710646, taraloka.org.uk
Founded in 1985, Taraloka is a Buddhist retreat centre for women, offering introductory weekend-long meditation retreats and yoga.
North
Buddha Land Kadampa Buddhist Centre
312 Skipton Road, Beechcliffe, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD20 6AT, 01535 681170, enjoymeditation.org
Offers drop-in meditation classes and various workshops.
Manchester Buddhist Centre
16-20 Turner Street, Manchester M4 1DZ , 0161-834 9232, manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk
Offers beginners' meditation classes, as well as classes in yoga, acupuncture, shiatsu and massage.
Newcastle Buddhist Centre
3rd Floor, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6UF, 0191-2611 722, newcastlebuddhistcentre.org
Offers six-week beginners' and advanced meditation courses, along with yoga classes.
Tara Mahayana Buddhist Centre
Ashe Hall, Ash Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire DE65 6HT, 01283 732338, taracentre.org.uk
Set in 15 hectares of woodland and fields, the centre offers beginners' classes run by Gen Kelsang Jigme, Kelsang Gewang and Ruth Coulbeck.
Scotland
Edinburgh Buddhist Centre
30 Melville Terrace, Edinburgh EH9 1LP, 0131-662 6699, edinburghbuddhistcentre.org.uk
Offers drop-in classes for beginners, as well as six-week courses. One-day introduction to meditation workshops are run once a month.
Dhanakosa
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead FK19 8PQ, 01877 384 213, dhanakosa.com
Set in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs national park, the centre offers week-long retreats on meditation, combined with either Buddhism, hill walking, yoga, shiatsu, tai chi or dance classes.
Holy Isle
Lamlash Bay, Isle of Arran KA27 8GB, 01770 601100, holyisle.org
Set on the north side of the Isle of Arran, Holy Isle offers one- to 10-day long retreats, in meditation, yoga, reiki, tai chi and other practices.
Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre
Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire DG13 0QL, 013873 73232, samyeling.org
Founded in 1967, Kagyu Samye Ling was the first Tibetan Buddhist centre in Europe.
Wales
Lam Rim Buddhist Centre
Pentwyn Manor, Penrhos, Raglan, Usk, Monmouthshire NP15 2LE, 01600 780383, lamrim.org.uk/wales
A retreat centre founded in 1977, offering weekend and one-day workshops on meditation.
Rokpa Cardiff
100 Moorland Road, Cardiff CF24 2LP, 029-2049 9185, rokpacardiff.com
Offers weekly beginners' and advanced meditation courses.
The Samatha Centre
Greenstreete, Llangunllo, Powys LD7 1SP, samatha.org
Holds classes around the UK in Samatha Meditation (a tradition originating in India).
Northern Ireland
Potala Buddhist Centre
40D Donegall Pass, Belfast BT7 1BS, 028-9023 8090, meditationinbelfast.org
Offers meditation classes taught by Buddhist nun Gen Drolkar.
