News | Contact Us | Sitemap
Sitting Groups
Sitting groups are run by individuals and are organisationally independent of London Insight, but we are very happy to publicise them. With the exception of Saturday Insight (see below) these groups are peer-led - facilitated by members of the Sangha. Occasionally, teachers visit them to give teachings and run Q&A sessions, as well.
Here are the details for a number of sitting, study and discussion groups within the Insight and related traditions. Please contact each group for more details since they mostly run independently.
If you have any queries or suggestions for new sitting groups or study/discussion groups, please email us at
Study or Discussion Groups
Sitting Groups
*New Saturday Sitting Group*
We are very pleased to announce that on 18th February a weekly teacher led group will begin in central London. Insight Meditation teacher Paul Burrows will be hosting this group and will invite other teachers to take part at various times. It will be run as an open group, on a drop in basis - open to all. It will include quiet sitting time, teachings, discussion and interviews with other teachers and pioneers in the world of mindfulness and contemporary inquiry.
Come along on any Saturday from the 18th February, from 10:30am to 1:00pm at the Swiss Church near Covent Garden (Website: http://www.swisschurchlondon.org.uk/pub/Location). There is a £5 fee
for London Insight’s overheads, and the opportunity to make a donation to Paul (and any visiting teacher).
Chairs are available, but if you prefer to sit on the floor please bring both mat and cushion, as the floor is hard and wooden, without mats or carpets.
For more information please contact:
Central London Sitting Group
Every Tuesday, 7-8.30pm
at a private flat in Soho (nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road)
This group is for anyone living or working in London, or simply visiting. Meetings include a period of guided insight meditation, silent meditation, and time for discussion. The group provides an opportunity for people to get to know each other and discuss their practice as well as meditating together.
Every few weeks we have a session led by a visiting teacher.
You are very welcome to either come regularly or just drop in whenever it suits you. The flat is wheelchair-accessible. Occasional changes of day or venue will be notified via the mailing list for the group, which is separate from the main London Insight mailing list.
For further details, to ask a question, or to join the mailing list, please email James:
Dulwich Sitting Group, South London
Tuesday (twice monthly, first and third Tuesdays) 7.00 to 9.30 pm
This old established group meets in members’ homes in the Dulwich area. We practise in the traditions of Insight Meditation and of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
For further information please phone Patricia MacDonald on 0207 274 4150 or Stella Chapman on 0208 693 9251, or email Stella at
East London Sitting Group
Every Monday 7.15 - 8.45pm (arrive from 7.00)
at various East London locations currently in Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone
All are welcome to attend the group to develop and support their meditation practice. We start with a short meditation session for 15 minutes, then listen to a talk or have a short discussion followed by a further 30 min meditation. The group is peer led and we share the responsibility for facilitating/hosting it. Occasionally visiting teachers facilitate the group. If you would like to join us and can offer your place to host, please contact us. Alternatively, feel free to just drop in when it suits you, you don¹t need to come every week.
For further details email :
London Fields / Dalston Sitting group
This meditation/ sitting group meets once a month on a Friday, usually the last Friday in the month, but this does occasionally vary. The venue is the basement at 43 Parkholme Road E8 3AG 8:00-9:30pm. The format of the evening; a 20 minute sit followed by a downloaded Dharma talk or guided meditation, tea and discussion followed by a 10-15 minute sit and close. No previous experience of meditation necessary, everyone welcome. To add your name to the mailing list contact
North London Sitting Group
This is quite an informal group, initiated by a few people who met on a London Insight introduction to insight meditation course. We meet monthly on a Monday evening, 7.00-8.30 pm, to support our practice. No teachers but we listen to a guided meditation in the vipassana (insight) tradition and also do some silent sitting, and share our experience of what is helping us in practice, including London Insight retreats. The group meets in different people’s homes, in the N4, N8 and surrounding areas, to be a local resource.
Contacts: Nina Grant and Mark Temple
North-West London Theravadan Buddhist Meetings for Meditation and Study
Every Thursday from 7.30pm to 9.15pm
at Friends Meeting House, Church Crescent, Muswell Hill.
Please phone Sutra on 020 7485 0505 or Caroline Randall on 0208 348 0537
Richmond Mindfulness Meditation Group
Using teachings and practices from the Insight Meditation tradition, and from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
The group is open to anyone interested in mindfulness and meditation
Wednesdays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm
at St Michael’s Convent, Ham Common, Richmond
Website: http://www.richmondmeditation.org.uk/
For further information please phone Gaetan on 020 87891992 .
South West London Sitting Group
Every Tuesday 7.30pm – 8.30pm (arrive from 7:15)
Silent meditation for every denomination and none. No teachings. Either
Insight Meditation or Loving Kindness Meditation for 25 minutes, then tea,
then 10 minutes or so of ‘just sitting’.
This group is held in members’ homes in Wandsworth Common & Putney
Bridge. It affords us space and time to ground our practice, and let it flourish in
the company of friends. Whether you’ve just started out, or been at it for years,
you are welcome to join us.
Access: an internal flight of stairs (and another flight up to the bathroom) at
Wandsworth Common. A ramp-able external flight of 4 stairs, a lift, and then all
on one floor at Putney Bridge.
Contact: Melissa, or 020 8704 0781.
Amersham Sangha Sitting Group
139 Station Road, Amersham HP6 5DH
Second Tuesday each month 7:15 to 8:45 pm - refreshments afterwards
Bring: Cushions or a stool if you wish
An open and curious heart
£5 donation (suggested - will go to AIDS charities in Africa)
Further information and to confirm: Anna Sorensen, Tel: 01494 434596 email:
Berkshire Theravadan Group
2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, 8-10 pm
Please phone 07985 117202 or email
Colchester (Essex) Sitting Group
This group meets on Wednesdays at the Friends Meeting House in Colchester, starting at 7:30 pm. Please contact for further information.
East Surrey
Heather Stark is recruiting members for a new sitting group south of London, covering the Gatwick / Redhill / Crawley areas..
Please email us at if you would like further information or to join this group.
Kent Alokabodhi Buddhist Group
Meetings: twice monthly - First Friday and Third Tuesday of each month from: 19:30 to 22:00
Meetings are held in the Garden Room to the rear of the Blackthorn Medical Centre, St Andrews Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9AN
Previously known as the Maidstone Buddhist Group, the group has been meeting regularly for about 30 years. The group essentially practices Theravada Buddhism and receives regular support and visits from Sangha members of the Amaravati and Chithurst monasteries of the Thai Forest Tradition.
Our purpose is to provide an opportunity for anyone interested in developing meditation and mindfulness practice within a supportive group of like-minded friends. Meetings usually include group meditation with readings or recorded talks followed by discussion. We provide a forum for learning and sharing our experiences of integrating the Buddha’s teachings into our everyday life.
For further details please see our website: http://www.alokabodhi.com
Study and Discussion Groups
Buddhist Recovery Network Sitting Group
The first Buddhist recovery sitting group in London holds weekly meetings starting at 7pm on Tuesdays and meets in Soho, Central London. If you would like to attend a sitting group for people who attend a 12 step recovery fellowship, please email and we will contact you to give you more information about the group and the location.
Insightful Aging Study and Discussion Group
If you are 50 or above and interested in investigating the issues around aging from a Buddhist perspective you are welcome to join this group. We will have our next meeting on Tuesday, 24th January in Central London. Following meetings are on 23/2 and 27/3 . Please contact Gary at for further information.
Mindfulness Based Approaches (MBA) SITTING GROUP
Are you a therapist, counsellor, or social worker using Mindfulness-Based Approaches in your work with clients? Or perhaps you run MBCT/MBSR courses (or are training to do so)? Our MBAs sangha meets on the first Sunday of each month (11am - 1pm) at a central London venue for peer support, discussion and meditation.
Please contact Steve ( /07804197605) if you’d like to come along or for any other queries.