Songkran in Wimbledon: A Little Piece of Home
Songkran is the biggest celebration of the year — the traditional Thai New Year, a time for family, for gratitude, for renewal. Moving to the UK, we've never been able to visit Thailand during April as all our trips had to align with the school summer holidays. But Wat Buddhapadipa in Wimbledon makes celebrating Songkran possible, year after year. This year, I headed down with my two daughters and it was exactly the kind of day we all needed.
The temple — the first Thai Buddhist temple in Europe — sits quietly behind the trees on Calonne Road, SW19. You could walk past the entrance and not suspect what lies beyond. But once you turn that corner and those golden, multi-tiered rooftops come into view, rising above manicured lawns with the chatter and laughter of the Thai community drifting through the air, you simply stop. And you smile. It feels like home.
A calmer, more beautiful crowd
One thing that struck us this year was how pleasantly unhurried the whole day felt. The temple made a wonderful decision to spread the Songkran festival across two days rather than one — which in previous years meant the grounds could feel overwhelmingly busy. This year, the atmosphere was lively and festive without ever feeling frantic. We could stop, look, eat, and breathe it all in properly. If you have held off going in previous years because of the crowds, this change makes a real difference, I'd encourage you to give it a try.
Blessings at the temple
For me, the heart of any Songkran celebration is the spiritual element and Wat Buddhapadipa delivers this beautifully. Inside the main temple building, with its breathtaking murals depicting the life of the Buddha painted in vivid golds and crimsons across every wall, monks were giving personal blessings to each visitor. Buddhist or not, familiar with Thai culture or completely new to it, everyone was welcomed with the same open warmth. The three of us each received a blessing and there is something about sitting in that space, with those murals surrounding you and a monk speaking quietly and kindly, that settles something deep inside you. My daughters felt it too. We don't always need to put words to these things but it feels very peaceful.
The food — oh, the food
As the founder of Mae Jum, you might expect me to have high standards when it comes to Thai food. The stalls at Buddhapadipa did not disappoint. We worked our way through som tum, that bright, sharp, punchy papaya salad that takes me straight back to Thailand alongside boat noodles rich with deep, dark broth, perfectly charred moo ping that we agreed was as good as anything you'd find on a Bangkok street, crispy spring rolls, and yes, durian. You either love it or you don't. We absolutely love it but it is incredibly expensive here. However, since we don't have plans to visit Thailand this year, we just had to get a taste of it!
The food here is made by the Thai community, for the Thai community and you can taste every bit of that care and authenticity in every mouthful. You won't be disappointed.
Sand pagodas
Between the food and the blessings, we took part in building sand pagodas, one of the quieter, more meditative Songkran traditions that can get overlooked amid the festivities. Constructing miniature structures from sand is a symbolic act of merit-making at the temple during the New Year period. It symbolises any sand or soil that has accidentally been taken away from the sacred grounds over the year and it's a chance to bring back home. It is one of those traditions where is it fun for the children but the meaning grows and becomes more personal as you get older.
Planning your visit — tips from us
- The festival now runs across two days — crowds are much more manageable, check the temple's Facebook page for exact dates each year
- Arrive early for the best pick of the food stalls, especially for moo ping and boat noodles
- Entry is a small fee (£3 last year) which goes directly to the temple's roof restoration fund — well worth it
- If travelling from London, take the District line to Wimbledon, then bus 93 to Calonne Road
- If driving, parking is very restricted on the day, with cones blocking street parking on the main road, so you'll have to park on a road a short walk away.
- Don't skip the temple itself, the murals and the monk blessings are the soul of the whole event
Wat Buddhapadipa hosts several major Thai festivals throughout the year, including Loy Krathong in November. Follow their Facebook page to stay updated. If you have never been, I hope this is the nudge you needed. You will leave with a full stomach, a lighter heart, and perhaps a renewed appreciation for how much of Thailand lives quietly in this corner of south-west London.
Sawadee Pi Mai — Happy Thai New Year. 🙏
