Established in South Kensington in 1979, it is a religious, social and cultural meeting place for the Ismaili Muslim community, the first so designed in the Western world.

[2][3] The Ismaili community had been in the United Kingdom since as early as 1951, when they established a religious, cultural and social centre at Kensington Court.

[4] It was moved to Palace Gate in 1957, but the needs of the growing community increased over time, and a site at Cromwell Gardens was acquired in the 1970s.

[4] Cromwell Gardens in London's South Kensington district where the Ismaili Centre is situated is a prominent location with a storied past.

Plans to establish a new Royal College of Art never materialised, but for a short spell Cromwell Gardens was home to the Institut Français.

Its design was not without its detractors, and it was the first (1982) winner of Private Eye's Hugh Casson Award for "worst new building of the year".

[10] By experiencing the architecture of the building and taking part in its programs, visitors broaden their understanding of Islam and its ethics, and of Muslim peoples and their values.

[10] This was observed by Prince Charles at the inauguration of Spirit and Life, an exhibition of the Aga Khan Museum collection that was held at the Centre: "I can only applaud your emphasis on intellectual and cultural exploration as a means of integration, and your determination to discharge your obligations as citizens of this country without losing your own distinctive traditions," he said of the Ismaili community in his inaugural remarks.