Prabhupada commented that the building is worthless but the location very important.

Today was Sunday and Prabhupada decided to go ahead with plans to visit the temple in London. Although he is still very weak and his respiratory tracts are thick with mucus, he went just to have darsana of Sri Sri Radha-London-isvara. They were the first large Deities he installed in the West, and he has a special affection for Them. Before we left, the devotees came in with the Observer which carried a four column article by Colin Cross on his meeting with Srila Prabhupada. Actually it contained very little of Prabhupada's own words, it was mainly an essay on Colin's own impressions, interspersed with various facts about Prabhupada and the Movement. He described his interview as an "unnerving experience" and his meeting with several shaven headed devotees as "oddly disquieting." But it was generally favorable however, and it at least contained the whole maha-mantra. His description of Harikesa gave us a laugh. "Eventually His Divine Grace's private secretary?a monk with a face and manner that would not have been out of place at the Vatican?arrived to say that the moment for the audience had come." Harikesa happens to be from from an Italian family. On the way into London I was thinking of the conversation with Kulasekhara dasa in New Vrindaban, and Srila Prabhupada's unwillingness to declare Sri Sri Radha-Vrindavana-candra as more attractive than Sri Sri Radha-London-isvara. I asked Prabhupada if these were indeed his favorite Deities. He confirmed they were. Before going to the temple, Jayatirtha prabhu took Srila Prabhupada to see the outside of a building on Soho Street, just off famous Oxford Street. It was formerly a pub, but is now vacant. Jayatirtha explained that if the devotees bought it they would completely renovate it, turning it into a restaurant downstairs and a temple upstairs. The building itself wasn't impressive?its size could only be described as adequate; but the location is difficult to beat and that is what Prabhupada appreciated most. When Jayatirtha assured Prabhupada they would be able to buy it without taking a BBT loan, he gave his approval for the purchase. 7 Bury Place Bloomsbury, London, WC1 Sri Sri Radha-London-isvara's home is a small terraced house near the British Museum. There are five floors, with a series of small rooms off a steep and narrow wooden staircase connecting top to bottom. The temple room can barely hold thirty people, with a low ceiling and narrow walls. Prabhupada commented that the building is worthless but the location very important. There has been a tremendous push by the neighbors to have the temple closed down, but somehow or other the devotees have managed to keep ahead of the city authorities and stay open. He was very pleased to see how well the devotees were looking after the Deities. After offering his dandavats and taking a little caranamrita, he sat on his vyasasana in front of Their Lordships and gave a talk encouraging the devotees to continue without being disturbed. Citing the examples of Prahlada Maharaja and Haridasa Thakura, Prabhupada told his disciples to follow the advice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. "You should always expect some obstruction by the demonic party; that is not very astonishing. But still, we have to do our business and be tolerant. Be humble, be tolerant, don't be agitated?then your business will suffer. This is maya's kingdom, the test is always there. Combating is always there, and maya's party is very strong. Especially the present moment, Kali-yuga, the atheistic persons are almost everyone." Describing the material world as a very dangerous place, he advised the devotees to remain sober. They should stick to the spiritual principles, read his books and avoid being discouraged. If the karmis were successful in having them evicted, he said that Lord Krishna would certainly provide another suitable place. "But go on executing your routine work," he said. "I am very glad to see that you are taking care of the Deities very nicely. Whenever I come I see. This is very encouraging.... So God consciousness means you have to face difficulty, but you should not be discouraged. You must go on with your business, then success is sure. When there is difficulty, a devotee thinks, 'It is my good fortune that Krishna has given some difficulty to counteract my previous bad action.' So in this way, if we live, then mukti-pade sa daya-bhak. If one is not opposed by all these difficulties and with determination he goes forward, then for him going back to home, back to Godhead is guaranteed. Daya-bhak means it is inherited. Just like the son gets the father's property, there is no law to check it. Similarly, those who are humbly, tolerantly, going on with Krishna consciousness with full determination, for them going back to home, back to Godhead, is fully guaranteed." He left the cramped temple room to ascend the steep stairs to his room. Due to his heart palpitations it was a difficult climb. As he entered his room he told Jayatirtha that they have a elevator in Paris. Prabhupada took breakfast there and then decided to remain for his rest period afterward.