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Green plaques

Nominate a green plaque to commemorate the cultural heritage of Westminster.

Our Westminster green plaque scheme launched in 1991 to commemorate the diverse cultural heritage of Westminster and the people who have lived or worked here. It highlights buildings associated with people of renown who have made lasting contributions to society. 

Nominations for new green plaques are reviewed by an independent advisory panel ahead of formal approval.

Criteria

Our green plaques commemorate people who:

  • are regarded as eminent by most members of their profession
  • deserve recognition for their genuine contribution to society or for improving lives
  • are reasonably well known
  • and where sufficient time has elapsed since their life to show their lasting contribution to society.

The scheme also marks buildings of historical interest, that form a significant part of the heritage of the city. Please bear in mind that:

  • a historical or cultural event of great significance must have taken place in any building that is nominated
  • nominations will not be considered on the basis of anniversaries or short stays from public figures alone
  • shops, restaurants and organisations must have existed for at least 100 years to be considered for a green plaque.

Submit a green plaque nomination

Fill in a nomination form

Process

Please ensure that sponsorship of £3,500 plus VAT is in place before you submit your nomination. This fee helps to cover the cost of administering the scheme.

  1. Submit your nomination using the nomination form above.
  2. We will contact you to discuss your nomination and clarify any additional information that is required.
  3. We will carry out additional research to verify your nomination and submit your nomination to an advisory panel for consideration against the criteria.
  4. Meetings to decide which nominations are taken forward will take place in July and January. Please keep these timings in mind when applying.
  5. We will contact the building owner to seek permission to install the green plaque and prepare an application for listed building consent, if it is required.
  6. The plaque wording is agreed. Please note there is a maximum word count of 25 words for the plaque to be legible, less if the plaque is installed above word height. Logos are not usually possible if the plaque is to remain legible. A full report is then prepared for formal approval by Cabinet Members.
  7. Following approval, your plaque is manufactured and installed.
  8. If you would like to organise an unveiling ceremony, we can provide an unveiling stand and curtain and help you with any logistics. It is your responsibility to organise and cover the cost of the ceremony and reception including microphones and speakers if required. 

Westminster Green Plaques are 18" diameter and weigh approximately 4kg.

Recent green plaques

 

Sir Hugh Casson

Hereford Mansions, Hereford Road, W2 5BA

The plaque was launched on Friday 1 September 2023 to commemorate the renowned architect with close links to the City of Westminster. He is credited with bridging the gap in art and architecture between traditionalists and modernists, most notably as Director of Architecture of the Festival Britain in 1951. 

Find out more.

 

Royal Dental Hospital

Edwardian Hampshire Hotel, Leicester Square, WC2H 7LH

Unveiled on Wednesday 29 March 2023 to commemorate the oldest dental school in the UK, 1858 - 1985. Established as a teaching hospital to regulate and improve standards of dental care, it was first located at 32 Soho Square and achieved the backing of the Royal College of Surgeons. 

Under the patronage of King Edward VII, it became the Royal Dental Hospital in October 1901. Find out more.

 

Rev Dr John Clifford

Westbourne Park Baptist Church, Westbourne Park Villas, W2 5DX

Unveiled on Sunday 11 September 2022 to commemorate Rev Dr John Clifford (1836-1923), a world-renowned social reformer and leader of the Baptist Church. He became a Minister at Praed Street Baptist Church in Paddington in 1858 where he remained until 1876 when the growth of his congregation led to the opening of a new chapel in Westbourne Park.

He became a national political figure in 1899 and helped to establish Westbourne Park Institute in Paddington to provide free adult education amongst many other achievements of national and international significance.

Windrush Generation

Paddington Station, Clocktower Arch (platform 1), Praed Street, Paddington, W2 1HB

Unveiled on Windrush Day, 22 June 2021 by Peter Straker. The plaque marks the arrival of Caribbean Citizens into Westminster and beyond who came to help rebuild war-torn Britain from 1948. Find out more.

Middlesex Hospital Medical School

33 Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 4JG
Installed on Tuesday 20 October 2020 to commemorate the discovery of the hormone Aldosterone by James F Tait, Sylvia A Simpson and Hilary M Grundy in 1952.

Westminster Hospital

Dean Ryle Street (off Horseferry Road), SW1P 4DA
Unveiled on Monday 10 February 2020 by Rennie and Audrey Hoare, descendants of Henry Hoare who was one of the founding donors in 1719. Westminster Hospital was the first hospital in the world funded by charitable giving and became Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in 1993. 

Sir Alan Dawtry

Pimlico tube station underpass, 2 Bessborough Street, SW1V 2PU
Unveiled by Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Ruth Bush, Lady Dawtry and Sir Rodney Brooke on 8 February 2020

Maiden Lane recording studios

31 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E 7JS
Unveiled by Roger Taylor from Queen on Wednesday 4 December 2019

Lady Jane boutique

29 Carnaby Street, London, W1F 7DH
Unveiled by former owners Henry Moss and the family of Harry Fox on Thursday 10 October 2019

Centenary of GCHQ

Watergate House, 13-15 York Buildings, London, WC2N 6JU
Unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen on Thursday 14 February 2019

The Old Paddington Town Hall

Paddington Exchange, 8 Hermitage Street, London, W2 1PW
Unveiled on Tuesday 30 October 2018

Darbourne and Darke architects

Morgan House, Lillington Gardens Estate, SW1V 2LF
Unveiled on Saturday 29 September 2018

Captain Thomas Riversdale Colyer-Fergusson

Orchard Court, corner of Fitzhardinge Street and Seymour Mews, Marylebone, W1H
Unveiled on Tuesday 19 December 2017

Lord John Store

43 Carnaby Street, W1F 7EA
Unveiled on Wednesday 22 November 2017

William Henry Hudson

11 Leinster Square, W2 4PL
Unveiled on 16 May 2017

The Ivy Restaurant

1-5 West Street, WC2H 9NQ
Unveiled on 17 January 2017

Vince Man’s Shop

5 Newburgh Street, W1F 7RG
Unveiled on 9 November 2016

The Austrian Centre

124 Westbourne Terrace, W2 6QJ
Unveiled on 13 October 2016

Professor Cecilia Vajda

105 Hallam Street, W1W
Unveiled on 28 April 2016

See all green plaques in Westminster

Document
Full list of green plaques in Westminster

Blue plaques

To learn more about the blue plaques in London, please contact English Heritage. This is a separate scheme with different criteria.

Advisory panel

  • Rachel Anthony, The City of Westminster Guide Lecturers Association
  • Helen Glew, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Westminster
  • Gillian Staples, Archives, Collections & Resources Lead, Westminster City Council
  • Colin Thom, Senior Research Associate, Survey of London, UCL Faculty of the Built Environment

Contact

For further information about green plaques in Westminster please email [email protected] or call 07971 026 113 (Monday to Friday).

Published: 8 January 2021

Last updated: 31 October 2023