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
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.
- Please submit your nomination using the nomination form above.
- We will contact you to clarify any additional information that is required.
- Your nomination will be shared with an advisory panel for consideration against the criteria.
- Meetings to decide which nominations are taken forward will take place in July and January. Please keep these timings in mind when applying.
- 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. If you have a specific timeframe in mind, it helps if you have already secured building owner permission. Please note that Green Plaques cannot be placed on buildings owned by Grosvenor.
- The plaque wording is agreed. There is a maximum word count of 25 words for the plaque to be legible, or lower if the plaque is installed at height. There is a layout template for all plaques to ensure a legible and consistent style for plaques across the city. Logos are not usually possible if the plaque is to remain legible but there is space for a sponsor name at the bottom of the plaque.
- Your nomination is shared with ward councillors and a full report is prepared for formal approval by Cabinet Members.
- Following approval, your plaque is manufactured and installed.
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
Stanley Kwai-Tsun Tse
SeeWoo, 18-20 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA
A community leader in London's Chinatown and founder of the SeeWoo Asian supermarket in 1975. A pioneer in bringing Chinese ingredients to London's restaurants and dinner tables, he was instrumental in shaping the area into the cultural hub it is today. The plaque was unveiled on Friday 24 May 2024.
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.
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
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].
Published: 8 January 2021
Last updated: 25 July 2024