Audrey Hepburn, Marc Bolan, and Una Marson are among the luminaries receiving blue plaques for their significant contributions to the cultural tapestry of London, as announced by English Heritage.
The organization honored Hepburn for elevating the city’s status on the global stage through her fame; Bolan for revolutionizing the music scene in the 1970s with his innovative “glam rock” style; and Marson, a pioneering Jamaican poet, playwright, broadcaster, and advocate for racial and gender equality.
Additional individuals being celebrated with plaques include Alicia Markova, whose work was pivotal in establishing London as a hub for premier ballet; Barbara Pym, the esteemed British novelist recognized for works like Excellent Women that reflect post-war London life; and Graham Sutherland, an impactful British artist celebrated for his Neo-Romantic landscapes and his contentious portrait of Winston Churchill.
Matt Thompson, the curatorial director at English Heritage, remarked: “The year 2025 promises to be thrilling for the blue plaques initiative as we pay homage to these remarkable figures who reshaped London’s cultural environment.
“From literature and the arts to dance and music, these personalities played essential roles in crafting the London we recognize today. Their legacies have left deep impressions in their respective fields and continue to motivate new generations.”
Bolan, the charismatic leader of T. Rex, was celebrated for his dazzling fashion sense and electric stage performances. He enchanted audiences with a blend of rock, folk, and extravagant theatrical flair, producing timeless hits like Get It On and Ride a White Swan.
His signature style, which included sequins, feather boas, and platform boots, epitomized Glam Rock and upended conventional ideas of masculinity. The plaque will be placed at one of his residences in West London.
Hepburn’s formative years in London, where she transitioned from ballet dancing to acting, will be honored with a blue plaque in Mayfair.
It was during this pivotal time that Hepburn secured her initial film and theatrical roles, including her Broadway debut in Gigi. Living in London also paved the way for her Oscar-winning performance as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday (1953), solidifying her position as a Hollywood legend and a timeless icon of elegance.
Marson emerged as one of the most impactful Black figures of the 20th century. As the first Black woman to work as a programme assistant and subsequently the first Black producer at the BBC, she initiated transformative changes in British broadcasting.
Her efforts included the creation of programs like Calling the West Indies, which linked Caribbean service members in Britain with their families across the ocean, and Caribbean Voices, an important platform for budding Caribbean writers.
Pym gained recognition for her sharp, perceptive depictions of the lives of single women starting with her first novel, Some Tame Gazelle (1950). She will be commemorated in Pimlico, the inspiration and setting for her beloved novel, Excellent Women.
Sutherland encapsulated the beauty of natural and human forms in innovative ways that pushed artistic boundaries. His notable 1954 portrait of Churchill showcased his capacity to engage meaningfully with public discourse. The plaque will be placed at his childhood residence in a London suburb.
The blue plaques initiative, which illuminates the connections between important historical figures and the locations they inhabited and influenced, operates based on public recommendations. English Heritage stated that all blue plaques require the approval of the property owners involved.
