Category Archives: Culture Mile

Business Improvement District approved for City’s main residential district: here’s some issues

As expected, businesses in the north west of the City of London have voted to establish a Business Improvement District, and will pay a levy that is expected to generate £9 million over the next five years. The Culture Mile BID website says: “Driven by the private sector, the Culture Mile BID will go live read more »

City Corporation stands down its Culture Mile team and offers public realm designs to business

Update1 : I’ve located a recording of the City residents meeting on January 11 where policy chair Chris Hayward promised more consultation in future with residents on changes in Culture Mile. I’ve added more on that below and here. Update2: following committee discussion on January 23 it is clearer that the offer to the Business read more »

Another competitor for Destination City – Marylebone Farmers’ Market

I wrote recently that the Elizabeth Line makes Canary Wharf a strong competitor for City entertainment and the Destination City initiative. Here’s a look along the line westwards, and rather different attractions. When I fancy a walk in Regent’s Park I usually take the Tube from Barbican to Great Portland Street, then return via Baker read more »

Can Destination City also help create a Liveable City?

I originally drafted this piece for a column in the EC1 Echo, but space is tight this time and we’ll revisit in print in the New Year. Meanwhile there’s discussion on Twitter about the cost and focus of the Destination City programme, and future use of the Museum of London site. The Culture Mile Business read more »

Culture Mile changes as Destination City sets out plans

For the past five years Culture Mile has been a programme of activities and projects in the north west of the City, a way of branding the area, and a team coordinating development. Some of that is changing, but quite how much won’t be clear for a few months. City Corporation committees have now approved read more »

’Seats at the table’ for equity coming to West Smithfield

Winners have been announced for the competition I wrote about in July to deliver in Spring 2023 “temporary public realm interventions in Smithfield and East London that collectively develop a deeper understanding of the public’s experience of streets and public spaces”. A news release announced that Re-Fabricate and the DisOrdinary Architecture Project won the competition read more »

Community forum in the City’s Culture Mile set for approval

Update: The City’s Policy and Resources committee approved proposals for the CultureMile BID on October 20, with little discussion. Several members pressed for clear methods for resident involvement. Guidance was that this would be through steering groups. There was no specific mention of a community forum. Video of the committee discussion here. Proposals for a read more »

Culture Mile offers free financial wellbeing, yoga and inspiration events

The City of London’s Culture Mile programme, in its north west district, is keen to show benefits for locals, as well as visitors who may use the new guides I mentioned. Here’s news of three events for anyone in the local community, from Head of Marketing Jamie Reece. “Culture Mile Connects is a series of read more »

New visitor guide and films for Culture Mile demonstrate BID promotion plans

Visitors to the City’s north west cultural district now have a guide to venues, heritage sites, entertainment and shopping on the Culture Mile website. The guide is a demonstration of one of the projects planned if the area becomes a Business Improvement District. Each of the guide records has a short entry with a “Learn read more »

£50,000 Smithfield design competition might take inspiration from Bartholomew Fair

Update: Winners have been announced with a proposal for ‘Seats at the table’. “The team will work with local disabled and non-disabled youth to co-design spaces of sharing, making, learning, nourishment and socialising”. More here. A new competition ‘Co-designing Equity in the Public Realm’ aims to deliver “temporary public realm interventions in Smithfield and East read more »