Category Archives: Destination City

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 »

Developing a Museum of the Streets as the Museum of London closes

In December 2022 the Museum of London closes after 45 years on the edge of the Barbican estate, and prepares for a move to former market buildings in West Smithfield. Here’s news of a family festival at the Museum November 27&27 and a music festival December 3&4 The new museum promises to be amazing – read more »

The Elizabeth Line works both ways for the City

The other day I received in the post a lavish publication from the Canary Wharf Group with 30 pages of promised treats from new restaurants, bars, shops and leisure experiences to penthouse flats for sale or rent. It promoted a covered ice rink and display of Winter Lights, with everything also accessible on a smartphone 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 »

London Starts Here could develop it’s own Destination City to engage supporters

London Starts Here is such a good name I hope that Barbican Quarter Action won’t mind if I suggest something that would benefit the campaign by picking up ideas from the City’s new recovery plan. The campaign points out that the City’s London Wall West office development seems out of line with its new Destination read more »

Revive Bartholomew Fair? Maybe it’s already happening in Culture Mile

Articles in the EC1Echo about reviving Bartholomew Fair in 2023 have attracted support. However, in lots of ways we already have an all-year Fair taking place in the many venues along the City of London’s Culture Mile. Here’s a discussion paper on how we might combine a new Fair with promotion of those very varied read more »