Every October, Black History Month offers an opportunity to honour the incredible contributions of Black individuals to British society and the culture at large. Here in London, the blue plaques are historical markers from English Heritage that help celebrate the lives of influential figures who left their mark on the city’s cultural, political, and social landscape.
Of course, there are so many incredible stories linked to these plaques, with several highlighting the achievements of Black individuals who have called London home throughout history. So without further ado, here’s a round-up of blue plaques in London that are a tribute to the capital’s Black history and legacy, highlighting many important figures from activism, the arts, and beyond.
1. Ellen and William Craft
Ellen and William Craft’s extraordinary escape from slavery in the United States is one of the city’s most inspiring stories of resistance and resilience. The freedom fighters made the brave decision to break free from their enslavement in Georgia during the mid-nineteenth century, travelling thousands of miles state-side before ending up in Britain.
Due to her pale complexion, Ellen disguised herself as a disabled white gentleman while William posed as her servant. They managed to flee their life in Georgia with a few close calls and pitstops of course, before settling in Boston, Massachusetts.
However, it wouldn’t be long before the married couple were on the move again. In 1850, US Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, with their former enslavers hiring bounty hunters to try and find them.
This led them to the UK, where they toured the country as activists before settling in Hammersmith. Following a few years in the capital, they headed back to the USA after the end of the American Civil War (1861–5), as well as the legal emancipation of enslaved people. Their blue plaque honours their advocacy for freedom and commitment to equality.
📍26 Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith, London, W6 0LA
2. Ottobah Cugoano
As a former enslaved person from Ghana, Ottobah Cugoano became a powerful voice for the abolitionist movement during the eighteenth century. His seminal work, Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil and Wicked Traffic of the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Humbly Submitted to the Inhabitants of Great-Britain, was one of the earliest published critiques of the slave trade by an African person.
This book was an autobiographical testimony, heart-wretchedly contrasted with philosophical, religious and economic arguments against slavery. Cugoano was kidnapped in 1770, and forced to work on plantations in Grenada and other islands in the West Indies.
He was moved to London two years later in 1772 by a prominent slave-owner, becoming baptised as a Christian in the process. He stated that his conversion was to stop him from being sold into slavery again. He learnt how to read and write before working as a servant for the artists Richard and Maria Cosway at Schomberg House on Pall Mall, where the blue plaque in his honour is located.
📍Schomberg House, 80-82 Pall Mall, Westminster, London, SW1Y 5HF.
3. Bob Marley
In 1977, reggae icon Bob Marley called London home after an attempt on his life in his home country of Jamaica. He recorded his legendary Exodus album here with his band The Wailers, which features some of their biggest hits like ‘Three Little Birds’ and ‘One Love’.
Marley’s music transcends genres and borders, all while advocating for peace, love, and justice across the world. His blue plaque in Chelsea marks the place where he lived, as well as created timeless music that became a symbol of resistance and unity, with Exodus remaining a pivotal album in reggae history to this day.
As well as writing music in London, it’s said Marley enjoyed the capital’s nightlife scene, enjoyed playing football in Battersea Park, and he even got fined for possession of cannabis during the year of his arrival.
📍42 Oakley Street, Chelsea, SW3 5HA.
4. Elisabeth Welch
While we’re on the topic of the arts, it would be rude not to mention the gorgeous vocal stylings of Elisabeth Welch. This trailblazing African-American performer became a star of the stage and screen, thanks to her popular interpretations of beloved songs.
Her dazzling career spanned eight decades, taking her to New York, Paris, and to Chelsea when she lived in London, where you can view a bright blue plaque in her honour.
After settling in London in 1933, she introduced the famously touching song ‘Stormy Weather’ to British audiences, solidifying herself as the singer of the moment until she left the city three years later in 1936.
However, her legacy is still inspiring Londoners to this day, thanks to her unmatched reputation in the cabaret scene and her contributions to the jazz world.
📍42 Oakley Street, Chelsea, SW3 5HA.
5. Laurie Cunningham
Footballer Laurie Cunningham was a true trailblazer in British football, becoming the first Black footballer to represent England in a competitive match. He was also one of the first Black players to play for the legendary team Real Madrid.
He shared a three-storey end terrace with his parents, who were first-generation immigrants from Jamaica. When he was living here, he quickly turned from high school student to a professional football player, becoming a beloved star for the beautiful sport in the process. You can find a blue plaque in his honour on his family home, located in North London’s Haringey.
📍73 Lancaster Road, Stroud Green, London, N4 4PL.
6. Mary Seacole
Located in Soho, there’s a blue plaque dedicated to Mary Seacole, a pioneering Jamaican nurse who is celebrated for her courageous work during the Crimean War.
Often referred to as the ‘Black Florence Nightingale’, Seacole was actually rebuffed by Nightingale’s team and other institutions due to the colour of her skin. She used her own resources to set up a ‘British Hotel’ in Balaklava in 1855, which provided care for wounded soldiers by giving them food and medicine.
Her plaque honours her extraordinary contribution to help others despite the racial prejudices she faced during her lifetime.
📍14 Soho Square, Soho, London, W1D 3QG.
7. Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix, the legendary guitarist and pioneer of psychedelic rock, made London his home in the 1960s, during which time he rose to global fame. His time in the capital was pivotal to his career, as he found greater success in the UK than he initially did in the US.
His blue plaque serves as a reminder of Hendrix’s deep connection to London and his lasting influence on music and culture across the globe. Located on the exterior of his former flat, you can now visit this slice of rock history at one of the city’s more unique museums.
Hendrix’s former flat is only a few doors down from where composer George Frideric Handel once resided, so The Handel & Hendrix Museum was made. This is a must-visit spot in Mayfair, especially if you’re a music lover, as visitors can explore the lives of both artists.
📍23 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 4HA.
8. John Richard Archer
John Richard Archer is a significant figure and trailblazer in British politics, becoming the first Black mayor in London when he was elected Mayor of Battersea in 1913. Born in Liverpool to a Barbadian father and Irish mother, Archer spent much of his life advocating for social justice, both in Britain and abroad.
He was a key figure on the road to equality, promoting fair representation for Black Britons during a time of intense racial discrimination. So, his blue plaque not only commemorates his incredible political achievements but also his work as an activist and champion of civil rights.
📍23 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 4HA.
9. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleride-Taylor was a composer and conductor of mixed parentage, whose classical music became celebrated in Britain and the United States. He was actually the first Black recipient of a blue plaque, which was put on display in Croydon’s South Norwood back in the mid-1970s.
Coleride-Taylor was most famous for his Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, with works like the Song of Hiawartha still having a profound influence on both classical and popular music. It’s said he composed many of his finest works where his blue plaque is placed, solidifying his place in both music and London history.
📍30 Dagnall Park, South Norwood, London, SE25 5PH.
10. Jomo Kenyatta
Before becoming the first president of an independent Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta spent many years in London studying and advocating for the rights of his people. Living in Pimlico during the 1930s, Kenyatta became an influential figure in the African nationalist movement, working tirelessly for Kenya’s freedom from British colonial rule.
His blue plaque serves as a reminder of the years he spent in the UK, shaping his political ideology and pushing for self-determination for Kenya. It stands as a testament to his lasting impact on both British and African history.
📍95 Cambridge Street, Pimlico, London.