Celebrating

Since our formation in 2016, events and installations have been central to our strategy, driving footfall, generating media coverage, and offering our members creative, engaging ways to connect. From local food tours and our involvement in the Marylebone Food Festival to bold public activations like Metamorphosis and the Marble Arch Crown for the King’s Coronation, we have continually raised the district’s profile through imaginative and impactful programming.

The installation of a bespoke theatre for Five Guys Named Moe in 2017-2018 marked a turning point, setting a new standard for what was possible at Marble Arch. That ambition has remained a constant, evident in dynamic and trend-led experiences like Breaking Marble Arch and Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch in 2024.

In recent years, we have expanded our cultural offer with new formats and storytelling approaches. In 2023, Discover Marble Arch invited history enthusiasts on a series of character-led walks exploring the area’s rich past. In 2024, Marble Arch became a canvas, illuminated with a striking gallery of iconic portraits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to mark the Platinum Jubilee. And in 2025, we launched Marble Arts Week, a vibrant series of creative workshops.

Community celebrations have always been at the heart of our approach. From our early sponsorship of Processions, commemorating 100 years of women’s suffrage, to Jubilee and Coronation street parties and bandstand concerts in Hyde Park, we have created opportunities for the neighbourhood to come together and celebrate. Our annual member events, hosted at standout local venues such as FRAMELESS and Moco Museum, continue to deepen networks, showcase member spaces and strengthen relationships.

Launched in our first year, our Taste of Marble Arch eating out guide has grown into a key initiative, profiling over 100 restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars. Regularly updated in both print and digital formats, over 100,000 copies of our guide have been distributed and our Marble Arch app continues this mission, helping users discover and access offers in local venues in just a few clicks.

Food-focused experiences have consistently driven engagement. From mixology masterclasses and chocolate tastings to food tours, our events have connected people to the rich culinary landscape of Edgware Road and Marble Arch. In recent years, we have showcased dozens of new openings, from boutique bakeries to global cuisines, helping members reach new customers and encouraging repeat visits.

We have taken every opportunity to elevate the area’s cultural significance, honour its heritage, share its stories and put culture at the forefront.

Our Culture Blog, now featuring over 100 stories, is one of the most visited sections of our website. It celebrates the people, businesses, events and public artworks that have shaped the area and remains a trusted resource for residents and visitors alike.

We launched permanent installations, like the heritage subway tunnel at Marble Arch Station in partnership with TfL and initiated cultural events such as character-led walking tours.

We published The Story of Marble Arch, a beautifully designed heritage booklet telling the little-known tale of how this triumphal arch came to be. With 20,000 copies distributed, the booklet is one of our most requested print assets.

To further share the district’s rich history, projects like the Marble Arch Culture Trail, launched in 2022, showcase over 60 cultural assets on a dedicated map, blending education with exploration.

Even before the BID’s first term, as an informal partnership, we came together with the local community in 2014 to repair the Tyburn Plaque at the junction of Edgware Road and Bayswater Road, roughly marking the site of the Tyburn Gallows. With the Tyburn Convent and local community leaders the stone plaque was surrounded by three new oak saplings planted by TfL. In 2025 seating was installed by TfL, for people wanting to pause in contemplation.

The BID’s namesake, the Marble Arch monument itself, was re-lit in 2017 by Westminster Council, to create a striking gateway to the west end. A formal management plan was jointly drawn up for the space surrounding the arch. English Heritage began a painstaking restoration of the monument in 2023 which was completed in 2025. The BID supported English Heritage with its proposals to fund the restoration via a scaffolding wrap.

The BID has been a steadfast supporter of the hospitality, retail and leisure sector, championing their needs, unlocking opportunities and standing alongside them through times of change.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our rapid communications, dedicated resource centre and sector-specific reopening toolkits helped hundreds of businesses navigate uncertainty. We advocated for outdoor seating, supported safe reopening and joined national lobbying efforts for wider government support.

More recently, we have amplified our members’ voices through campaigns for tax-free shopping and hosted an online Q&A session for hotels in January 2026, following the government’s announcement of new discretionary powers for Mayors to introduce an overnight levy.

We have consistently championed our members, amplifying their stories, celebrating their successes, and bringing greater visibility to their businesses. We have worked to keep Marble Arch in the spotlight and delivered high-impact PR campaigns that elevate the profile of the area and spotlight our members on the local, national, and international stage.

Earlier campaigns such as the Pride illumination of Marble Arch in 2019 achieved a combined reach of 11.5 million, demonstrating our ability to create visually impactful, widely covered moments that celebrate the character of the district.

In 2023, our Marble Arch crown installation to mark the Coronation featured in local, national and international outlets including BBC, The Guardian, Evening Standard and NBC News in the US.

In 2024, the BID partnered with The Church Commissioners to bring a Paddington bear statue to Connaught Village as part of Paddington Visits, a national campaign celebrating the release of Paddington in Peru. The campaign reached over 30 million people, drawing a fresh wave of visitors to the area.

Pop-Up Padel at Marble Arch, also in 2024, attracted strong media interest, generating 14 pieces of coverage with an estimated reach of 6 million.

Our website provides a dynamic platform to communicate our projects, as well as member campaigns, supporting local promotion and discovery. This focus is reflected in our growing digital presence: our social media channels collectively boast over 8,000 followers, while our website averages over 20,000 monthly website users, engaging a broad and diverse audience across channels.

To further connect members with local workers, residents and visitors, we launched the Marble Arch London app in 2023. Featuring more than 60 exclusive local deals, the app is rapidly becoming a go-to guide to the area, supporting footfall, encouraging exploration and driving custom directly to our members’ doors.

Working in partnership has been key to our success. We have worked closely with The Portman Estate, The Church Commissioners, Westminster City Council, The Royal Parks, and cultural partners including English Heritage, the National Portrait Gallery and the Mayor of London’s office to deliver high-impact joint campaigns.

We have supported marketing campaigns like Let’s Do London, Summer Village Vibes and the London Restaurant Festival, and co-hosted community-led initiatives. These collaborations have cemented Marble Arch’s place as a district that is connected, creative and ready to lead.

We also work in close partnership with major annual events in Hyde Park, including Winter Wonderland and BST Hyde Park, which provide a significant boost for local hotels by driving visitor demand and encouraging extended stays. Our role includes supporting local businesses to maximise the benefits of these events, helping them connect with new audiences and ensuring that guests are encouraged to explore the wider district, from dining and shopping to cultural attractions.