The house where David Jones became David Bowie.
20/03/2026
"The most exciting place for any fan to visit is their hero's teenage bedroom - because that's the cocoon where they built themselves. All the world-changing started there".
As journalist, broadcaster and author Caitlin Moran puts it - there’s nowhere more powerful than the place it all began. ✨🚀
Visit bowieshouse.org to support the project - link in bio
🎸 On this day in Bowie history.
Before the world knew David Bowie, there was Bowie and the Buzz. On 4 March 1966, after performing “Can’t Help Thinking About Me” live on Ready Steady Go!, the band headed to Chislehurst Caves () for one of their early underground gigs – quite literally, deep within the labyrinthine tunnels.
Now a historic landmark, the Caves were once a raw, electric live music venue, hosting Bowie alongside some of the era’s most exciting emerging artists. We know he performed here on this day in 1966, but this remains a hidden chapter in his early story.
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📣 Community call-out
60 years on, Heritage of London Trust () is restoring Bowie’s childhood home in Bromley, and we’re turning to the local community to help uncover more pieces of his past.
Were you at the Caves that night? Do you have photos, memories or stories from this legendary gig – or know someone who does? #
💌 Get in touch. We’d love to share this extraordinary moment in Bowie history.
📸 Image of David Bowie and the Buzz, credit Kevin Cann
27/02/2026
Did you know there is a Bowie Bandstand in Beckenham? 🎶
Located a stone’s throw from Bowie’s House, this landmark of music, memory and community was built in 1905 and is the last traditional bandstand in Bromley, made famous by David Bowie and his legendary Free Festival of 1969.
Once in serious disrepair, in 2024 the Beckenham Bandstand was beautifully restored through a community-led project with Bromley Council and Heritage of London Trust — bringing a vital piece of cultural history back to life for future generations. Local children got up close to the gilding work and showcased their own musical talents in this much loved local landmark.
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12/02/2026
Press Hits 📰
Since announcing Heritage of London Trust's plans to restore David Bowie’s childhood home at 4 Plaistow Grove, Bromley, we’ve been blown away by the response.
We’ve had brilliant press coverage — sharing a highlight from The Times here. Read the full article here:
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/london/article/david-bowie-childhood-home-bromley-london-heritage-museum-w2t5zr0mw
With thanks to The Outside Organisation
From a modest terrace in Bromley to global stardom ✨
Using rare archival imagery, Heritage of London Trust is restoring 4 Plaistow Grove – the house that shaped a young David Bowie and the very beginnings of his extraordinary career.
As Director Nicola Stacey explains:
“We are going to return this house to how it looked in the 1960s. These were the formative years of David Bowie’s life where he had his first hit single Space Oddity in 1969, and by the end of the decade he had really made it.”
A small house. A seismic legacy.
Follow along for more updates 🚀
Visit bowieshouse.org to support the project.
📸 Image credits: David Bowie Estate and Geoff McCormack
📸 Snapshots to the past.
Before the icon, before the stages, there was a boy in this house. A small two-up, two down in south London that shaped a huge imagination.
Using archival images, the project will recreate the interior to its original layout, offering a glimpse into 1960s domestic life and the place it all began.
Due to open in 2027, donations today will enable restoration work, the curation of the house and programme development to inspire imaginations of the future.
→ See how you can support via link in bio.
Images: David Bowie Estate
Heritage of London Trust