An "immersive experience" dedicated to the legendary musician David Bowie will open at his childhood home in south-east London, it has been announced. The project, set to welcome the public in 2026, will see the suburban house where Bowie wrote 'Space Oddity' meticulously restored and filled with creative workshops.
From Suburban Bedroom to Stardom
The terraced house at 4 Plaistow Grove in Bromley was Bowie's home from the age of eight until he was twenty. The Heritage of London Trust has now acquired the property and plans to restore it to its early 1960s appearance, guided by a never-before-seen archive curated with the help of Geoffrey Marsh, co-curator of the V&A's acclaimed 'David Bowie Is' exhibition.
Marsh emphasised the significance of the location, stating it was in this small house, particularly his tiny bedroom, that Bowie transformed from an ordinary schoolboy into the beginnings of an international icon. The singer himself once reflected on the importance of that personal space, describing it as his "entire world."
Funding a Creative Legacy
The restoration and development of the site are backed by a major grant of £500,000 from the Jones Day Foundation, supplemented by a public fundraising campaign launching this month. Nicola Stacey, director of the Heritage of London Trust, said Bowie was a proud Londoner who never forgot his roots.
"It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to tell his story and inspire a new generation," Stacey said. The trust aims for the house to continue Bowie's legacy of "free creative experimentation," inspired by the Beckenham Arts Lab he helped establish. Workshops will be run through the trust's Proud Places and Proud Prospects initiatives.
A Poignant Announcement
The acquisition was revealed on January 8, 2026, which would have been David Bowie's birthday. The date also falls just two days before the tenth anniversary of his death on January 10, 2016, and marks a decade since the release of his final album, 'Blackstar'.
The house is located near the Edwardian "Bowie bandstand" in Bromley, where the musician performed in 1969 and which was restored in 2024. George Underwood, Bowie's lifelong friend, remarked on the humble beginnings of a global star, saying, "We were dreamers, and look what he became."
David Bowie, widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of all time, achieved five UK number one singles and eleven number one albums, constantly reinventing his sound and persona across a decades-long career that spanned glam rock, soul, and electronic music.
