The childhood home of music icon David Bowie in Bromley, South London, is set for a meticulous restoration and will be opened to the public, offering fans a poignant glimpse into the star's formative years.
A Fitting Announcement on a Significant Day
The Heritage of London Trust revealed the exciting plans on Thursday, 9 January 2026. The date held dual significance: it would have been Bowie's 79th birthday and also marked the tenth anniversary of his critically acclaimed final album, Blackstar. Bowie died from cancer just two days after that album's release, following a private 18-month battle.
The charity has acquired the modest terraced property at 4 Plaistow Grove and intends to faithfully recreate the interior layout exactly as it was when the young David Jones lived there between the ages of eight and twenty.
More Than a Museum: A Creative Hub for the Future
Scheduled for completion by the tail-end of 2027, the project aims to be more than a static museum. The restored house will host creative and skills workshops for young people, aiming to provide a "solid foundation for the next generation" by building confidence and communication skills in the arts.
Geoffrey Marsh, co-curator of the Victoria and Albert Museum's landmark David Bowie Is exhibition, is involved. He emphasised the home's importance, stating: "It was in this small house, particularly in his tiny bedroom, that Bowie evolved from an ordinary suburban schoolboy to the beginnings of an extraordinary international stardom."
Marsh added, quoting Bowie: "'It really was my entire world. I had books up there, my music up there, my record player. Going from my world upstairs out onto the street, I had to pass through this no-man's-land of the living room.'" It was in this house that Bowie wrote his seminal hit, Space Oddity.
Preserving the Legacy of a Proud Londoner
Dr. Nicola Stacey, Director of the Heritage of London Trust, said: "David Bowie was a proud Londoner. Even though his career took him all over the world, he always remembered where he came from and the community that supported him as he grew up."
"It's wonderful to have this opportunity to tell his story and inspire a new generation," she continued, confirming the project has already secured a major grant of £500,000 from the Jones Day Foundation.
The news coincided with heartfelt tributes from Bowie's family. His widow, Iman, shared a photo on his birthday, writing: "A million feelings, a thousand thoughts. A hundred memories… YOU! Happy Heavenly Birthday." His daughter, Lexi, 24, also posted a throwback photo with the caption: "Da big 79 today. Happy birthday pops, miss ya!"
Bowie's cultural impact remains potent. His classic track Heroes recently saw a huge surge in streams after featuring prominently in the finale of Netflix's Stranger Things, a choice suggested by cast member and musician Joe Keery.
