From David Jones to David Bowie
Before he became the global icon David Bowie, he was David Jones—a boy growing up in a modest home in southeast London. That house, 4 Plaistow Grove in Bromley, where Bowie lived between the ages of 8 and 20, is now set to become a landmark destination for fans. The property has been acquired by the Heritage of London Trust in a landmark purchase, with plans to restore it to its early 1960s appearance and open it to the public in late 2027.
A Place of Beginnings
Bowie was born in Brixton, south London, and moved to the Bromley home with his parents in 1955. He lived there until 1967, around the time he released his self‑titled debut album on Decca Records, though he often returned in later years. It was in this house—particularly in his tiny upstairs bedroom—that Bowie began to dream of musical greatness, experimenting with sounds, records, and ideas that would eventually shape his extraordinary career.
Heritage Project Announcement
The restoration announcement was made on January 8, 2026, coinciding with what would have been Bowie’s 79th birthday, and just days before the 10th anniversary of his passing on January 10, 2016. The project follows the opening of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s permanent David Bowie Centre in Stratford, east London, in September 2025, further cementing Bowie’s legacy in the UK’s cultural landscape.
Curatorial Vision
Geoffrey Marsh, co‑curator of the acclaimed David Bowie Is exhibition that toured globally, will oversee the restoration of 4 Plaistow Grove. He will also curate a never‑before‑seen archive to accompany the site. Marsh reflected on the significance of the house:
“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.”
Bowie himself once described his bedroom as his “entire world,” filled with books, music, and his record player—a sanctuary that shaped his imagination before he stepped into the wider world.
Outlook
When reopened, the Bromley home will serve as both a heritage site and a pilgrimage destination, offering fans a glimpse into the formative years of one of music’s most transformative figures. It will stand as a testament to Bowie’s journey from suburban dreamer to international legend.