HERITAGE

Queen Mary and local dignitaries follow King George V along the newly opened Great West Road, accompanied by Middlesex County Council representatives

Golden Mile London has shaped West London’s industrial and architectural identity. On 30 May 2025, we celebrated 100 years since the opening of the Great West Road — the birth of the ‘Golden Mile’ and a milestone in London’s industrial story.

On 27 November 2025 The Duke of Gloucester followed in his grandfather’s footsteps, and joined local dignitaries to mark the Golden Mile’s centenary

GM100 was a bold centenary programme marking this transformation — past, present and future — through exhibitions, public art, storytelling and collaboration.

As an official Partner Destination for the London Festival of Architecture, the Golden Mile was a key location in June 2025.

GM100 was supported by Golden Mile Business & Developers Forum, Hounslow’s Summer of Culture and the Creative Enterprise Zone team.

The map above and site profiles below can assist as you walk or cycle areas of the Golden Mile with significant historic buildings to visit.

You can discover the full history in the beautifully illustrated book The Great West Road: A Centenary History (Author: James Marshall) – available to buy online.

Sites to visit

Pyrene Factory (1928) – Today: Westlink House

The Pyrene Factory, built in 1928, was among the earliest Art Deco landmarks on the Golden Mile. Designed by Wallis, Gilbert & Partners, it features many signature motifs of the period — a strong vertical emphasis in the central tower, low horizontal flanking wings, and stylised sculptural reliefs.

Coty Factory (1933) – Today: Syon Clinic

Built in 1933 for the French perfume and cosmetics brand Coty, this building brought a touch of glamour to Brentford’s industrial corridor. Designed by the celebrated firm Wallis, Gilbert & Partners, it features a restrained yet sophisticated take on the Art Deco style, with clean lines, stylised window groupings, and an understated sense of symmetry and poise

Firestone Tyre Factory (1928) – Today: Firestone LDN

Built in 1928 for the American Firestone Tyre and Rubber Company, this was one of the earliest and most celebrated Art Deco factories on the Golden Mile, designed by Wallis, Gilbert & Partners. Its Egyptian-inspired detailing, geometric forms, and bold colour palette made it a standout. Shockingly it was demolished...

Gillette Factory (1936–1937) – Today: 180 Studios

This Art Deco masterpiece was designed by Sir Banister Fletcher for the American razor giant Gillette and opened in 1937 as the company’s European manufacturing base. With its dramatic 150-foot clock tower and meticulously symmetrical brick and Portland stone façade, the factory quickly became a beacon of industrial elegance

Simmonds Aerocessories Factory (1936–1942) – Today: Wallis House

Wallis House is one of the Golden Mile’s most iconic surviving buildings, designed by the renowned firm Wallis, Gilbert & Partners. Originally built for Simmonds Aerocessories, the building reflects the era's industrial ambition and Art Deco elegance

Currys Factory & Head Office (1935–1936) – Today: JCDecaux

Completed in the mid-1930s, the Currys Factory and Head Office stood as a symbol of streamlined modernity. Its clean lines, horizontal emphasis, and integrated central tower made it one of the most stylistically refined buildings on the Golden Mile.