The Golden Mile Centenary (GM100) celebrations launched in style over the weekend of 30 May to 1 June, marking 100 years since King George V officially opened the iconic stretch of industrial West London.
The centenary festivities began on Friday 30 May with an exclusive exhibition preview at The Potting Shed in Boston Manor Park. Organised by local community group Brentford Voice, the event attracted a large audience of local residents, historians, councillors and business leaders. The exhibition then opened to the public across the weekend, welcoming over 500 visitors eager to explore the Golden Mile’s rich heritage.
Curated around materials from The Great West Road – A Centenary History by James Marshall, who also attended the event, the exhibition featured striking display boards, historical photography, and two immersive film screenings. One, The Temples of Industry, spotlighted the factories and people that shaped the Golden Mile. The second traced the road’s evolution through rare archival footage, from its ceremonial opening in 1925 to the present day.
Brentford Voice Chair John Dale said: “We were thrilled by the turnout and enthusiasm across the weekend. It shows just how much affection and interest there is in the Golden Mile’s story, and how central it remains to Brentford’s identity.”
The celebrations continued on Saturday 31 May with the GM100 Classic Car Cavalcade, delivered in partnership with Duke of London. Around 40 classic vehicles departed Duke of London at noon, cruising the Golden Mile from Boston Manor Road to Gillette Corner in a nostalgic parade that drew crowds along the route.
Drivers and spectators alike soaked up the sun, honked horns, waved flags, and enjoyed complimentary coffees at Duke of London, bringing community spirit and vintage charm to the industrial heart of West London.
The weekend’s events also marked the beginning of the Golden Mile’s official partnership with the London Festival of Architecture (LFA), running throughout June. Brentford is one of the LFA’s featured destinations this year, with exhibitions, installations and talks celebrating the area’s architectural legacy and transformation.
More information about upcoming GM100 and LFA events in Brentford is available at goldenmile.london and londonfestivalofarchitecture.org.
