Blue Plaques
Did you know that only 14% of the Blue Plaques erected and maintained by English Heritage are dedicated to women.
There is a campaign allowing members of the public to nominate women who deserve a plaque to honour their contribution to British Heritage, to find out more click here.
Ada, Countess of Lovelace (1815-1852), Pioneer of Computing. 12 St James’s Square, plaque installed 1992
Dame Agatha Christie, (1890–1976), Writer of detective novels, plays and short stories. 58 Sheffield Terrace, Holland Park, plaque installed 2001
Agnes Arber- publishing eight books and more than 90 scientific papers on the field of botany, the first female botanist to be elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society- 9 Elsworthy Terrace, Primrose Hill, London NW3 3DR
Alic Meynell (1847-1922), Suffragette, poet and essayist. 47 Palace Court, Bayswater, plaque installed 1948
Alison Uttley- Author- Castle Top Farm, Cromford, Derbyshire
Amelia Edwards (1831–1892), Egyptologist and writer. 19 Wharton Street, Islington, plaque installed 1926
Amy Johnson (1903–1941), Aviator. Vernon Court, Hendon Way, Cricklewood
Ann Oldfield (1683-1730), Actress at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. 60 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, plaque installed 1992
Anna Freud (1895–1982), pioneer psychoanalyst and child of Sigmund Freud. 20 Maresfield Gardens (now the Freud Museum), Hampstead, plaque installed 2002
Anne Brontë- Writer- Grand Hotel, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Anna Maria Garthwaite (1690–1763), Textile designer who designed Spitalfields Silks. 2 Princelet Street, Spitalfields, plaque installed 1998
Annie Besant (1847–1933), Social reformer. 39 Colby Road, Gipsy Hill, plaque installed 1963
Ava Gardener (1922-1990), American actress and singer. 34 Ennismore Gardens, Knightsbridge, plaque installed 2016
Barbara Hammond (1873–1961), Social historian. ‘Hollycot’, Vale of Health Hampstead, plaque installed 1972 – shares the plaque with her husband, J.L. Hammond (1865-1922) who she wrote her books with
Beatrice Webb (1858-1943), One of the founders of LSE. Social scientist and political reformer. 1 Netherhall Gardens, Hampstead, plaque installed 1981 – shares the plaque with her husband, Sidney Webb (1859-1947) who was a member of the Fabian society and also founded LSE.
Caroline Chisholm (1808–1877), Humanitarian and philanthropist involved in the welfare of female immigrant welfare in Australia. 32 Charlton Place, Islington, plaque installed 1983
Dame Celia Johnson (1908–1982), Actress who was nominated for Academy Award Best Actress. 46 Richmond Hill, Richmond, plaque installed 2008
Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830–1894), Poet. 30 Torrington Square, Bloomsbury, plaque installed 1913
Dame Clara Butt (1872–1937), Singer. 7 Harley Road, Swiss Cottage, plaque installed 1969
Clementine Churchill- Wife of Winston Churchill- 107 High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
Constance Spry (1886–1960), A pioneering florist and educator. 64 South Audley Street, Mayfair, plaque installed 2012
Dorothea Lambert Chambers (1878–1960), Lawn Tennis champion. 7 North Common Road, Ealing
Dorothy Bland, (1762-1816), Actress. 30 Cadogan Place, Chelsea, plaque installed 1975
Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957), Crime writer and poet. 24 Great James Street, Holborn, plaque installed 2000
Dame Edith Evans (1888-1976), English actress who was nominated for three Academy Awards. 109 Ebury Street, Belgravia, plaque installed 1997
Dame Edith Evans (1888-1976), English actress who was nominated for three Academy Awards. 109 Ebury Street, Belgravia, plaque installed 1997
Edith Cavell (1865–1915) Pioneer of modern nursing who saved hundreds of soldiers in the First World War. London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel, plaque installed 1988
Edith Sitwell (1887–1964), Poet. Greenhill, Hampstead High Street, Hampstead, plaque installed 1998
Dame Edwina Mountbatten (1901-1960), the last Vicereine of India. 2 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, plaque installed 2000 – shares the plaque with her husband, Louis Mountbatten, Earl of Mountbatten of Burma (1900-1979), the last Viceroy of India
Eleanor Marx (1855–1898), Socialist campaigner. 7 Jews Walk, Sydenham
Eleanor Rathbone (1872–1946), British MP and campaigner for a family allowance and women’s rights. Tufton Court, Tufton Street, Westminster, plaque installed 1986
Dame Ellen Terry (1847-1928), Shakespearean actress. 22 Barkston Gardens, Earls Court, plaque installed 1951
Elisabeth Welch (1904–2003), Singer and Actress. Ovington Court, Ovington Gardens, off Brompton Road, Kensington, plaque installed 2012
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861), Poet. 50 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, plaque installed 1899
Elizabeth Bell- Physician, Suffragist- Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, Northern Ireland
Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973), Irish novelist and short story writer. 1-7 Clarence Terrace, Regent’s Park, plaque installed 2012
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (1810-1865), often known as Mrs Gaskell, was a novelist who wrote Cranford and North and South. 93 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, plaque installed 1913
Elizabeth David- cookery writer who is credited with introducing post-war England to Mediterranean food- 24 Halsey Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 2PT, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (1836-1917), First woman to qualify as a doctor. 20 Upper Berkeley Street, Marylebone, plaque installed 1962
Elizabeth Jesser Reid- Slavery abolitionist and founder of Bedford College for Women- 48 Bedford Square, WC1
Emma Cons, (1837-1912), Founder of the Old Vic theatre and philanthropist. 136 Seymour Place, Marylebone, plaque installed 1978
Emily Davis, Founder of Girton College, Cambridge. 17 Cunningham Place, Lisson Grove, plaque installed 1978
Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) and Dame Christabel Pankhurst (1880–1958), Campaigners for Women’s Suffrage. 50 Clarendon Road, Notting Hill, plaque installed 2006
Enid Bagnold (1889–1981), novelist and playwright. 29 Hyde Park Gate, Kensington, plaque installed 1997
Enid Blyton (1897–1968), Children’s author. 207 Hook Road, Chessington, plaque installed 2007
Ethel Gordon Fenwick (1857-1947), Nurse who campaigned for reform and a national certificate for nursing. 20 Upper Wimpole Street, Marylebone, plaque installed 1999
Evelyn de Morgan (1855–1919), Artist influenced by the Pre-Raphelite movement. 127 Old Church Street, Chelsea, plaque installed 1937 – shares the plaque with her husband, William de Morgan (1839-1917) who was a ceramic artist and novelist
Fanny Burney (1752-1840), Novelist, diarist and playwright who was known as Madame D’Arblay after her marriage. 11 Bolton Street, Mayfair, plaque installed 1885
Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), Credited as the founder of modern nursing, sometimes referred to as The Lady with the Lamp. 10 South Street, Mayfair, plaque installed 1955
Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924), Author who wrote The Secret Garden. 63 Portland Place, Marylebone, plaque installed 1979George Eliot (1819–1880), novelist. 4 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, plaque installed 1949
Frances Mary Buss (1827–1894) Pioneer of education for women was the headmistress of Camden School for Girls 1879-1894. Camden School for Girls, Sandall Road, Kentish Town, plaque installed 2000
Georgette Heyer (1902–1974), novelist. 103 Woodside, Wimbledon, plaque installed 2015
Gertrude Bell – a traveller, archaeologist and diplomat who became highly influential to British imperial policy-making- 95 Sloane Street in Chelsea
Dame Gracie Fields (1898–1979), singer and entertainer. 72A Upper Street, Islington, plaque installed 2011
Gwen Raverat- Artist- Darwin College, Silver Street, Cambridge
Hannah Billig- Physician- 198 Cable Street, E1
Dame Henrietta Barnett (1851–1936), founder of Hampstead Garden Suburb. Heath End House, Spaniards Road, Hampstead, plaque installed 1983 – shares the plaque with Samuel Barnett (1844-1913), her husband
Hertha Ayrton (1854–1923), British engineer, mathematician, inventor and physicist who was awarded the Hughes Medal by the Royal Society. 41 Norfolk Square, Paddington, plaque installed 2007
Hetty King- Music Hall Male Impersonator- 17 Palmerston Road Wimbledon, London
Dame Ida Mann (1893–1983), Ophthalmologist who researched the influences of genetics and social factors on eye disease. 13 Minster Road, West Hampstead, plaque installed 2012
Dame Ivy Compton-Burnett, (1884–1969), novelist, 5 Braemar Mansions. Cornwall Gardens, Kensington, plaque installed 1994
Jane Francesca, Lady Wilde “Speranza” (1821–1901), Irish poet and supporter of the Nationalist movement. 87 Oakley Street, Chelsea, plaque installed 2000
Jane Loudon (1807-1858), Writer of science fiction and the first popular horticultural books. 3 Porchester Terrace, Bayswater, plaque installed 1953 – shares the plaque with her husband, John Loudon (1783-1843) a botanist and garden designer.
Jean Rhys (1890–1979), writer born in Dominica who lived in Britain from the age of 16. Paultons House, Paultons Square, Chelsea, plaque installed 2012
Jennie Lee (1904-1988), Labour MP for North Lanarkshire (1929-31) and Cannock (1945-1970). Leading role in founding the Open University as Minister for the Arts (1964-1970). 23 Cliveden Place, Belgravia, plaque installed 2015 – shares the plaque with Aneurin Bevan (1897-1960), her husband who was also a politician.
Jenny Lind (a.k.a. Madame Goldschmidt), (1820–1887), Singer who was nicknamed the ‘Swedish Nightingale’. 189 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, plaque installed 1909
Jessie Ace and Margaret Wright – Heroines of Mumbles Lifeboat disaster – Mumbles Pier, Swansea, Wales
Jessie Matthews- Actress, dancer and singer- Blue Posts Pub, 22 Berwick Street, W1
Joanna Baillie (1762–1851), Poet and dramatist. Bolton House, Windmill Hill, Hampstead
Josephine Butler (1828–1906), Champion of Women’s Suffrage, rights and education. 8 North View, Wimbledon, plaque installed 2001
Joyce Grenfell (1910–1979), Entertainer, actor and writer. 34 Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea, plaque installed 2003
Kate Greenaway (1846–1901), Artist and writer known for her children’s illustrations. 39 Frognal Hampstead, plaque installed 1949
Katherine Mansfield 1888-1923 writer, 17 East Heath Road, Hampstead, plaque installed 1969 – shares the plaque with her husband, John Middleton Murry (1889-1957), a prominent critic
Kathleen Ferrier (1912–1953), Contralto singer. 97 Frognal, Hampstead, plaque installed 1979
Kathleen Godfree (1896–1922), Lawn Tennis Champion and the most decorated female British Olympian, joint with Katherine Grainger. 55 York Avenue, East Sheen, plaque installed 2006
Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970), English Impressionist artist. 16 Langford Place, St John’s Wood, plaque installed 1983 – shares the plaque with her husband, Harold Knight (1874-1961) who was also an artist.
Lilian Baylis (1874–1937), Manager of the Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells Theatres. 27 Stockwell Park Road, Stockwell, plaque installed 1974Lillie Langtry, (1853–1929), Actress who was nicknamed ‘The Jersey Lily’ and mistress of the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. 21 Pont Street (now the Cadogan Hotel), Chelsea, plaque installed 1980
Lilian Lindsay (1871–1960), The first woman to qualify as a dentist in Britain. 3 Hungerford Road, Holloway, plaque installed 2019
Dame Lucie Rie (1902-1995), A studio potter. 18 Albion Mews, Paddington, plaque installed 2008
Margaret Lockwood – starring in many films including Alfre Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes, Lockwood is one of Britain’s most popular film stars of the 1930s and 1940s- 14 Highland Rd, West Norwood, London SE19 1DP
Dame Margaret Rutherford (1892–1972), Actress. 4 Berkeley Place, Wimbledon, plaque installed 2002Dame Margot Fonteyn- dominating the world of ballet for more than 40 years, Fonteyn is widely regarded as the greatest ballet dancer of her generation- 118 Long Acre in Covent Garden
Maria Dickin (1870–1951), Founder of PDSA and promoter of animal welfare. 41 Cassland Road, Hackney, plaque installed 2015
Dame Marie Rambert (1888–1982), Founder of Ballet Rambert, a leading dance company. 19 Campden Hill Gardens, Holland Park, plaque installed 1997
Marie Kendall- Music Hall Artiste- Okeover Manor Clapham Common Northside, London
Marie Lloyd (1870–1922), Music Hall singer, comedian and actress. 55 Graham Road, Hackney, plaque installed 1977
Marie Stopes (1880–1958), promoter of sex education and birth control- 28 cintra park
Marie Taglioni (1809-1884), Swedish ballet dancer. 14 Connaught Square, Paddington, plaque installed 1960
Dame Marie Tempest (1864-1942), Singer and actress. 24 Park Crescent, Regent’s Park, plaque installed 1972
Marie Tussaud (1761-1850), Wax artist. 24 Wellington Road, St John’s Wood, plaque installed 2001
Marion Dorn (1896-1964), Textile designer. Swan Court, Chelsea Manor Street, Chelsea, plaque installed 2015
Martina Bergman-Österberg (1849–1915), pioneer of physical education for women. 1 Broadhurst Gardens, Hampstead, plaque installed 1999
Mary Barbour- Scottish social reformer, Rent Strike Leader, Women’s Peace Crusader and pioneering woman councillor in Glasgow- 10 Hutton Drive, Linthouse, Glasgow
Mary Hughes (1860–1941), second wife of Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes known for her charity work with servicemen. 71 Vallance Road, Bethnal Green, plaque installed 1961
Mary Macarthur (1880–1921), Trade Unionist and campaigner for working women. 42 Woodstock Road, Golders Green
Mary Seacole (1805-1881), Jamaican nurse and heroine of the Crimean war. 14 Soho Square, Soho, plaque installed 2007
Mary Shelley (1797-1851), Author of Frankenstein. 24 Chester Square, Belgravia, plaque installed 2003
Melanie Klein (1882-1960), Psychoanalyst and pioneer of child analysis. 42 Clifton Hill, St John’s Wood, plaque installed 1985
Millicent Garrett Fawcett (1847–1929), Pioneer of women’s suffrage. 2 Gower Street, Bloomsbury, plaque installed 1954
Dame Myra Hess- Pianist -48 Wildwood Road, Hampstead Garden Suburb
Nancy Astor (1879-1964), First woman to sit in Parliament. 4 St James’s Square, plaque installed 1987
Nancy Mitford (1904-1973), The eldest of the Mitford sisters. Author and biographer. 10 Curzon Street, Mayfair, plaque installed 1999
Dame Nelly Melba (1861–1931), Soprano Opera singer. Coombe House, Devey Close, Coomber, plaque installed 2000
Dame Ninette de Valois (1898–2001), Founder of the Royal Ballet. 14 The Terrace, Barnes, plaque installed 2006
Sister Nivedita (Margaret Noble) (1867-1911), Irish teacher, author and campaigner for Indian Independence. 21A High Street, Wimbledon, plaque installed 2017
Noor Inayat Khan – a British heroine of the Second World War and the first female radio operator sent into Nazi-occupied France- Taviton street, Bloomsbury, London
Octavia Hill (1838-1912), Housing reformer and co-founder of The National Trust. 2 Garbutt Place, Marylebone, plaque installed 1991
Olave Baden-Powell- Chief Guide of the Girl Guides- Shentall Memorial Gardens Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Lady Ottoline Morrell (1873–1938), Literary hostess and patron of the arts. 10 Gower Street Bloomsbury, plaque installed 1986
Ouida (1839–1908), the pseudonym of the novelist Maria Louise Rame. 11 Ravenscourt Square, Hammersmith, plaque installed 1952
P.L. Travers- Author of Mary Poppins- 50 Smith Street, London SW3
Rachel McMillan (1859–1917) and Margaret McMillan (1860–1931), Pioneers of Nursery education. 51 Tweedy Road, Bromley
Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958), A chemist who was a pioneer of the study of molecular structures, including DNA. Donovan Court, Drayton Gardens, Chelsea, plaque installed 1992
Rose Macaulay (1881-1958), Writer most known for her book The Towers of Trebizond, Hinde House. 11-14 Hinde Street, Marylebone, plaque installed 1996
Ruth First (1925–1982), South African Freedom Fighter killed by a parcel bomb in Mozambique. 13 Lyme Street, Camden Town, plaque installed 2003 – shares the plaque with Joe Slovo (1926-1995) South African politician and opponent of apartheid
Princess Serafina Astafieva (1876–1934), Russian ballet dancer. 152 King’s Road, Chelsea, plaque installed 1968
Stella Lady Reading, Founder of the Women’s Voluntary Services. 41 Tothill Street, Westminster, plaque installed 2017
Stevie Smith (1902–1971), Poet. 1 Avondale Road, Palmers Green
Susan Lawrence (1871-1947), Labour MP for East Ham North (1923-24, 1926-31). One of the first female MPs. 44 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, plaque installed 1987
Dame Sybil Thorndike (1882–1976), Shakespearean actress. 6 Carlyle Square, Chelsea, plaque installed 1998
Sylvia Pankhurst (1882–1960), Campaigner for Women’s Rights. 120 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, plaque installed 1985
Sylvia Plath, (1932–1963), Poet. 3 Chalcot Square. Primrose Hill, plaque installed 2000
Tamara Karsavina (1885–1978) Russian prima ballerina who taught in London. 108 Frognal, Hampstead, plaque installed 1987
Vera Brittain (1893–1970) and Winifred Holtby (1898–1935), writers and reformers. 58 Doughty Street, Holborn, plaque installed 1995
Violet Bonham Carter (1887-1969), Politician and writer. 43 Gloucester Square, Paddington, plaque installed 1994
Violette Szabo (1921–1945), French/British secret agent who was captured in occupied France during the Second World War and executed. 18 Burnley Road, Stockwell, plaque installed 1981
Virginia Woolf, (1882–1941), Novelist and critic. 29 Fitzroy Square, Fitzrovia, plaque installed 1974
Vita Sackville-West (1892-1962), writer and gardener. 182 Ebury Street, Belgravia, plaque installed 1993 – shares the plaque with her husband, Sir Harold Nicolson (1886-1968), a British diplomat and author.
Vivien Leigh (1913-1967), Actress and winner of two Academy Awards, one for playing Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939). 54 Eaton Square, Belgravia, plaque installed 1996