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The Mayor's vision to celebrate London's population and history

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with more than 300 languages spoken every day. Yet its statues, plaques and street names don't reflect our city's stories.

The Mayor is committed to ensuring that the capital’s population and history are celebrated and commemorated. After unveiling of the statue of suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square in 2018 – the first statue of a woman in the Square – the Mayor and his senior team set up the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.

The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm was an initiative, established by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, to review and assess public tributes including statues and other landmarks.

The Commission’s ambition was to celebrate London’s distinctiveness in a more inclusive manner.

Artist Jasmin Kaur Sehra artwork of Mala Sen on Brick Lane

Meet the Mayor's super-group of panel members to guide best practice to increase diversity of public realm on London.

Members of the Commission for the Diversity in the Public Realm

What the Mayor is doing to promote diversity in the capital’s public realm

London is getting a memorial to victims of transatlantic slavery. View the shortlist and offer your thoughts.

Collage of proposals for the Memorial to transatlantic slavery

The Mayor of London is supporting 70 community-led projects to make a change in our public spaces.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm Untold Stories by Carleen D

Read case studies from community-led organisations across London, funded by the Mayor of London’s Untold Stories programme.

A street mural, part of the Black Icons project (photo credit Luke O’Shea-Phillips)

Get involved

Colourful representation of different monuments in London and diverse communities

London Unseen

London Unseen was a season of trails, tours and events that celebrated the many incredible histories of the city, as told by communities, practitioners, artists and activists.

Curated on behalf of the Mayor of London's Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, the season supported over 20 community heritage practitioners to provide over 40 events free of charge to the public.

Find out more

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