The Arc is London Heritage Quarter’s placemaking programme for the streets and spaces linking Victoria Station with Westminster’s civic, cultural and heritage core.
Running through Palace Street, Tothill Street, Petty France, Broadway and Queen Anne’s Gate, The Arc brings together walking, wayfinding, greening, heritage interpretation and public realm activation to create a more legible, welcoming and connected urban environment.
What is the Arc?
The Arc is a distinctive pedestrian route through Victoria Westminster, connecting major landmarks, institutions, workplaces, schools, community spaces and transport hubs.
London Heritage Quarter is working with partners, landowners, businesses and Westminster City Council to bring forward practical, incremental improvements that support walking, exploration, local identity and a better everyday experience of the area.
The Arc is not a single capital project. It is a long-term placemaking framework delivered through coordinated interventions, from wayfinding and public art to greening, activation and small-scale public realm improvements.
Our vision
The Arc will become a clearer, greener and more enjoyable walking route through Victoria Westminster – one that celebrates the area’s heritage, supports local businesses and institutions, and encourages people to move through, pause within and explore the area.
The programme supports London Heritage Quarter’s wider aims to improve the experience of the public realm, promote sustainable movement, enhance local identity and create places that work better for workers, residents, visitors and communities.
What London Heritage Quarter is delivering for The Arc Project
- Arc Walking Route – We are developing a clearer identity for the Arc as a pedestrian route, helping people understand how Victoria connects to Westminster’s wider civic and heritage landscape. This includes a new Arc guide map and a coordinated banner programme to improve legibility, highlight key destinations and encourage walking between major landmarks, cultural institutions and local spaces.
- Wayfinding and Identity – The Arc will use consistent visual cues, walking times and destination information to make the route easier to understand at street level. The aim is to create a recognisable corridor without overwhelming the historic character of the area.
- Greening and Public Realm Improvements – We are exploring opportunities for small-scale greening, planting and environmental improvements along the route. These interventions will help soften the streetscape, improve biodiversity and create a more welcoming walking environment.
- Activation and Local Partnerships – The Arc programme also provides a platform for events, cultural activity, business involvement and community engagement. We are working with local partners to identify opportunities for temporary installations, creative projects and activities that bring more life to underused spaces.
Key Project Principles
- Connected and Legible – Making it easier for people to understand the route and move between Victoria, Westminster and surrounding destinations.
- Heritage-sensitive – Celebrating the area’s architectural, civic and cultural character while ensuring interventions feel appropriate to their setting.
- People-first – Supporting walking, accessibility, comfort and a better everyday experience for people using the area.
- Green and Resilient – Introducing opportunities for planting, biodiversity and climate-conscious public realm improvements where possible.
- Incremental and Deliverable – Focusing on practical projects that can be delivered in stages, while contributing to a longer-term vision for the area.
Current Projects for The Arc
- Arc Guide Map – A pedestrian-first map designed to help workers, visitors, residents and local communities explore the Arc and understand the area as a connected district.
- Arc Street Banners – A coordinated series of street banners providing route identity, walking times and destination cues across the Arc.
- Palace Street Opportunities – Identifying heritage-sensitive improvements and activation opportunities along Palace Street, subject to permissions and partnership working.
- Greening Pilots – Testing small-scale greening interventions that can enhance the route and support biodiversity.
Get involved and help shape the next phase of The Arc
We are continuing to work with local partners, businesses and stakeholders to shape the next phase of the Arc. If you are based along the route and would like to discuss opportunities for greening, activation, events, public realm improvements or partnership working, please contact the London Heritage Quarter team on info@london-hq.co.uk