City of Westminster in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

John Logie Baird

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 26, 2026

1. John Logie Baird Marker

Inscription.
From this site John Logie Baird broadcast the first television programme in Great Britain on the 30th September 1929

Erected by Royal Television Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Entertainment • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is September 30, 1929.

Location. 51° 30.741′ N, 0° 7.558′ W. Marker is in City of Westminster, England, in Greater London. It is at the intersection of Long Acre and Slingsby Place, on the left when traveling east on Long Acre. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 132-133 Long Acre, City of Westminster, England WC2H 9JZ, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Dryden (within shouting distance

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of this marker); William Hazlitt (within shouting distance of this marker); John Jacob Holtzapffel (1768-1835) (within shouting distance of this marker); John Dryden Assaulted (within shouting distance of this marker); Dame Margot Fonteyn (within shouting distance of this marker); Sir John Gielgud (1904-2000) (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Aldridge’s Horse Bazaar (about 90 meters away); The Long Acre (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in City of Westminster.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . John Logie Baird: Why So Many Plaques? (The Londonist, April 2024). The article notes that there are six plaques within a few minutes walking distance of each other in the Soho/Covent Gardens area of central London, with this plaque being of note for indicating the (correct) location of the first transmitted television program (as opposed to a test or demonstration). Excerpt:

By 1929, Baird had perfected the technology to the point where he could begin a regular service. But how to transmit? His own rooftop experiments
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 26, 2026

2. John Logie Baird Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here above and to the left of the building entrance.
proved too weak for general broadcast, so he persuaded the BBC to lend him the use of of its 2LO radio transmitter. 30 September 1929 was the first occasion on which this was trialled. The action was filmed at 133 Long Acre, passed by landline to 2LO on Oxford Street, and then broadcast over the airwaves.

What exactly would you have seen had you been able to tune into that first television programme?

Proceedings opened in audio only, with announcer Sydney Moseley introducing the show. Then came the picture. The first person ever to appear on broadcast television was Professor Sir Ambrose Fleming, President of the Television Society and inventor of the thermionic valve.… He was followed by further monologues from William Graham MP (the first parliamentarian to be televised), UCL professor Edward Andrade, Yorkshire comedian Sydney Howard (the first light entertainment on TV), then two singers, Miss Lulu Stanley and Miss C. King. The first song broadcast by television was He’s Tall, and Dark, and Handsome, by Miss Stanley…

(Submitted on April 18, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 18, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.