Maida Vale in City of Westminster in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Maida Vale Studios
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Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2026
1. Maida Vale Studios Marker
Home of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Radiophonic Workshop
1934
Erected by The BBC.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.
Location. 51° 31.573′ N, 0° 11.461′ W. Marker is in City of Westminster, England, in Greater London. It is in Maida Vale. It is on Delaware Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120-129 Delaware Road, City of Westminster, England W9, 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: Edward Ardizzone (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Vera Brittain (about 180 meters away); Alec Guinness (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Tony Meehan (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Jackie Forster (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Andreas Kalvos (approx. half a kilometer away); Spanish & Portuguese Jews' Congregation War Memorial (approx. half a kilometer away); George Edward Halford Memorial (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in City of Westminster.
Also see . . . Maida Vale Studios (Wikipedia). History:
The complex was built in 19091910 as the Maida Vale American Skating Palace.Over a period of 15 months in 19331934, the roller skating rink was reduced to a shell then rebuilt as a BBC facility. The arches at the doorway were preserved. It was one of the BBC's earliest premises, and was the centre of the BBC News operation during World War II.
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It has been the home of the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 1934, where the orchestra has given invitation concerts, usually free. As a schoolboy, conductor Vernon Handley learned some of his technique by watching Sir Adrian Boult conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra here. Studio MV1 has room for an orchestra of over 150 musicians and an audience of over 200. An unusual feature of these concerts is that they were often recorded, which means that in later years the orchestra was sometimes able to do re-takes. It is the largest classical music studio in London.
The BBC Third Programme (which became BBC Radio 3 in 1967) was created in September 1946. By the 1950s, it was frequently broadcasting concerts from this venue, including the first broadcast performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, given by the resident orchestra with the Goldsmiths Choral Union and soloists. Some premieres of British classical music were recorded in studio MV1, including works by Robert Simpson, Arnold Bax, Nicholas Maw, Alan Rawsthorne and Sir Arthur Bliss. Many of them later became available on vinyl or CD.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2026
2. Maida Vale Studios Marker - wide view
Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 2, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
