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Lime Grove community

An old brick building with ornate windows and neatly trimmed hedges in front
An old brick building with ornate windows and neatly trimmed hedges in front
Lime Grove facade, 2024, UAL | Photograph: Ana Blumenkron

Revitalising 40 Lime Grove to nurture the next generation of creators and innovators.

UAL’s new School of Pre-Degree Studies is based at Lime Grove, marking a new era for this loved west London location, steeped in history. For over a century, Lime Grove has been providing creative education and technical skills to young people.

It was originally home to Hammersmith College of Art and Building. In 1914, a trade school was added for women specialising in dressmaking, millinery, embroidery and hairdressing. London College of Fashion moved into the building in 2001, transforming it into a UAL campus.

Following the relocation of London College of Fashion to a new home on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford in September 2023, UAL’s School of Pre-Degree Studies moved to Lime Grove and opened it’s doors in September 2024. We are working hard to revitalise and refurbish the campus to establish a new home for all of UAL’s pre-degree and further education studies, preserving its use for education.

The Council approved works to the site include:

  • Sensitive refurbishment of parts of the site to respect its historic role in the creative fabric of the area to facilitate teaching
  • new external lifts across blocks C and D for improved accessibility
  • removing and demolition of non original and redundant elements of blocks A and D
  • improvements to the public realm, including high-quality landscaping and improved cycle parking.

In June 2024 we hosted 2 public drop in events to allow local residents to take a tour of the site and learn more about our proposals for 40 Lime Grove. Thank you to everyone who attended these events and left their feedback. The consultation materials which were displayed at these events are available for viewing (PDF 1.3MB). The Feedback was considered and incorporated wherever possible into the proposals which were approved by Hammersmith & Fulham Council on 14 February 2025.

The detailed design phase of the project is progressing well, prior to the building works starting and we will do our best to  keep disruption to a minimum. The project  should be completed in November 2025.

Stories

  • Two students walking up the steps in the reception of UAL Pre-Degree Studies. The walls behind the stairs are made of dark green tiles and a long cream garment hangs from above as an installation piece next to the stairway.
    This toile hanging down the staircase was based one in the UAL Archives made by Joy Lewis, a student in the 1950s. 2023 Stairway in UAL Pre-Degree Studies, UAL | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson

    Uncovering Lime Grove's history of art, fashion and music

    The neighbourhood around UAL’s Pre-degree Studies may be unfamiliar to new students. Located in Shepherd’s Bush, West London, Lime Grove has a rich artistic and creative history across art, fashion, film and music.

  • Person walking up a staircase
    Lime Grove building, 2015, London College of Fashion, UAL

    New single site for Pre-Degree Studies at Lime Grove

    We’re pleased to announce that we will be developing a single site for Pre-Degree Studies located at Lime Grove for pre-degree students.

Explore more

  • Two people walking on the street in front of an grand, old brick building.
    Exterior front of Lime Grove , UAL © Alys Tomlinson

    Pre-degree Studies at Lime Grove

  • The exterior of Lime Grove on a sunny day with blue skies
    Lime Grove exterior, Photograph: Alys Tomlinson

    Lime Grove area guide

  • Illustrating in a sketchbook
    Sydney Carty, 2023 Level 3 International: Introduction to the Study of Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson

    Pre-degree courses at UAL

  • A purple, swirling 3D-rendered sculpture. Two purple, metallic hands at either side appear to make the object float in space.
    Kate Petersons, 2023 BA Design for Branded Spaces, London College of Communication, UAL

    Our Strategy