Mildmay on the Map: TfL's New Book, The New London Overground lines
- web81754
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
We were thrilled to receive copies of a special new book from Transport for London (TfL) yesterday, The New London Overground Lines, which celebrates the renaming of the network’s six lines, including the Mildmay line.
In November 2024, TfL made history by, for the first time, naming each of the six London Overground lines after communities, values, and movements that have shaped London. The line running from Stratford to Clapham Junction/Richmond is now officially named the Mildmay line in honour of our pioneering work in healthcare, especially in support of people living with HIV and those experiencing homelessness and related complex needs.
To be included in this landmark project is such an honour. It acknowledges Mildmay’s 160-year legacy of care, compassion, and inclusion - from our foundation during the East End cholera outbreak in the 1860s, to becoming Europe’s first dedicated HIV/AIDS hospital in the 1980s, through to our modern-day services working hand-in-hand with the NHS.
The new London Overground lines book was published by TfL in March 2025 and beautifully documents the process of consultation and storytelling that shaped each name. It highlights Mildmay’s founding during the 1866 cholera outbreak, its groundbreaking role as Europe’s first dedicated HIV/AIDS hospital in the late 1980s, and our continued evolution as a specialist hospital working hand in hand with the NHS.
Our chapter features an image of Princess Diana’s iconic visits to Mildmay, which helped to dismantle the stigma around HIV/AIDS, as well as information about our current work providing step-down care and neurorehabilitation for people with complex diagnoses.
We’re proud to share a place in this book - and on the map - alongside lines named for the Windrush generation, the Suffragettes, the Lionesses of England football, the historic weaving traditions of East London and Liberty - the freedom that is a defining feature of London.
The New London Overground Lines is a record of design choices and a tribute to the people and institutions that represent London’s diversity, strength, and resilience. It reminds us that even a small hospital can be a big part of London’s story.
To all our supporters, friends, and staff: thank you. It is because of you that Mildmay is now not only a hospital but a line, a landmark, and a lasting legacy.
🧡 Look for us on the map. Ride the Mildmay line. And know that every journey tells a story of dignity, compassion, and community
The New London Overground Lines is a publication by TfL that documents the historic renaming of the six distinct routes on the London Overground network. It captures the vision, community consultation, design process, and stories behind each line’s new name — Liberty, Lioness, Mildmay, Suffragette, Weaver, and Windrush.
The renaming was not just about wayfinding clarity, but also about acknowledging and celebrating London’s rich cultural heritage. Each line name reflects a different facet of London’s past and present, honouring stories of courage, care, creativity, migration, equality, and social contribution.
The Mildmay line was named to honour Mildmay Hospital’s pioneering legacy of care, especially in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and its role in supporting people facing homelessness. Mildmay’s roots date back to the 1860s, and its continuing partnership with the NHS represents a vital service to London’s communities today.
Click here to see TfL's web page about the project and to download the PDF of the book.