A note from Mark Davy, Futurecity CEO & Founder:

As 2025 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on a moment that felt deeply personal. Last week, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed a sold-out concert at BOXPARK Wembley, a magical event, but also the culmination of years spent helping shape Wembley Park’s cultural future. When Futurecity authored the Cultural Placemaking Strategy, we set an ambitious goal: to transform Wembley Park into London’s newest cultural district. Central to this vision was attracting world-class cultural partners to a mixed-use urban neighbourhood that, just two decades ago, a brownfield site.

That ambition took a major leap forward when we brokered the landmark partnership between Quintain and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Our long-standing, close collaboration with Quintain has been fundamental to RPO’s decision to establish its new headquarters on Allegro Lane providing a permanent home and a long-term cultural anchor for the neighbourhood. Hearing their music fill a space symbolic of Wembley’s regeneration reinforces what genuine cultural placemaking can achieve. It’s been a privilege to play a part in this journey, and I’m excited for what comes next.

A Vision Brought to Life

That vision came vividly to life as a 45-piece orchestra, guest vocalist Sumudu Jayatilaka, and conductor Stephen Bell filled BOXPARK with festive favourites - from the Nutcracker to Taylor Swift - in the RPO’s first major public performance since relocating.

Throughout the evening, conversations with James Saunders, CEO of Quintain, and Claudio Giambrone, Head of Marketing and Cultural Programming at Wembley Park, returned to the same theme: the original ambition to bring “something extraordinary” to the area, and how the RPO partnership has become one of the clearest expressions of that ambition.

Members of the RPO leadership team, including Sarah Bardwell, Huw Davies and Andrew Storey, reflected on Futurecity’s role in enabling the partnership and how the Orchestra’s 30-year history in Brent is continuing to deepen now that it has a permanent home in the neighbourhood.

From the local authority’s perspective, David Glover, Head of Planning at Brent Council, spoke about the borough-wide impact of the RPO’s community programmes and the significance of embedding a major cultural institution within Brent’s social fabric.

Futurecity’s Business Director, Rachel De Cesaro, attended with team members Fabienne Nicholas and Emanuele de Angelis on behalf of the team and commented: “It was a beautiful and festive evening - and incredibly moving to see the long-term impact of cultural placemaking in action. Partnerships like this show what’s possible when culture is placed at the heart of development and community life."

Watch our highlights reel from the event →

A new headquarters for the RPO in the heart of a cultural district

The performance also follows a major milestone for the Orchestra: the opening of its new purpose-built headquarters at Wembley Park.

The space includes rehearsal studios, office facilities, and flexible areas for community engagement - enabling the RPO to expand its education programmes, develop new projects, and continue its work across Brent, London and beyond.

This new home places one of the world’s great orchestras within a walkable cultural district, surrounded by venues, public art, cultural programming and a thriving local audience.

London’s Big Festive Day Out arrives at Wembley Park

The RPO concert also marked the launch of London’s Big Festive Day Out (27 November – 3 January), which transforms Wembley Park into a winter destination filled with lights, culture and family activities.

Visitors can enjoy standout festive installations - including a 20ft Gingerbread Arch, a 50ft Christmas tree and newly illuminated boulevards - alongside a rich programme of music, art and performance, from the RnB Xmas Ball and free weekend brass ensembles to seasonal film screenings and the return of the From Saint to Santa exhibition.

Family highlights include the Ultimate Kids’ Christmas Party, a free Santa’s Grotto at London Designer Outlet and weekend festive markets, complemented by seasonal workshops and special menus across the neighbourhood.

As Claudio Giambrone noted, “There’s something for everyone in Wembley Park this winter - music, art, gastronomy and world-class culture.”

Looking back — and ahead

Wembley Park’s cultural identity continues to grow, and last night’s performance was a vivid reminder of what visionary cultural strategy, great partnerships, and sustained commitment can achieve.

Futurecity is proud to have played a role in shaping the foundations of this cultural district - and to see that vision continuing to evolve, expand, and resonate across the community.

Explore our original strategy → Read more about the partnership we brokered →

images by Chris Winter, courtesy of Quintain; video by Alex Howat