Westminster's alumni include a Nobel laureate in Medicine, the inventor of cordite, heads of state, politicians and mayors, Olympians, scientists, BAFTA- and Oscar-winning filmmakers,[6] Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Grammy Award-winning musicians, journalists, and poets.

The Royal Polytechnic Institution was built by William Mountford Nurse in 1837[7] and opened at 309 Regent Street on 6 August 1838 to provide (in the words of its prospectus of 1837) "an institution where the Public, at little expense, may acquire practical knowledge of the various arts and branches of science connected with manufacturers, mining operations and rural economy".

[8] Sir George Cayley (1773–1857), the "father of aeronautical engineering",[9] was the first chairman and the Polytechnic formally received a Royal charter in August 1839.

[10] In 1847, John Henry Pepper joined the Polytechnic and oversaw the introduction of evening lectures in engineering, applied science and technical subjects for young working Londoners.

Pepper wrote several important science education books, one of which is regarded as a significant step towards the understanding of continental drift.

These combined magic lantern images with live performances, music, ghosts and spectres, spreading the fame of what was arguably the world's first permanent projection theatre.

[4] Pepper first showed the effect during a scene of Charles Dickens's novella The Haunted Man (1848) at the Regent Street theatre to great success.

[13] Under the chairmanship of Joseph Butterworth Owen, the Royal Polytechnic Institution increased its presence in formal classes for young men traditionally denied the opportunity of higher education in the United Kingdom during the nineteenth century.

Expansion gradually gave way to financial difficulty, reflecting a long-standing tension between education and the need to run a successful business.

Activities included daily chapels, Parliamentary debating, a Reading Circle, music and drama societies and several sports clubs.

[15] On 21 February 1896, the first performance of a moving film (Cinématographe) to a paying UK audience was delivered by the Lumière brothers at the Regent Street Cinema.

Pioneering work in emerging professional and commercial disciplines, alongside general interest subjects, was the hallmark of the institution.

When Hogg died in 1903, he was succeeded as President by Sir Kynaston Studd (1858–1944), who remained in office until his death in 1944, and did much to continue the traditions of the founder.

Both buildings continued to provide sporting and social facilities for members of the Institute as well as workshops and classrooms for students of the Education Department.

The Education Department provided a wide range of courses, with a rapid expansion of commercial subjects alongside the original trade and technical classes.

Following the establishment of the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) in 1964, a number of degree courses were approved and became operational; including Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Civil, Building, Production, and Manufacturing), Architecture, Photography (1966), Arts Administration (1967), Life Sciences (1973) and Media Studies (1975).

The P3 exhibition area, a 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m2) space located in the former concrete construction hall of the School of Engineering, was opened in 2008.

It is also home to London Gallery West which exhibits a broad mix of contemporary media, art and design work.

It meets five times per year and is ultimately responsible for the effective conduct of the activities of the university, including its strategic development, educational character and mission, and finances.

The predecessor Polytechnic of Central London used the colours of claret and silver and this was adapted into the murrey and argent livery of the arms.

The late Queen Elizabeth II, who agreed to continue as the patron on the formation of the university, is represented by the Tudor rose, a royal badge.

The motto of the university, "The Lord is our Strength", is influenced by Quintin Hogg and his Young Men's Christian Institute.

[26] Westminster offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees as well as certificates and diplomas at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

More than two thirds of Westminster's programmes are recognised by the appropriate professional bodies such as the BCS, BPS, CIOB, CABE, ICE, RICS, HPC etc.

[35] The university achieved world leading and internationally excellent status for most of their work, ranking second for Communications, Cultural and Media Studies research,[36][37] 6th for Art and Design research,[38] in addition to the university performing strongly in Architecture and the Built Environment,[39] and Geography and Environmental studies.

After 1945 it began to campaign on issues such as lifting a ban on religious or political activity within the Polytechnic, and establishing a formal Students’ Union.

[42] During the 1970s the newly formed Polytechnic of Central London Students’ Union (PCLSU) engaged in a strategy of protest and direct action.

The union has hosted to numerous musical events and gigs including Fleetwood Mac,[43] and most notably the first and only encounter between Cream and Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.

Noted award holders include: The university has grounds in Chiswick on the Thames with boat house, tennis courts, athletics track and about 12 pitches.

[60] Notable Westminster alumni (and others who attended) include: Notable former Westminster faculty and staff include Sir George Cayley (the father of aeronautical engineering), Charles Algernon Parsons (engineer and inventor of the steam turbine), Rachel Aldred (academic specializing in active mobility), Tom Ang (photographer and BBC presenter), Cherie Blair (senior barrister, wife of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair), Harpal Brar (founder and former chairman of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)), Richard Burton (visiting lecturer and managing editor of the Jewish Chronicle), Nicholas Garnham (emeritus professor in the field of media studies), Andrew Groves (fashion designer), Catherine Grubb, artist (taught at Harrow School of Art),[62] Mayer Hillman (senior fellow emeritus at the Policy Studies Institute), Peter H Millard (president of the UK Nosokinetics Group), Chantal Mouffe (political theorist), Ezra Pound (prominent modernist figure in poetry), Joshua Oppenheimer (Oscar nominated filmmaker), John Henry Pepper (scientist and inventor), Jean Seaton (professor of media history and official historian of the BBC), Alfred Waterhouse (architect and designer of the Natural History Museum), George Checkley (Modernist architect) and Brian Winston (Emmy award-winning documentary script writer).