London Museum Opens in Restored Smithfield General Market on November 28, 2026
The London Museum has officially reopened in the historic General Market at Smithfield following its closure at London Wall in December 2022. The old building was dismantled in 2024 to make way for new developments. Restoration of the market, originally constructed in 1883 by Sir Horace Jones, took a decade and involved notable architects. Supported by the City of London Corporation and various donors, the market includes unique features like an 800sqm vaulted space. The museum showcases diverse exhibits and plans to unveil its permanent galleries on November 28, 2026, emphasizing sustainability with eco-friendly technologies.
Key facts
- Museum of London rebranded as London Museum and relocated to Smithfield's General Market.
- Original London Wall building closed in December 2022; demolition approved in 2024.
- General Market designed by Sir Horace Jones, opened in 1883, closed in 1990s.
- Restoration led by Stanton Williams, Asif Khan, and Julian Harrap over a decade.
- Heritage rediscoveries include 800sqm vault system and heritage shopfronts.
- Museum has three spaces: Real Time, Our Time (13 installations), Past Time (permanent galleries).
- Highlights include Banksy's Piranhas, Roman writing tablets, and train viewing window.
- Official opening of permanent galleries on November 28, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Banksy
- Sir Horace Jones
- Charles Dickens
- William Shakespeare
- Tom Daley
- Emmeline Pankhurst
- Charles I
- Ruby Tandoh
- Jonathan Nunn
- Sharon Ament
- Paul Simonon
- Anna Pavlova
- King Charles I
Institutions
- London Museum
- Museum of London
- City of London Corporation
- Mayor of London
- Stanton Williams
- Asif Khan
- Julian Harrap
- Thameslink
- fabric nightclub
- Punchdrunk Enrichment
- Hive Curates
- Sainsbury's
- Bloomberg Connects
- FAD Magazine
- Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Goldsmiths' Foundation
- The Linbury Trust
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund
- fabric
- BBC
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Smithfield
- London Wall
- General Market
- Linbury Hall
- City of London
- St Paul's Cathedral
- Barbican
- Smithfield Market
- Brick Lane
- Whitechapel
- Shoreditch
- Smithfield General Market
- Poultry Market
Sources
- ArchDaily —
- FAD Magazine —
- BBC Culture —