The new London Museum is set to open its doors this winter after a decade-long refurbishment of Smithfield's iconic Victorian General Market. The world's largest city museum will welcome visitors to its permanent galleries from November 28, with London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan stating that the project "is proof that our city is the cultural capital of the world."
A Decade in the Making
The London Museum closed its former home on London Wall by the Barbican in 2022 due to space constraints for its collection. Its relocation to Smithfield has been years in development, with both the General Market and the adjacent Poultry Market set to become its new base. The Poultry Market is expected to open in 2028, showcasing the museum's collection stores, exhibitions, and learning spaces. The General Market, which has been empty and decaying since traders left in the 1990s, will open later this year.
Three Distinct Spaces
Designed by Stanton Williams and Asif Khan, alongside conservation architects Julian Harrap, the General Market will feature three distinct areas: Real Time, Our Time, and Past Time. Real Time will display "big data, shown in marvellous ways," capturing London as it exists today, according to London Museum Director Sharon Ament. Our Time will serve as the museum's social hub, with a large space for events anchored by 13 installations. Activities will run day and night, delivered with partners including Fabric nightclub and Morley's chicken shop, with restaurants, shops, and shows lining the perimeter.
Past Time: A Journey Through History
Below ground, Past Time will host permanent displays offering an overview of London's history. Confirmed exhibits include the Whitechapel Fatberg, Banksy's Piranhas artwork, and Charles I's execution vest. Located at Roman Street level, Past Time also features a six-metre viewing window where visitors can watch live Thameslink trains pass by, while passengers can peer into the refurbished site. Ms Ament described Past Time as "an all you can eat wedding buffet that you cannot consume in one go, so you have to keep coming back."
Funding and Partnerships
The £437 million project was delivered through a partnership between the City of London Corporation and the Mayor of London, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Deputy Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, said: "With more than two millennia of history, London's story must be told. And we're telling it here in the Square Mile." He described the site as a "must-visit destination," noting that the museum holds over 7 million objects.
Community and Culture
Guest Editors will orchestrate the uses of Our Time, with the inaugural programme, London Tastes, run by Ruby Tandoh and Jonathan Nunn. Sir Sadiq paid tribute to the sign from the first ever Morley's shop, which will be on display. "This is not just a museum about London," he said. "It's a museum shaped by Londoners. And it's the latest proof that our city is the cultural capital of the world."
