London’s rich, chaotic, and vibrant history is officially moving into a magnificent new home. Following a careful 10-year restoration process, the former General Market in Smithfield will open to the public on 28 November 2026, transforming a landmark Victorian site into the city’s newest cultural and social hub.
Designed originally by Sir Horace Jones in 1883, the market building stood empty for over three decades. Now, brought back to life by lead architects Stanton Williams and Asif Khan alongside conservation experts Julian Harrap, the restored £437 million venue will host over 5,000 extraordinary objects alongside interactive experiences, sensory storytelling, and theatre-style shows designed specifically for families.
Three spaces: Grit, Glitter, and Living Memory
The museum is structured across three interconnected zones that capture the city “in all its grit and glitter”:
- Real time: The entrance gallery uses dynamic animated screens to reflect London’s present-day stories using real-time data. It features contemporary cultural icons, including Banksy’s Piranhas sentry box.
- Our time: Located under the restored Victorian dome, this central social hub houses 13 large-scale installations celebrating living memory—from the historic Lord Mayor’s Coach to East End institution Syd’s Coffee Stall.
- Past time: Cavernous underground galleries set at Roman street level take visitors on a chronological journey through London’s history, spanning prehistoric artifacts to the London 2012 Games.
Unmissable highlights for families and curious explorers
The new space blends immersive family activities with iconic items from the museum’s seven-million-strong collection:
- Interactive Roman London: Children and parents can explore Roman life through hands-on role play, view early writing tablets, and discover a floor mosaic and painted wall fresco on display for the first time in 2,000 years.
- The train-viewing window: A world-first museum experience featuring a six-metre underground window where visitors can watch real Thameslink trains rattle past the galleries while commuters peer back inside.
- Great Fire & Hands-on history: Visitors can touch an authentic scorched brick preserved from the Great Fire of London and explore displays dedicated to major historical turning points.
- Treasures and cultural pop: Highlights range from the glittering Elizabethan and Jacobean jewels of the Cheapside Hoard to Paul Simonon’s smashed bass guitar from The Clash, Emmeline Pankhurst’s hunger strike medal, and Tom Daley’s 2012 Olympic diving trunks.
New London Museum: a social and cultural destination
Beyond its free permanent galleries, London Museum at Smithfield is designed as a round-the-clock gathering spot. The central market square will host regular weekly tea clubs, DJ-led late nights, monthly dinner clubs, and seasonal spotlight exhibitions. The inaugural spotlight series, London Tastes, launches alongside the opening to showcase the capital’s culinary heritage.
General admission to the new London Museum galleries is free, with booking available online ahead of the grand opening on 28 November 2026.
Visit our events and activities area which provides details of free events and special offers in London’s finest venues and lots more. Follow us on Instagram for latest London restaurant reviews and thigs to do in London ideas.