Museum of London issues public call for iconic signs from across the capital

The Museum of London has today issued a call-out for ideas and suggestions for signs which could take pride of place as part of Hanging Out, a permanent installation planned for the new London Museum, which is set to open in Smithfield’s General Market building in 2026.

Hanging Out will represent a broad variety of London’s communities, with the intention of giving an overview of the thriving and unique hubs and places which bring people together across the capital. The focus will be on the last 80 years, and signs would need to be a minimum of around 50x50cm to be considered for the installation.

The museum is searching for signs from across Greater London and from a range of places including (but not limited to):

• sports venues
• cinemas and theatres
• cafes and pubs
• nightclubs and music venues
• community centres
• restaurants and takeaways
• shops used as social spaces
• nail bars and barbers
• independent cinemas
• theatres

Anyone who has a relevant sign they’d like the museum to consider, or information about signs which fit this description, is asked to email [email protected] with as many details as possible.

Beatrice Behlen, Senior Curator, Fashion & Decorative Arts at Museum of London, said:

“Hanging Out is going to be a celebration of the countless communities that exist within London. To tell this multifaceted story, we want to locate signs from places that formed, or still form, the cultural hub for a community within the capital.

“Whether it’s a music venue, a sports club, a hairdressers, a café, or something else entirely, we’d love to hear from the people of London about which signs they think belong in our museum.”

Hanging Out will occupy space in the ground floor of the Smithfield General Market building, named Our Time and dedicated to exploring London in living memory.

In its new home in Smithfield, the museum will welcome millions more visitors and every London schoolchild through its doors. It will open early and close late to reflect London’s 24-hour character and increased gallery space will enable visitors to enjoy more of The London Collection than ever before.

The Our Time experience will draw from the museum’s collection and utilise all that London has to offer including sights, sounds and recollections. Inclusive for all, and joyfully dynamic, the space allows visitors to celebrate and ponder what London means to them, recognising our challenges as well as celebrating our achievements.