About London Museum

The museum’s permanent galleries in the Victorian General Market are due to open in 2026. The 1960s Poultry Market, home to the museum’s temporary exhibitions, collection stores and learning centre, is scheduled to open in 2028

With a rich and varied history, the infamous Smithfield area is a fitting place to create a 21st-century museum. It's been a Roman cemetery, a place of execution, home of the boisterous Bartholomew Fair, and a grimy muse for Charles Dickens.

The first written record of the ‘smooth field’ dates back to the 1170s, by which time it was already a bustling livestock market – a use that continued for centuries.  

Opening first in 2026, the formerly derelict Victorian General Market building houses our permanent galleries. The transformation of this space has seen 10,000 square metres of brickwork painstakingly cleaned, roofs reinforced and the excavation of an extensive network of rediscovered vaults.

A live train line runs alongside the subterranean gallery space, once a huge goods depot for the Great Northern Railway. At the far end, in the old salt store, a window will allow visitors to watch the trains rumble by as passengers peer in – a unique feature of the museum, connecting it to the London of today.

A few minutes away, the Thameslink and Farringdon Elizabeth line and train stations will be the closest options for getting to us by public transport.

Adjacent to the Victorian General Market is the 1960s Poultry Market which will open in 2028, and showcase the museum’s collection stores and world-class temporary exhibition and learning spaces. 

Over 70,000 Londoners have been engaged in the creation of the London Museum to date, giving many people from all ages and backgrounds an opportunity to help us shape our ideas and designs.

By our Completion, 100,000 people will have contributed to making our vision a reality. We look forward to welcoming you in person.