The Museum of London. Visitors Guide

Why You Should Visit the Museum of London’s New Home at West Smithfield

The Museum of London is one of the most popular and beloved museums in the city, telling the story of London and its people from prehistoric times to the present day. But did you know that it is planning to move to a new location at West Smithfield, in the heart of one of London’s most historic and creative quarters?

In this blog post, we will tell you why you should visit the museum’s new home when it opens in 2026 as The London Museum, and what you can expect to see and do there.

Museum of London Smithfield
https://museum.london/

A new museum for London

The museum’s current site at London Wall has been its home since 1976, but it has outgrown its space and facilities. The museum wants to create a new museum for London that will be more accessible, engaging and inspiring for visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

The new museum will be located in the atmospheric but currently dilapidated market buildings at West Smithfield, which date back to the late 19th century. These buildings are part of London’s heritage and have witnessed centuries of trading, commerce and culture. They are a perfect fit for a museum that celebrates London’s diversity, dynamism and resilience.

The new museum will have street-level entrances on all sides, making it easier for visitors to find their way around. It will also benefit from better transport links thanks to the new Elizabeth line station at Farringdon, which will make it one of the most connected museums in London.

Distinctive spaces

The new museum will have six distinctive spaces that will showcase different aspects of London’s history, culture and identity:

  • Real Time: This space will be where visitors can experience live events, performances and debates that reflect contemporary issues and trends in London.
  • Our Time: This space will be where visitors can explore how they relate to London today through interactive displays, personal stories and digital media.
  • Past Time: This space will be where visitors can immerse themselves in London’s past through stunning galleries that span from prehistory to modern times.
  • Deep Time: This space will be where visitors can discover how archaeology reveals hidden layers of London’s history through objects, archives and research.
  • Temporary Time: This space will be where visitors can enjoy changing exhibitions that showcase diverse themes and perspectives on London.
  • Imagined Time: This space will be where visitors can unleash their creativity through workshops, studios and play areas.

History of Smithfield

The new museum will not only celebrate London’s history but also its location at West Smithfield. Smithfield has been a central point in the city for over 800 years. It was once a place of monks, meat and merriment; a site of executions, fairs and rebellions; a hub of commerce, industry and innovation; a destination for culture, entertainment and nightlife.

The new museum will honour this rich heritage by restoring some of the original features of the market buildings such as the domes, arches and windows. It will also reveal some of the hidden treasures beneath them such as medieval vaults, Victorian railway tunnels and Roman remains.

The new museum will also connect with its surroundings by creating public spaces such as gardens, courtyards and terraces. It will also collaborate with local partners such as businesses, schools and community groups to create a vibrant neighbourhood that welcomes everyone.

A festival curated by Londoners

Before opening its doors as The London Museum in 2026, the new museum plans to host a festival curated by Londoners in 2025. The festival aims to celebrate what makes London unique by inviting people from all walks of life to share their stories, talents and passions with each other.

The festival will take place across various venues and locations in West Smithfield and beyond , offering a range of activities such as exhibitions, workshops, performances, talks, tours and more. The festival will also invite feedback from visitors on how they want their new museum to look like, feel like and sound like.

If you want to get involved in shaping your new museum or find out more about its plans,
you can visit https://museum.london/ or follow them on social media using #NewMuseumForLondon.

Visiting the Museum of London

The Museum closed our main site at London Wall as a visitor attraction in December 2022, to facilitate the relocation and begin the process of sorting and moving thousands of objects from the London Collection.

The closure was marked with two spectacular free weekend festivals to celebrate the museum’s 45 years at London Wall and we remain on track to open the doors of our new West Smithfield home in 2026 when we will become The London Museum.

With the updated application approved, we are looking to start the main phase of construction works in early to mid-2023. The project plan anticipates a three-year build period, which should ensure that we are ready to open to the public by our target date of 2026.

Taking in the Museum of London Docklands

The Museum of London Docklands is part of the Museum of London and is well worth a visit in its own right. This museum shows port and river collections dating from Roman London through to the Canary Wharf development. It is based in a 200 year old warehouse at West India Quay in Canary Wharf.

Although you can access this museum from Canary Wharf tube or the DLR’s West India Quay station, kids might enjoy taking a Thames Clipper riverboat ride to get there – you can take boats from Maritime Greenwich Pier or Bankside to Canary Wharf Pier and the journey lasts around 15 minutes.

Visit this link to the official Museum of London website; for opening times and visitor info.


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