Yes, London's historic Smithfield Meat Market is still open for business in early 2026, operating early mornings Monday to Friday, but plans are confirmed for its permanent closure by 2028, with the City of London Corporation voting to wind down operations and relocate traders to new premises, ending centuries of trading at the site.
Fascinating experience but not for the faint hearted. Definitely worth seeing at 3-4am at its busiest. Go with a clear idea of what you want to buy as the choice & quantities are overwhelming. Vendors can be abrupt- avoid no.
Parking fees around Smithfield Market can vary depending on the location and time. On-street parking is typically controlled by parking meters, with fees averaging £3-£5 per hour. Nearby parking garages such as Hatton Garden Car Park offer more secure options, often charging between £10-£25 for daily rates.
In a surprising turn of events, the world-famous meat and fish markets might not actually be closing down for good. Phew. The City of London Corporation voted to withdraw its support for the 850-year-old markets in November 2024, meaning they would have to shut forever by 2028.
What £90 Gets You at Smithfield Meat Market in 2025!
Is Smithfield Market London still open?
But this experiential landscape can easily be disrupted. The announcement by the City of London Corporation in November that Smithfield market is to close after almost 900 years of trading has been met with surprise and dismay. Many Londoners fear Smithfield's special sense of place will be lost for good as a result.
Smithfield was almost a city within a city – and one with its own hours. To give customers time to buy and prepare their meat for sale the same day, the market opened at night.
Cost – prices are not normally displayed in a wholesale market, so always ask: Smithfield is a 'proper' market so shop around for the best price of the day. Payment – all the stalls take cash, some take credit cards and regular trade customers can ask about credit accounts.
Payment can only be made using the machines within the car park when ready to leave the car park. There are 8 Blue Badge Bays within this car park. The standard tariffs do apply when parking within this car park.
Get there early. The market is open from 2am-7am, however the best stock gets snapped up fast! Peak time to visit is around 4am. Parking is available at the Rotunda car park and market customers get a special rate.
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are open for trading Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. ET to 4:00 p.m. ET. Cryptocurrency markets are open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Extended trading allows for buying and selling stocks before markets open and after markets close, but rules vary by brokerage firm.
What is the best excuse to appeal a parking ticket?
The best excuses for a parking ticket appeal are strong, evidence-based situations like vehicle breakdowns, medical emergencies, unclear signage/markings, or proof of payment/permit issues, especially if you can show a valid Blue Badge or were in a genuine time crunch (grace period). Generic excuses like "I was only gone a minute" or a simple "I had to go to the toilet" usually fail without medical proof, while clear evidence of a technical error or procedural problem is often successful.
Yes, absolutely! Anyone can shop at London's historic Smithfield Market (and Manchester's New Smithfield Market), not just trade buyers like restaurants and butchers, but the general public can buy meat, poultry, fish, and produce, often at better prices, though you'll usually need to buy in bulk and be prepared for an early start.
Smithfield meat market, near St Paul's Cathedral, and Billingsgate fish market in Canary Wharf are to be closed after the City of London Corporation voted to withdraw support for them. The Corporation said it would now work with traders to help them find alternative premises.
At its core, the 3-5-7 rule sets three clear boundaries: 3%: The maximum amount of your trading capital you should risk on any single trade. 5%: The total amount of capital you should have exposed across all open trades at any given time. 7%: The minimum profit you should aim to make on your winning trades.
The City of London Corporation has been looking at relocating the Smithfield and Billingsgate markets for some years. Smithfield Market is set to become a new cultural and commercial centre, with the new Museum of London already under construction in the old General and Poultry market buildings.
When the plan was made public, in April 2019, excitement was expressed about the City of London Corporation, owner of the Smithfield meat market in Farringdon, Billingsgate fish market in Poplar and the New Spitalfields horticultural produce hub in Leyton, consolidating all three in one place.
The City of London announces that the markets will still close, but they will NOT now relocate to Dagenham. This seems to spell the end for Smithfield Market and Billingsgate Market as coherent entities.
