Can the general public buy meat from the Smithfield Market?
Yes, the general public can buy meat from the historic Smithfield Market in London. While it is primarily a wholesale market for trade, many traders sell high-quality meat, poultry, and provisions directly to the public. It is best to visit between 2:00 AM and 7:00 AM, Monday to Friday, to buy directly from the traders.
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.
London's historic Smithfield meat market is to close for good after the City of London Corporation voted to pull out of plans to relocate it and Billingsgate fish market to Dagenham.
Yes, you can buy meat directly from abattoirs in the UK, especially smaller, local ones that offer direct sales, private kills (where you buy a whole or half animal for butchering to your specs), or sell to the public, often alongside their wholesale operations for butchers, providing very fresh, traceable, and high-quality meat. Finding them involves searching for approved establishments and contacting them to see if they offer direct-to-consumer services, sometimes requiring you to buy larger quantities like a half carcass.
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.
What Drew Crowds to London’s Smithfield Market for Cut-Price Christmas Meat
Why is the Smithfield Market closing down?
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.
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.
100% of our British produce is assured by the Red Tractor, meaning its farmed with care. 100% of our fresh everyday milk, butter, eggs, cream, chicken, pork and beef is from British suppliers. Find out how our £21 billion investment has supported the next generation of British food and farming.
Kobe Beef is a specific variety of Wagyu from the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan, considered one of the most expensive and luxurious cuts available. Kobe beef, in particular, has a reputation for being one of the most exclusive and expensive steaks in the world, sometimes costing hundreds of dollars per pound.
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.
On Jan 28, 2025, Smithfield became publicly traded with an initial public offering of 26 million shares and was listed on the Nasdaq, though WH Group retained 90% of the company stock. In September 2025, An additional 19.5 million shares were sold, reducing WH Group's majority ownership to 88% of the company.
Instead, it had offered financial support to the traders to help them find new premises. Now the corporation has identified Albert Island, a brownfield site in Royal Docks owned by the Greater London Authority (GLA) earmarked for regeneration, for the move.
Tesco currently operates sustainable farming groups across a number of supply chains, including a Sustainable Beef Group made up of more than 800 farmers, including 59 Scottish farmers, supplying Tesco Finest beef across the UK.
The "3-3-3 Rule" for steak is a simple cooking guideline: sear each side for 3 minutes on high heat, then cook each side for another 3 minutes on lower/indirect heat, perfect for about 1-inch thick steaks to get a great crust and even medium-rare doneness. This method involves two phases: intense searing for the crust, followed by lower heat to cook through to a juicy, flavorful finish, ideally finishing with a 5-minute rest.
Lentils are part of the legume family. Most of world's lentil production comes from India and Canada. Lentils can lower cholesterol, and protect against diabetes and colon cancer. They are known as “Poor Man's Meat”, since they are rich in nutrients and low in price.
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.
1. Distance from the kerb. It's legally required to park within 50cm of the kerb. Parking further out could lead to an on-the-spot fine. Parking in front of a dropped kerb is considered an obstruction and is a fineable offence.
