Billingsgate Market is set to move to Albert Island in the Royal Docks, east London, with the relocation expected by 2028. The site is located near London City Airport and will see the fish market reunited with Smithfield Market. The move is subject to parliamentary approval.
What is going to happen to the Billingsgate Market?
April 2019: The City of London Corporation announces plans to move Smithfield, New Billingsgate and New Spitalfields markets to one mega-site in Dagenham. November 2024: Dagenham is off! The City of London announces that the markets will still close, but they will NOT now relocate to Dagenham.
Billingsgate has been an integral part of London's economy. But it's also home to a rich working culture, be it porters and their 'bobbin hats', or the distinctly sweary way of speaking. The market moved to its current spot near Canary Wharf in east London in 1982.
The City of London Corporation's Court of Common Council has attributed the decision to abandon relocation to high inflation and increasing construction costs that have made the switch unaffordable. The fish market's origins date back to the 1700s, making it the oldest fish market in the city.
1978: Should BILLINGSGATE FISH MARKET Move? | Nationwide | Voice of the People | BBC Archive
Is Smithfield and Billingsgate historic London markets to close after 800 years?
London's Smithfield meat market is set to close after more than 800 years, with trading expected to cease for good after 2028. The City of London Corporation, which runs the site, said on Tuesday its council voted to stop operating Smithfield and Billingsgate fish market.
Formerly an office used by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the Custom House is neighboured on the waterfront by Sugar Quay to the east and Old Billingsgate Market to the west.
Are Smithfield meat market and Billingsgate fish market set to close in 2028?
The oldest meat and fish markets in London, which date back 850 years, are facing permanent closure from 2028. 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.
Borough Market is a wholesale and retail market hall in Southwark, London, England. It is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, with a market on the site dating back to at least the 12th century.
Yes, fish is generally cheaper at London's Billingsgate Market, especially if you're buying in bulk (by the kilo or box) and are willing to get up early to shop, offering wholesale prices that beat many high street retailers, though some find prices similar to supermarkets for smaller quantities, with the main benefit being freshness and variety.
London house prices did not grow at all in 2025, with the average £661,000 recorded in December the same as at the end of last year. Nationally, asking prices fell by 0.6 per cent over the course of 2025, according to the latest data from Rightmove.
Lincoln Christmas Market was axed in 2023 by the city's Labour-led council due to concerns about overcrowding. The Conservative opposition proposed a £190,000 increase to City of Council's budget to fund the market's return.
In 2025, 68% of London leavers stayed in the South of England (South East, South West or East of England) – the highest proportion since 2021 and up from 62% in 2024. This marks a reversal of the pandemic and then affordability-led trend that pushed buyers further into the Midlands and North.
Bow combines the convenience of Zone 2 living with a more relaxed, residential feel. With great access to both Canary Wharf and the City, it's an ideal spot for commuting professionals. This is 4 of Top 10 Areas to Buy Property in East London in 2025.
Jason Holland. Billingsgate fish market – which is the oldest fish market in the U.K. capital of London and what was once the world's largest fish market – is set to close in 2028 after the City of London Corporation recently decided to withdraw its support.
London's historic Smithfield and Billingsgate markets are set to shut after the City of London Corporation voted to withdraw support for them, bringing down the curtain on two establishments that have been part of London life for the best part of a millennium.
On December 3, 2025, Albert Island at the Royal Docks was announced as the new preferred site to co-locate Smithfield and Billingsgate Markets. These markets will become known as New Smithfield and New Billingsgate Markets.
Construction is planned to take around five years subject to planning, with enabling works starting in 2024, construction work starting in late 2025 after the demolition of St Helen's tower, and completion in 2029.
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.
Archaeological evidence suggests that Colchester is England's oldest recorded market town, dating to at least the time of the Roman occupation of Britain's southern regions. Another ancient market town is Cirencester, which held a market in late Roman Britain.
In the week that the City of London voted to close Smithfield Market for good after more than 800 years of trading, I publish the work of photographer Orlando Gili who has been down at the market, documenting the last generation of butchers to work at this ancient site.
