Billingsgate Market was originally located on Lower Thames Street in the City of London, near London Bridge. Established as a general market in the 16th century and designated for fish in the 17th century, it operated as an open-air site before a permanent building was constructed in 1850.
The first purpose-built market was constructed in 1850 on Lower Thames Street. But these buildings couldn't handle the growing trade, leading to a complete rebuild in 1874–1877.
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.
Billingsgate is served by almost every port in the United Kingdom. Most of the fish is transported by road directly from the coast and arrives at the market in the early hours of the morning.
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.
1978: Should BILLINGSGATE FISH MARKET Move? | Nationwide | Voice of the People | BBC Archive
Is the Billingsgate Market closing in 2028?
Most traders from both markets have agreed to move together to a new site, although the current markets will stay open until at least 2028, the City of London Corporation said. It added that it had signed an agreement with the Greater London Authority to work on the proposals.
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.
Thousands of tonnes of Russian whitefish worth an estimated £100 million are entering the UK market each year, despite sanctions aimed at curtailing trade with Moscow, through legal loopholes involving processing in third countries.
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.
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.
While "prettiest" is subjective, Henley-on-Thames is widely considered a top contender for the most picturesque town on the Thames, known for its classic English charm, historic buildings, vibrant Regatta, and beautiful setting near the Chilterns. Other contenders for beauty include Marlow for its idyllic riverside setting, Windsor for its iconic castle, and charming spots like Richmond for riverside pubs and greenery.
Why is there no water in the moat at the Tower of London?
The Duke took the momentous step of having the moat drained and turned into a defensive dry ditch, or 'fosse'. The Tower's moat has been dry (except for accidental flooding) ever since.
For non-farmed fish in the UK, look for wild-caught options like mackerel, sardines, herring, hake, coley, and sustainable cod or haddock, often certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), with suppliers like Leap Wild Fish, Eversfield Organic, and The Fish Society offering choices like wild salmon, Dover sole, and shellfish, ensuring healthier choices with less fat and contaminants than many farmed varieties.
China is the ruler of the world's largest fish producer. This Panda country leaves far away from its competitors, including India with a distance of six times more. With a total global fish production of 178.8 million tons, one-third of the world's fish production comes from China.
Billingsgate Market (and Smithfield) is closing because its current site is outdated, inefficient, and causes congestion, with plans for relocation to the Royal Docks in East London scrapped due to soaring costs, leading the City of London Corporation to halt support and plan permanent closure, though a new site may yet emerge, with current operations continuing until at least 2028.
Last month we saw the first fully licenced bluefin tuna caught on a commercial vessel in Newlyn. The landed fish weighed in at 245 kg and made a sale price of over £14 per kilo a whopping total of over £3400! However, tuna catching is highly regulated, and rightly so.
The original Leadenhall Market was designed by John Croxton in 1440 and completed in 1449. He expanded the original hall into a large rectangular quadrangle, two stories high, complete with a public granary, massive storage rooms, and a small side chapel.
Plans for a 500-seat market in London Waterloo were scrapped after the pandemic hit in 2020 and a rumoured site in the city's Spitalfields area never got off the ground. Time Out opened its first food market in Lisbon, Portugal (pictured) in 2014, which welcomes millions of visitors every year.
