The Museum of London closed its London Wall location in December 2022 to relocate to a new, larger home in West Smithfield. Reopening in 2026 as the London Museum, the move aims to provide more space for its vast collection, improve accessibility, and occupy restored Victorian market buildings.
Museum director Sharon Ament said that one reason for the move was "a failing building with problematic entrances and a location which is difficult to find". A competition was held to find an architectural firm to design the new building, with over 70 firms taking part.
The new London Museum, opening towards the end of 2026 in the heart of the historic City of London, will be a space for learning, exploration and adventure, situated in breathtaking spaces and showcasing more of our collection than ever before.
The new London Museum, formerly the Museum of London, is set to open its main galleries in late 2026 at its new Smithfield location, with the first part in the historic Victorian General Market, while a second part (Poultry Market) will follow in 2028. The permanent galleries, restaurant, shops, and event spaces in the General Market are scheduled for a late 2026 opening, offering a new experience for Londoners and visitors.
Under the proposed development, the former Museum of London and Bastion House, situated at 140 and 150 London Wall, will be bulldozed and replaced with three new office buildings.
Why Is The Museum Of London Closed? - Inside Museum Walls
What is happening to the old Museum of London?
The City of London Corporation (CLC) wants to demolish Bastion House and the former Museum of London, in the Barbican, and replace them with three office blocks. The three new buildings are to be between five and 17 storeys tall.
The decision to move was driven by a powerful vision for the museum's future and the recognition of significant limitations at its former Barbican location. The Brutalist architecture of the Barbican building, while iconic in its own right, presented several challenges.
Londoners have been awaiting the return of the former Museum of London – now rebranded as the snappier London Museum (admittedly now very difficult to Google) – since the OG site at London Wall closed its doors in December 2022. In 2026 the museum all about the Big Smoke officially returns.
What is the tragedy of the Natural History Museum London?
Rather than responding to a planetary emergency, the Museum is tragically descending into irrelevance. The impacts of human numbers and human consumption are driving global environmental crises, most notably what is widely regarded as a new mass extinction event.
The brand-new V&A East has been named as one of the best attractions in the world for 2025. Opening from May 2025, the Victoria and Albert Museum is bringing not one, but two, new galleries to London next year.
Tate Britain focuses on the history of British art (1500s-today) in a traditional setting, offering a chronological walk through British art history, ideal for traditionalists. Tate Modern showcases international modern and contemporary art (1900s-today) in a vast, vibrant former power station, better for lovers of avant-garde and large-scale installations. The main difference is historical British art vs. international modern/contemporary art, with Tate Britain offering a timeline and Tate Modern a broad, dynamic space.
Why did the world's most visited and famous museum shut down?
PARIS (AP) — The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum and a global symbol of art, beauty and endurance, has withstood war, terror, and pandemic — but on Monday, it was brought to a halt by its own staff, who say the institution is crumbling under the weight of mass tourism.
While rankings vary, the Louvre Museum, British Museum, and Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) consistently appear as the top three globally due to their vast encyclopedic collections, iconic masterpieces, and massive international visitor numbers, representing the pinnacle of art, history, and culture. Other highly-ranked institutions include the Vatican Museums and the National Museum of China.
We're counting down – the new London Museum will open towards the end of 2026, breathing new life into two historic buildings in the City of London. It'll open early and close late, reflecting London's reputation as a 24-hour global city.
People are leaving London primarily due to the unsustainable cost of living, especially housing, forcing a search for better affordability and quality of life, coupled with a desire for a slower pace, more space, and the rise of remote work enabling moves outside the capital for better work-life balance, while also seeking stronger family ties or new life experiences.
The Museum of London Group is a public body based in the City of London. Since 1 April 2008 it has been funded jointly by the Greater London Authority and the City of London Corporation. Prior to this date it was jointly controlled by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the City Corporation.
