A chunk of the infamous Whitechapel fatberg, a Banksy artwork and a vest believed to have been worn by King Charles I at his execution are among the treasures that will greet visitors when the new London Museum opens at Smithfield.
The London Museum, set to open on 28 November 2026 at Smithfield, will bring together thousands of years of the capital’s history under one roof. Located inside the restored Victorian General Market, the £437 million project will feature objects linked to London’s most famous residents, historic events, and cultural movements.
Among the highlights will be Banksy’s Piranhas artwork, a vest believed to have been worn by King Charles I at his execution, and a medal awarded to suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst. There will also be a chunk of the infamous Whitechapel fatberg, historic jewellery, and objects connected to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Best of all, entry to the permanent galleries will be completely free, although visitors are encouraged to book tickets in advance.
The fatberg and the fish
One of the museum’s more unusual attractions will be a preserved section of the Whitechapel fatberg. The enormous mass of fat, oil, grease, and other waste was discovered beneath east London in 2017. The original blockage became notorious for highlighting the problems caused by flushing inappropriate materials into London’s sewers. A surviving piece will be displayed at Smithfield, giving visitors the chance to see an object that became an unexpected part of the capital’s modern history.
Street art fans will have the opportunity to see Piranhas, an artwork by the anonymous artist Banksy. The piece was originally painted on a police sentry box in the City of London in August 2024. It depicts a group of piranhas swimming around the structure, making the box appear like an aquarium.
The museum’s collection spans approximately 450,000 years of history and contains around seven million objects. Not everything will be displayed at once, but the new galleries will bring together a selection of historic treasures and unusual objects.
Full details of the opening, including free tickets, are in our earlier report on the museum’s Smithfield opening, and the new galleries join a busy winter for the capital’s venues, including U2’s two nights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next June.
