London Museum wins a 24-hour drinks and entertainment licence for Smithfield
Late openings and overnight events are on the table when the galleries open on 28 November.
The new London Museum at Smithfield has been granted a 24-hour drinks and entertainment licence by the City of London, IanVisits reports. The museum confirmed the licence after a licensing sub-committee hearing on 28 October.
What it covers: the application takes in event spaces, cafés, bars and restaurants, with plays, films, live and recorded music, dance and late-night refreshment between 11pm and 5am. A 24-hour licence does not mean the whole museum stays open all night. It is more likely to unlock café-bar spaces and ground-floor events.
The plan: the museum already intends to stay open until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and has planned an all-night alcohol-free coffee bar in the restored Temperance Cocoa Room from Thursday to Sunday. A spokesperson said the ambition is extended hours fitting for a 24-hour city, with Smithfield already active around the clock thanks to markets, a hospital and a nightclub nearby.
When: permanent galleries in the General Market open on 28 November 2026. Free tickets for the first days are already sold out until 30 November.
Add it to your late-night list once the doors open. Smithfield is about to get another reason to stay out.
Source: IanVisits (opens in a new tab)
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