Where: Smithfield and Billingsgate
The wholesale meat and fish markets of Smithfield and Billingsgate are leaving central London after 800 years, as part of plans to relocate them to Dagenham under one combined roof along with Leyton's New Spitalfields fruit, vegetable and flower market.
Once the move happens, the new 42-acre site will have one of Europe's biggest wholesale food markets. Smithfield's old site in East London will become home to the Museum of London, which has closed its Barbican location and will re-open sometime in 2025.
Meanwhile there are plans for Billingsgate fish market's site in Poplar to be turned into 2,000 new homes. For now, the two markets continue to be open to the public, so get down there while their historic homes still exist (and before 7 am to get the best produce).
