7 Highlights

• Smithfield Market, opened nearly 900 years ago, is closing in London.
• Smithfield will become a cultural hub, the London Museum, by 2028.
• • Plans to move Smithfield to Dagenham Dock failed due to rising costs.
  • Traders receive £300 million but lament losing historic connections.
  • Smithfield's history includes roles as a market, execution site, and literary mention.
  • The new museum will have retail, dining, and leisure areas.
  • Closure spurs ethical debates as activists influence public views.