London Museum granted 24-hour licence for new Smithfield home ahead of November 28 opening

The London Museum has been granted a 24-hour drinks and entertainment licence by the City of London for its new home in Smithfield, clearing the way for late-night activity after the permanent galleries open on November 28, 2026. The museum has confirmed that the licence has been granted; free tickets for the opening are sold out until November 30.

What the licence covers

The licence covers the museum's event spaces, cafes, bars and restaurants, with permission for plays, films, live and recorded music and dance, as well as late-night refreshments between 11pm and 5am. The museum already plans to remain open until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and the restored Temperance Cocoa Room will host an all-night alcohol-free coffee bar from Thursday to Sunday.

Not the whole museum, all night

The museum stresses that a 24-hour licence does not mean the whole building will be open around the clock; it applies mainly to the hospitality and event spaces, and the detailed late-night programme and opening times will be announced around the opening. The application went before the City of London's licensing hearing sub-committee on October 28, which said it would communicate its decision in writing; the museum has since confirmed the outcome. The new home sits in the Victorian General Market at West Smithfield, empty since the 1990s; its permanent galleries will tell 10,000 years of London's history across three connected spaces. DJ nights are planned for Friday and Saturday evenings around the opening, alongside the London Tastes food culture programme.

Sources: London Daily News, November 9, 2026; ianVisits, November 5, 2026.